The Woodwose
Stories of large, humanoid figures that resemble apes have covered all 7 continents and beyond. So, it would not surprise you that even England has a bigfoot tale: the Woodwoose. However, unlike some mentions of bigfoot, especially in North American, this English version is related to the elf-like spirits that haunt the forests of its homeland.
Unlike descriptions of the North American bigfoot, the Woodwose is said to be smaller and even more manlike. They are usually reported at six or seven feet, walk on two feet, and appear like a man with gorilla-like features and thick hair covering their entire bodies. Their hair is almost uniformly described as a medium brown with an orange or red tint. Woodwose translates roughly to ‘wood-man’ and it is believed that some English surnames come from the same word, such as Woodhouse.
Woodwose imagery is evident in England from the 8th all the way to the 16th century depicting these men of the forests (which, seemed rarely to be women). They were depicted in a variety of forms - sometimes in dramas, other times in medieval paintings and illuminated manuscripts.
There are not many stories surrounding them, however, in myth and illustration, they seem to be a bit more of a trickster creature, more like one of the fae than the missing link. Reports and sightings of the Woodwose and their habitations claim that they carried or had access to clubs, primitive pottery (like bowls), and even simple bow and arrows. If threatened, they would sometimes raid small villages taking their livestock, and maybe even a young maiden or two.
Some folklore also connects the Woodwose and Wild Man and Green Man folklore.
One of the most infamous sightings came long after the 16th century. In Salford, Lancashire, England Deborah Hatswell claimed she saw a Woodwose in 1982. Sandra was a known Bigfoot researcher and was in a park at the young age of 15. In an overgrown section of the park, she and her friends noticed a Woodwose out of the corner of their eye. When they reacted to seeing him, the Woodwose escaped back into the woods. According to Sandra, the Woodose’s expressions seemed more confused and perhaps even scared. Sandra claimed at this moment she realized the creature, although frightening to her, was no monster and may have just been in the wrong place at the wrong time.
An even more recent event occurred in 2014, just outside of Dorchester. Two members of The British Bigfoot Research Organization began an investigation in the Yellowham Woods. Over the course of two evenings, they spent time clapping and speaking to try and lure the Woodwose out of hiding. They reported that they heard responsive tree knocks, as well as something, walking softly by their campsite. They also heard whooping howls. To them, this confirmed that there are still Woodwose traipsing about in English forests.
Thank you Matthew G for the Blogstonishing suggestion!
The image comes from unknown, Basel - Book-scan: Zahm und wild, Basler und Straßburger Bildteppiche des 15. Jahrhunderts, ISBN 3-8053-1174-5, p and is in the public domain.