Peg Powler of the River Tees
In the River Tees lived a green-skinned hag with long hair and sharp teeth, waiting to drag children who played too close to the water.
What was reported
Peg Powler was a river hag of the River Tees in north-east England. She had green skin, long green hair and sharp teeth, and lived under the water, ready to grab and drown anyone, especially children, who came too near the bank, or who played there on a Sunday.
The froth and foam that gathers on the river in places was called 'Peg Powler's suds' or 'Peg Powler's cream'.
Explanations offered
Peg Powler was a 'nursery bogie', invented or used by adults to keep children away from dangerous water. Similar figures include Jenny Greenteeth of Lancashire.
- When
- Told for centuries
- Where
- Piercebridge, River Tees, County Durham, England, UK
- Witnesses
- Teesside 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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