toot.community is one of the many independent Mastodon servers you can use to participate in the fediverse.
A worldwide Mastodon instance from The Netherlands. Run by digital enthusiasts, inviting everyone, everywhere to join us in the #fediverse.

Server stats:

2.1K
active users

Explorer Alix

The tale of Sawney Bean & his cannibal clan is interwoven into the fabric of Scottish folklore.

The tale goes that Sawney & his interbreeding clan would attack unsuspecting victims before dragging them back to Bennane Cave on Ayrshire’s coast to be devoured.

The clan eventually attacked the wrong people and were executed however the bloody tale prevails & has been passed down from generation to generation across Scotland.

@yoreexplorers Do we have any good evidence for any part of it? On the one hand, it is one of the more plausible 'ogre' stories in folklore, on the other hand, erm, seriously?

@VolkerBach as far as I know no evidence for Sawney Bean exists however the story could be based on Christie Cleek who was a butcher/highwayman from the earlier 1340s! So I think the story is more than likely based on fact but has been embelished and refreshed as time has passed 😊

@yoreexplorers @VolkerBach the story of Sawney Bean is probably an invention for its first appearance in The Newgate Calendar in the 18/19th century, likely coloured with the anti-Scottish sentiment of the time.
There's probably a kernal of truth in it, as even to this day in Scotland we're known to assail unwitting travellers and eat them... 💀