A haunting tale from the Victorian era with ties to Somerset is returning this festive season.
Storyteller and archaeologist Dan Broadbent is reviving the tradition with a candlelit tour of The Mistletoe Bough, an atmospheric tale rooted in Somerset, to be performed at venues across the county this December.
Tickets are priced at £14, or £8 for under 14s.
Details and bookings are available at blabbermouthstorytelling.co.uk/events.
Mr Broadbent, from Blabbermouth Community Storytelling, said: "There are many historic houses that claim to be the location of true events which inspired the story.
"Amongst these is Bawdrip Rectory here in Somerset.
"These are intimate rooms which have their own character and sense of history.
"The performances will be lit by candlelight to really create an ambience which does the story justice."
The Mistletoe Bough was once one of Britain’s most popular Christmas songs and tells the chilling tale of Yuletide wedding celebrations which go tragically wrong; during a game of hide and seek to round off the festivities, the bride disappears, never to be found.
Mr Broadbent’s version is carefully researched and explores the story’s origins and enduring legacy.
In the song, the groom is named Lord Lovell.
A memorial behind the altar at Bawdrip church commemorates Eleanor Lovell, who was "taken away by a sudden and untimely fate at the very time of the marriage celebrations."
This detail has long fuelled speculation that Bawdrip is the true setting of the tale.
Adding to the intrigue, one of the church bells was cast by Thomas Bayley, who may have been related to Thomas Haynes Bayley, the writer of the song’s lyrics.
However, the origins of the tale remain disputed.
A poem published in 1822 places the events in Modena, Italy, while an 1809 version situates the story in Germany.
Mr Broadbent’s retelling also weaves in connections to Elizabethan England, the First World War, and even 1920s New York.
Each performance will take place in a venue chosen for its historic atmosphere and will be illuminated by candlelight.
The tour begins on Monday, December 1, at Crewkerne Museum and continues through to Friday, December 19, at the Town Hall, Wells.
Other venues include Sherborne Digby Memorial Church Hall on Wednesday, December 3, Langport All Saints Hall on Thursday, December 4, Cheddar Village Hall on Saturday, December 6, Weston Museum on Tuesday, December 9, The Market House in Castle Cary on Friday, December 12, Broomfield Village Hall in the Quantock Hills on Saturday, December 13, Dunster Tithe Barn on Sunday, December 14, The Bennet Centre in Frome on Tuesday, December 16, and The Walronds in Cullompton on Thursday, December 18.
All shows start at 7.30pm, with doors opening at 7pm.
Performances last around one hour and are suitable for adults and older children.
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