The Beast of Brassknocker Hill
Near Bath, something was stripping the bark from trees and frightening the neighbours. A crowd of hunters and journalists came, and nobody found it.
What was reported
In the summer of 1979, residents of Brassknocker Hill, on the edge of Bath, began finding trees stripped of their bark and branches, and reported glimpses of a strange animal. Descriptions ranged from a monkey or ape to something like a giant rat or a kangaroo.
The story drew national attention, and police, wildlife experts and reporters searched the area. Nothing was caught, and the sightings faded away.
Explanations offered
Many suspect an escaped monkey, perhaps a pet, or deer and other animals damaging the trees. The case is remembered as one of Britain's oddest local creature scares.
- When
- 1979
- Where
- Brassknocker Hill, near Bath, Somerset, England, UK
- Witnesses
- Residents and police near Bath
- Status
- Never identified
Famous cases are real, widely reported events. Each file sets out what witnesses said and the explanations that have been offered, without taking a side.
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