The Medieval Mystery of the Green Children of Woolpit

A Journey Into Medieval Times

The legend of the Green Children of Woolpit has its origins in medieval times

Green Kids Appear in Woolpit

In the midst of the tumultuous era known as 'The Anarchy,' during the reign of King Stephen in 12th-century England, a peculiar tale started to spread from the quiet village of Woolpit.

The village of Woolpit, derived from the Old English "wulf-pytt" and situated in Suffolk, became a stage for the medieval mystery of the Green Children of Woolpit

It started, In the year 1150, when villagers encountered two young children close the wolf pit near the village, their skin bearing an unnatural shade of green. Speaking in an incomprehensible language and displaying signs of anxiety, these siblings ignited a sense of curiosity in area.

According to legend, the children were found near the city of Wolpitt

The children were subsequently taken to the residence of Sir Richard de Calne, where attempts to feed them with conventional food proved futile. The children's habits of rejecting food persisted until they stumbled upon green beans in Richard de Calne's garden, and from that moment on, they became the main source of their nourishment.

Under Richard de Calne's care, the children slowly transitioned to a more conventional diet, leading to the gradual disappearance of their distinctive green complexion. As they adapted to their new surroundings, they also learned to speak English, unveiling some information from their enigmatic past.

Revelations from the Green Children:

When questioned about their origins, the siblings provided the following narrative. They claimed to be inhabitants of the land of St. Martin, a realm of never-ending twilight without direct sun exposure.They also said that another land, as if bathing in light, is visible in the distance from their realm but is divided from them by an impassable river. Describing an event of how they came to Earth, they recounted hearing a strange sound of bells, which was peculiar to them as their country didn't have churches. While tending their father's flocks and entering the nearby cave out of curiosity, they ultimately found themselves in the fields of Woolpit and were unable to return home.

Later life

The boy adapted to the new life harder, became sick, and soon passed away. However, his sister, baptized as Agnes, although lost her brother to an unknown illness, soon learned English and successfully adapted to the new life. She continued to work for Richard de Calne for many years. She became totally accustomed to life on earth, although she still displayed signs of strong-headedness and defiance untypical for a woman of that era, but perhaps more common in her homeland.

Her life took a turn when she married Richard Barre, the archdeacon of Ely. According to reports, she became a mother to a cute baby, marking a new chapter in Agnes's life that surprassed in importance anything connected with her mysterious homeland. Unfortunately, according to reports, she passed away relatively young. However, it is quite possible;that direct descendants of Agnes lived in the area of Woolpit for another several centuries.

Main Sources of the Woolpit Green Children Legend

Ralph of Coggeshall (c. 1226): The abbot of Cistercian Coggeshall Abbey, located about 26 miles south of Woolpit, reported on the mysterious arrival of two green children in the village during the 12th century. Ralph's account is documented in his work, the "Chronicum Anglicanum," written in the 1220s.

William of Newburgh (c. 1136–1198): A canon at the Augustinian Newburgh Priory in Yorkshire, William provided a separate account of the green children in his work, "Historia rerum Anglicarum" (c. 1189). He claimed to have gathered information from "reports from a number of trustworthy sources."

Sir Richard de Calne of Wykes: Ralph of Coggeshall drew on the account of Sir Richard de Calne, who supposedly sheltered the green children in his manor house located six miles north of Woolpit. Sir Richard's perspective adds a localized dimension to the story, as documented by Ralph in the Chronicum Anglicanum.

These sources collectively contribute to the historical narrative surrounding the appearance of the green children in Woolpit.