The Amazing Adventures of Archibald Esq.
The Season of the Black Dog
‘Tis the season of the black dog. Well, when is it not, dare I ask? In any case, for those of you who are not (like me) by nature and essence a ‘black dog’ – which, in solipsistic moments makes my every day a black dog day, and my every season the season of the black dog – now comes the time of the black phantom dog. (Of which category, admittedly, I do not belong — being a flesh and blood and flapping ears kind of dog, who also happens to bark quite a bit. Nothing phantom about me!)
Yours truly has reported on this phenomenon previously. A bit of a habit, some might say. But then isn’t that what seasons are all about? Annually marking a time in a cycle that is called a year…
Which makes it fitting to each year go back to the same theme – black phantom dog – to investigate one more time, wouldn’t you say?
Like other aspects of houndishness, most cultures, from the ancient Greeks onwards and all around the world have versions of haunted black dogs – hellhounds. One such terrifying legend concerns the Welsh Hounds of Darkness.
Neil Arnold notes that “Across the United Kingdom such canid apparitions have been given many names – Striker, Padfoot, Roy Dog, Guytrash, and the most well known being Black Shuck.” In fact, road guide books such as Haunted Roads have been written about the whereabouts and what-nots of a variety of hellhounds in the British and outlying Isles.
Not all black dogs in British folklore and local legend are rural-dwelling. Some are positively cosmopolitan – appearing and haunting a variety of locations across London.
And not all the tales are ancient, either. There was a black dog sighting in the 1960s on Wandsworth Road. The haunting is said to have lasted more than four months. On several occasions the ghost dog was seen disappearing into 523 Wansdworth Road. I kid you not, awoof!
Other ghost dogs have been seen along the Thames. Harmless phantom dogs are reputed to abide near Hampton Court and Greenwich. The Spanish Galleon pub in Greenwich is said to be haunted by a large mastiff hound.
Of especial delight to me personally is the rumour that there is a small black ghost dog who haunts an area of Baker Street Station.
Superwoof to the Season of the Black Dog!
Awoof! Archie
Posted 22 Oct 07
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