Mixon Mine Fairies

High up on Morridge Moor in the Staffordshire Moorlands, U.K. between Mixon Mines and Old Mixon Hay farm can be found a pasture where if the story is to be believed there once was seen the Fairy Folk dancing in a circle.

Photo by Gary Tacagni

The story goes that a man called Elijah Cope who was from the nearby town of Leek was stopping at a small farm owned by a Mrs Grindy which was located close by to Mixon Mines, they were sat in the parlour and it was late in the evening when Elijah heard a knocking coming from the skirting board and also the table. Mrs Grindy went on to explain to him that the thing that was making the knocking noise was “Old Nancy”, an old Fairy that had been around for a long time, she had over the years been kind to the Fairy as her Mother had taught her to be, she used to leave food and milk out for her, and even though she had never seen her she believed that her prescence had brought good luck to her home.

Elijah was more sceptical in believing that this was the cause of the noise and put it down to the house contracting after having warmed up throughout the day. The following day he continued his journey home and called at a cottage which also was close to Mixon Mines where a Mrs Frith lived, Elijah while talking to her and brought up the subject of Fairies and he explained to her what had happened the previous day, on hearing his story she took Elijah to a spot between Old Mixon Hay farm and Mixon Mines in  one of the lower fields, she went on to tell him that her Mother had observed the Fairy Folk dancing in a circle while wearing different coloured clothing.

The lower pasture where the Fairies are said to have danced, note the clouds in the background. Photo by Gary Tacagni.

Mrs Frith went on to tell Elijah that her Mother had lost many items of clothing and had come to the conclusion that the Fairy Folk were responsible.

Most Fairy Folk seem to prefer boggy ground to dance upon and have been seen close to Victoria Gardens in the past which is found in the lower part of Leek. Another place which seems to have the right conditions to attract these life forms is at Ladymeadows, a marshy area found just off the Leek to Ashbourne road close to the village of Bradnop.

While I was taking photos on Morridge Moor in the area where Fairies are said to have been seen, I took this photo, perhaps there is a logical explanation, I thought that maybe it was a raindrop but judging by the tail it seems to have, it appears that it was travelling upwards at the time I took the photo.