Hagstones of Hillmoor Farm

Photo by Gary Tacagni

There is a tract of land on Hillmoor farm where I used to live which is on the far side of the river Dane, this tract of land is covered with trees and is known as Madams Wood. This wood seems to have remained virtually untouched for probably many generations, due in part to it being on private ground and also due to its inaccessibility. The trees here grow, mature and finally die, whereupon they fall and rot, returning to the ground that once supported them, and so the process seems to have perpetuated itself without the intervention of anyone, and only the infrequent visit from the occasional fisherman seems to disturb the tranquility of this unusual place.

Alongside Madams Wood runs the river Dane which in itself is unusual as it is the fastest rising and fastest flowing river in the country, it also has a connection to the Goddess Danu from which it takes its name. I have seen this river change from being not much wider than a shallow brook, to a frightening powerful force when in flood even capable of changing its course!

It is along the banks of this river where I found my first Hag stone about 12 years ago, these stones are quite rare due to the fact that a hole has been worn through them which probably took many thousands of years to form.

These stones are thought to ward off the spirits of the dead, in Europe the stones are thought to keep the “Evil Hag” away to prevent her stealing horses and children. These stones have also been used by people in the past as a favourite talisman to keep the “Evil Eye” away from them, other people are thought to have hung them in their bedrooms to prevent the “succubus hag” from riding on their chests during nightmares.

In Italian witchcraft the stone is associated with Fairies and is often referred to as the “Holey Stone”, it is considered a doorway, or a key to a doorway into the Fairy Kingdom.

In Italian folklore it is believed that these stones are capable of binding a Fairy to a person, this would allow that person to have control over the Fairy for a length of time.

These stones are known by many different names, Fairy Stones, Dream or Mare stones, Holey stones, Eye stones, Pledge stones, Ephiates stones, Witch riding stones, Odin stones and Wish stones. It was during May 2007 that I came across my second Hag stone, this was even more unusual than the first one I found, as it seems to bear a resemblance to the face of a Hag as can be seen in the photo!

photo by Gary Tacagni.

Photo by Gary Tacagni.