The Werewolf of Yorkshire

Yorkshire has a centuries-long tradition of werewolf sightings. Medieval chronicles record encounters with shape-shifting creatures, and modern witnesses continue to report seeing wolf-like beings that walk on two legs.

The Medieval Account

William of Newburgh, a 12th-century chronicler, recorded accounts of werewolves in Yorkshire. These creatures were said to be humans who transformed into wolves, attacking livestock and occasionally people. The Church considered them possessed by demons.

The Flixton Creature

In the 1980s, multiple witnesses near Flixton reported seeing a large, wolf-like creature walking on its hind legs. The creature was estimated at over eight feet tall and covered in dark fur. It appeared to watch observers before disappearing into fields.

The Description

Modern Yorkshire werewolf reports describe a creature combining human and wolf features. It walks upright like a man but has a wolf’s head, clawed hands, and is covered in fur. Its eyes are said to glow in the dark.

The Theories

Various explanations have been proposed: escaped exotic animals, misidentified dogs, persistent medieval folklore, and genuine unknown creatures. Some researchers connect the sightings to ancient beliefs about shape-shifting.

The Pattern

Sightings cluster in rural areas, particularly on the moors and in isolated woodland. They occur most often at night and are often associated with phases of the moon, matching werewolf traditions.

Assessment

Yorkshire’s werewolf tradition spans from medieval chronicles to modern reports. Whether genuine phenomenon, folklore, or misidentification, the man-wolf continues to be reported in the county’s wild places.