Black Shuck

Black Shuck, the phantom hound of East Anglia, is one of Britain’s most ancient and terrifying supernatural entities. A giant black dog with glowing eyes, it has been reported for at least 500 years—and its 1577 church rampage is one of the best-documented supernatural events in English history.

The Name

“Shuck” derives from the Old English “scucca,” meaning demon or fiend. According to documented accounts, the creature has been known by various names:

• Black Shuck
• Old Shuck
• The Shug Monkey
• The Galleytrot

The 1577 Church Attacks

On August 4, 1577, during a violent thunderstorm, something attacked two Suffolk churches:

Blythburgh Church (Holy Trinity):

• A massive black dog burst through the doors
• It ran down the nave, killing two worshippers
• A man at prayer was left “shriveled”
• Burn marks appeared on the church door (still visible today)
• The church steeple collapsed through the roof

Bungay Church (St. Mary’s):

• The same or a similar creature appeared
• It attacked worshippers
• “Two men were killed, another shriveled up”
• The creature then vanished

A contemporary account by Abraham Fleming describes “a great tempest” and “a horrible shaped thing” that killed and maimed worshippers.

Physical Appearance

Witnesses across centuries describe:

• Enormous size—“as large as a calf” or bigger
• Black, shaggy fur
• Single glowing eye (or two burning eyes)
• Sometimes headless
• Sometimes dragging chains
• Associated with storms, crossroads, and churchyards

The Legend

Black Shuck is associated with:

Death Omens:

• Seeing Shuck means death within a year
• Sometimes death of the viewer, sometimes of a family member
• Merely hearing Shuck is also a bad omen

Guarding:

• Appears near ancient pathways and boundaries
• Guards churchyards and sacred sites
• Some believe it guards treasure

Storm Activity:

• Appears during thunderstorms
• Associated with the Wild Hunt
• Lightning accompanies sightings

Modern Sightings

Black Shuck continues to be reported:

20th-21st Century Reports:

• Large black dogs seen on country lanes
• Glowing eyes observed in darkness
• Dogs that vanish when approached
• Accompanied by feelings of dread

Coastguard Reports:

• Shuck has been reported along the Suffolk coast
• Coastguards have seen impossible animals
• Dogs that appear and disappear

Near-Death Experiences:

• Some who have seen Shuck have died shortly after
• Whether coincidence or curse remains debated

Archaeological Connection

In 2014, archaeologists excavating a medieval friary in Leiston, Suffolk discovered the skeleton of a massive dog:

• 7 feet long
• Estimated 200 pounds
• Male dog, probably a hunting hound
• Dating to approximately the 16th century

Some have connected this to the Black Shuck legend, though others note large dogs were kept by medieval lords.

Cultural Impact

Black Shuck has influenced:

• Arthur Conan Doyle’s “Hound of the Baskervilles”
• Countless other supernatural fiction
• East Anglian folklore and tourism
• Local pub names and crests

The creature remains East Anglia’s most famous supernatural entity, roaming the marshes, lanes, and churchyards after 500 years.

Sources

• Black Shuck - Wikipedia
• Fleming, Abraham. “A Straunge and Terrible Wunder” (1577)