The Fairy Rings of the Sussex Downs

The chalk grasslands of the South Downs in Sussex have long been associated with fairy folklore. Circular formations in the grass, known as fairy rings, were believed to be dancing grounds for supernatural beings. Stepping into such a ring was said to bring enchantment or doom.

The Phenomena

Fairy rings are actually caused by fungi growing outward in circular patterns. However, before this scientific understanding, the perfect circles that appeared mysteriously in fields were attributed to supernatural activity. Sussex has particularly numerous and well-defined examples.

The Folklore

Sussex folklore warned against entering fairy rings, particularly at night. Those who did might be forced to dance until they collapsed, be taken to the fairy realm where years passed as minutes, or emerge from the ring having lost their minds. Offerings were sometimes left at the rings to appease their occupants.

The Pharisees

Sussex dialect referred to fairies as “Pharisees,” a corruption of the word. These beings were not the benevolent creatures of Victorian imagination but unpredictable and potentially dangerous entities. They inhabited the downs and defended their territory against human intrusion.

The Experiences

Modern visitors to the South Downs have reported unusual experiences near fairy ring sites. Some describe hearing faint music, seeing tiny lights, or experiencing disorientation and lost time. While likely explicable through natural causes, these experiences perpetuate the ancient legends.

The Sites

Certain locations on the South Downs are particularly associated with fairy activity, including areas near Chanctonbury Ring, Cissbury Ring, and Devil’s Dyke. These Iron Age hill forts may have been considered fairy strongholds by later inhabitants.

Assessment

The fairy rings of Sussex represent a point where scientific reality and folk belief intersect. While the rings themselves have natural explanations, the experiences reported around them suggest that centuries of belief may create their own form of reality.