Occult London (Pocket Essentials (Paperback))

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This book describes these practitioners of the occult, alongside the myths and legends through which the city has always been perceived.

Captivating account of London's occult history from the Elizabethan age to modern day secret and less secret societies. To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Elsewhere we meet figures such as Spring-Heeled Jack and the Highgate Vampyre, and occult organizations from the Invisible College to the Golden Dawn.Watkins Books is situated on Covent Garden’s Cecil Court, a mecca of rare books and fine art prints. This is confirmed by first-hand accounts of Londoners whose belief in the prophecies of Mother Shipton and Nostradamus, each of whom was thought to have predicted the catastrophic fire, led them to feel disempowered and unworthy of extinguishing the fire and thus saving the city from its destiny. There's enough social history to ground the work, and an interesting appendix detailing notable areas, such as Barnes Common (setting for the first sighting of Spring-Heeled Jack) or Highgate Cemetery (home to the Highgate Vampire in the 1970s).

Behind the official façade promoted by the heritage industry lies a city of esoteric traditions, obscure institutions, and forgotten locations. Greenwich Park, we read, is home to a water fountain built from the remnants of an ancient stone circle. a great little reference book, entertainingly written and full of fascinating information about the mysterious side of England's capital city - Lucya Szachnowski, www. The gory urban myth appears to be without historical merit, causing some to speculate that the legend of a serial killer in the vicinity of the Templar precinct may be a memory of former ritual sacrifices.

This is a fascinating jaunt through the specific occult history of London, using famous or notorious figures like John Dee, Madame Blavatsky and Nicholas Hawksmoor to explain the little peculiarities that make London such an interesting place to live. Come the middle of the 19th century the tale of Sweeney Todd, the demon barber of Fleet Street, began to emerge. He eventually moved to Wellclose Square, a former hotbed of esoteric notables, including Rabbi Falk, ‘The Ba’al Shem of London’.