Wessex Tales

In this modest collection the ordinary world of a West‑English county is turned inside out by the shadowy lives of hangmen, smugglers and the superstitions that cling to them. The narrator, recalling childhood conversations with a would‑be executioner, weaves together the grim humor of public hangings, the clever tricks used to hide contraband, and the lingering folklore that still haunts the landscape. The result is a vivid portrait of a community where death, daring and whispered legends intertwine, offering listeners a taste of the darker side of rural history.

The opening story follows William Marchmill, a pragmatic gun‑maker, and his vivid‑tempered wife as they wander the seaside resort of Upper Wessex. Their contrasting personalities—his steady, business‑focused mind and her restless, imaginative spirit—set the stage for an uncanny episode that hints at mysteries beyond the ordinary. As the couple’s gentle banter gives way to a subtle, unsettling tension, listeners are drawn into a world where everyday life brushes up against the extraordinary.