SHUCKLAND       Introduction        Alphabetical List of Locations
Location: Bergh Apton, NORFOLK
Encounter: "I was cycling along the Thurton to Bergh Apton road [called Cooke's Lane] on a moonlit night, there were clouds in the sky and the time was about midnight; I had been to a darts match. I had had a drink but was in no way under the influence of drink. As I approached a part of the road where a pond was on one side and a wall on the other, a big black dog jumped out from the side of the road where the pond was. It came at me at about crossbar high growling and snarling.

I must say I was terrified and expected to be knocked from my cycle and be bitten, but the next thing I saw was the dog on my right hand side disappearing into the wall. I was shaking with fear and pedalled home very fast." (1)

"...it was the pond [TG31100128] opposite Washingford House, the time of year as far as I can remember was November, the time about 11.45pm to midnight, and it was either 1944 or 1945...I was riding an upright cycle and was returning home from an away darts match while being a member of the Thurton George & Dragon darts team...I would describe the dog as as big as a large labrador with a smooth back but with shaggy hair hanging below its head and body. I did not notice its eyes but it had large snarling teeth. I was so terrified I raced home as fast as I could go. I cannot to this day explain why I was not knocked off my cycle." (2)
Sources: (1) Letter from Mr. S. W. Gilbert (witness) to me, 16/9/1983.
(2) Further letter, 10/10/1983.
Comments: BerghApton.jpg (19873 bytes)The geography of this encounter doesn't quite match the story. I've visited the site, and there is no "part of the road where a pond was on one side and a wall on the other", so that the dog could leap up from one and disappear into the other. There is in fact about 10 metres between the pond and the start of the wall around Washingford House.
Place Name: Bergh Apton - OE 'hill, mound' + (poss.) Oscand 'Api's homestead/village'
Other: Approx. 1285 yards from site of tumuli, and site of traditional battle on White Heath.

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