In this episode of Haunted History Chronicles, I’m joined by writer, folklorist and broadcaster Deborah Hyde to explore one of medieval Britain’s most haunting and enduring mysteries: the Green Children of Woolpit. Emerging from a pit on the edge of a Suffolk village in the 12th century, these strange children — with green-tinged skin and a language no one recognised — left behind a story that has lingered for centuries.
Drawing on medieval chronicles, folklore traditions and historical context, Deborah carefully examines what may lie behind the tale. Were the Green Children misunderstood migrants, symbolic folklore, or something far stranger? Together, we explore how belief, fear and storytelling shape the way such accounts are recorded, remembered and retold.
With her characteristic wit and academic rigour, Deborah guides us through the shifting interpretations of this luminous legend, revealing why the Green Children of Woolpit continue to trouble the boundary between history and the uncanny.
My Special Guest Deborah Hyde
Deborah Hyde wants to know why people believe weird things.
She writes and talks about dark folklore and is one of the regular experts on the popular BBC podcast 'Uncanny'.
She was editor of 'The Skeptic' magazine for ten years, was involved with 'Skeptics in the Pub' for several years and is a fellow of The Committee for Skeptical Inquiry.
She has been asked to contribute commentary to such cases as the Enfield Poltergeist, the Hull Werewolf and Borley Rectory.
She also once accidentally played a five hundred year-old queen in a Terry Gilliam movie.
In this conversation, expect insights into:
The medieval sources and folklore behind the mystery of the Green Children
Possible historical, cultural and psychological explanations for the tale
Why stories like this endure — and what they reveal about belief and the unknown
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