Aldeburgh - Domain of Black Shuck

Aldeburgh, a windswept fishing town on the Suffolk coast, sits at the heart of Black Shuck country - the domain of East Anglia’s most feared supernatural entity. Black Shuck (from the Old English ‘scucca’ meaning demon) is described as a massive black dog with blazing red or green eyes, appearing on lonely coastal paths and marshland tracks. The creature is not merely a ghost but an omen of death - those who see it clearly and meet its gaze are said to die within the year. The most famous encounter occurred in 1577 when Black Shuck burst into Bungay Church during a thunderstorm, killing two parishioners and leaving scorch marks on the door that remain visible today.

Aldeburgh has experienced numerous Shuck sightings across centuries. The creature is most commonly seen on the beach path at dusk or in the early hours before dawn, moving with supernatural speed and leaving no footprints despite the soft sand. Witnesses describe a dog the size of a calf with shaggy black fur and eyes that glow like hot coals. Some report the creature fading to transparency before vanishing, while others say it simply disappears as if switching off. The apparition is often accompanied by the smell of sulfur and a sudden drop in temperature that leaves witnesses shaking with cold even on summer nights.

Local fishermen have particular dread of Black Shuck, as sightings near the harbor have historically preceded fatal accidents at sea. The coastal path between Aldeburgh and Thorpeness is considered especially dangerous - a young woman in the 1970s reported being followed by the creature for over a mile, its hot breath on her heels and its eyes reflecting in every window she passed. More recently, dog walkers have reported their animals becoming frantic with terror in certain spots along the beach, refusing to proceed and pulling desperately to flee, even when nothing visible is present. The phantom hound of Aldeburgh remains active, a terrifying reminder of the ancient dark that predates the modern town.