Wayland's Smithy
An ancient Neolithic burial chamber haunted by Wayland the Smith, a legendary supernatural blacksmith who shoes horses left at the tomb overnight.
Wayland’s Smithy is a Neolithic long barrow located on the ancient Ridgeway path in Oxfordshire, constructed around 3590 BCE and originally containing the remains of at least 14 individuals. However, the site’s true fame comes not from its prehistoric origins but from its association with Wayland the Smith, a supernatural blacksmith from Anglo-Saxon and Norse mythology who was said to have made his forge at this ancient tomb. According to legend, travelers who left their horse at the tomb with a silver coin would return to find the animal freshly shod, though the mysterious smith was never seen.
The phantom blacksmith of Wayland’s Smithy has been reported for over a thousand years, with the tradition recorded in medieval manuscripts and continuing into the modern era. Witnesses describe hearing the distinctive sound of hammer striking anvil echoing from the tomb, particularly at night or during foggy weather, despite the chamber being empty. Some report seeing the glow of forge fires emanating from between the standing stones, or catching glimpses of a tall, shadowy figure working at an invisible anvil. The smell of hot metal and coal smoke has been reported by numerous visitors when no physical source exists. According to folklore, horses become agitated and restless near the tomb, sensing the supernatural presence within.
Beyond the blacksmith legend, the site experiences other paranormal activity typical of ancient burial sites. Visitors report sudden temperature drops, feelings of being watched, and inexplicable sensations of dread when entering the stone chamber. Some sensitive individuals describe hearing chanting or wailing from within the tomb, possibly residual energy from Neolithic funeral rites. Mysterious lights and orbs are frequently photographed around the massive sarsen stones that form the tomb’s facade. The atmospheric location—standing alone in woodland along an ancient trackway—adds to the site’s eerie reputation. Whether the phantom smith is truly the spirit of a Norse god, a guardian of the ancient dead, or simply folklore attached to a mysterious prehistoric monument, Wayland’s Smithy remains one of Britain’s most legendarily haunted Neolithic sites, where ancient burial grounds and medieval mythology intertwine.