The Padfoot
On dark Yorkshire lanes, you might hear soft padding footsteps behind you, and the rattle of a chain. Turn round, and you may see a creature the size of a donkey.
What was reported
The padfoot is a spectral creature of Yorkshire folklore, especially around Leeds and Wakefield. It's usually described as a large black dog, or sometimes a creature like a donkey or sheep with shaggy hair and big eyes, which follows people at night with a soft padding sound.
Sometimes it drags a chain behind it. Trying to hit it or touch it is said to bring bad luck, and seeing it could be a sign of death.
Explanations offered
The padfoot belongs to the northern English family of black dog and shapeshifting spirits, including the barghest and the gytrash. Its name later inspired the nickname of the character Sirius Black in Harry Potter, who can turn into a large black dog.
- When
- Told for centuries
- Where
- Leeds, West Yorkshire, England, UK
- Witnesses
- Yorkshire folklore
- Status
- Legend
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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