Laurence Gates

Mythological Tales of Sussex Laurence Gates

These fascinating tales have been passed down from generation to generation. Some are legends associated with local places around Colgate and St. Leonard's Forest in Sussex, England and some feature a race of 'super humans' with extra powers of strength, sight, hearing and more. Many have a moral lesson for the greedy, dishonest or vain, and of course there are kings, princes, princesses and happy endings. There is a local equivalent of the Greek myth of Icarus, who wanted to fly and a deeply symbolic myth of the tramp who has forgotten his true nature. It is uncertain how far back these tales originate and what their heritage is but they are an important part of local Sussex culture. While they were originally told on dark evenings before electricity brought light and instant entertainment, these stories continue to have a timeless appeal for adults and children alike.