Black Dogs are all over folklore in different incarnations and doing different things. One of my favourites is the Barguest.

Folklore

The Fairy Mythology by Thomas Keightley [1870]

We now proceed to Yorkshire, where the Boggart and the Barguest used to appear in by-gone days. The former, whose name we will presently explain, is the same as the Brownie or Kobold; the latter, whose proper name perhaps is Barn-ghaist, or Barn-spirit, keeps without, and usually takes the form of some domestic animal.

The Barguest used also to appear in the shape of a mastiff-dog and other animals, and terrify people with his skrikes. (shrieks). There was a Barguest named the Pick-tree Brag, whose usual form was that of a little galloway, “in which shape a farmer, still or lately living thereabouts, reported that it had come to him one night as he was going home; that he got upon it and rode very quietly till it came to a great pond, to which it ran and threw him in, and went laughing away.”

Encyclopedia of Fairies in World Folklore and Mythology by Theresa Bane

Variations: Bargeist, Bargest, Bargheist, Bargtjest, Barguist, Bo-guest.

Originating from the fairy lore of Yorkshire England, barguests were a species of shapeshifting fairy. Although they could take any form they pleased combing such features as claws, fiery eyes, horns, and vicious teeth, they usually took on the appearance of a mastiff dog or some other domestic animal. Its name likely originated from the words barn ghaist meaning “barn spirit”. In Manchester England, the barguest was said to be headless.

Haunting the wastelands between Headingsley Hill near Leeds and Wreghorn in west Yorkshire, the barguest, like the banshee, was most active at the death of a notable person or prominent figure. It gathered together all the dogs of the community and lead them on a howling procession through the streets. To see a barguest was a death omen and those who saw it died within a few days; to catch a fleeting glimpse would allow the viewer to live on, but only for a few months.

*More can be read in the book.

The Element Encyclopedia of Fairies by Lucy Cooper

A hellish black hound of the northern English moors, eyes afire, on the hunt for its next victim. Only those doomed to die can hear the howl of the barguest and their only escape is to cross running water, for the hound cannot follow.

*More can be read in the book.

The Encyclopedia of Celtic Mythology and Folklore by Patricia Monaghan

barguest British and Scottish mythological being. Hard to distinguish from bogies and boggarts, the barguest found in Scotland and England could appear as a headless man, a ghostly rabbit, or a white cat. The barguest could also take the form of a black dog, especially when locally prominent people died; at such times the fire-eyed barguest would set all the dogs in the region to howling infernally. The barguest was dangerous to encounter, for its bite refused to heal.

*More can be read in the book.

The Element Encyclopedia of Magical Creatures by John and Caitlín Matthews

The Barguest is a native of Yorkshire, Northumberland and Durham. It takes a variety of forms, predominantly as a black mastiff with fiery eyes, horns and fangs, but also as a bear with glowing eyes and huge claws. Reports state that it drags a chain, or that it is wrapped in chains like Marley’s ghost in Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, symbolic of the chains of sin. Specific Barguests appear around their own locality; for example, the one in Leeds causes all the dogs of the city to bark when it makes its appearance.

*More can be read in the book.

A Wizard’s Bestiary by Oberon Zell Ravenheart and Ash “LeopardDancer” DeKirk

One of the many Black Dogs of English and European myth, the Barghest can be as small as a bull mastiff or as big as a bear. Covered in shaggy black fur, it has long fangs, claws, horns, a tail, and fiery red eyes. Seen around the northern English counties of Yorkshire, Durham, and Northumberland, it only appears at night in specific locations, primarily fishing villages and churchyards. It is also sometimes described as a huge bear, a headless man or woman, or even a white rabbit similar to the one Alice followed. The Barghest drags a clanking chain behind it, sometimes wrapping its body in it. The sighting of a Barghest is a guaranteed portent of disaster and misfortune.

*More can be read in the book.

Further Reading:

• Barghest
• The Barguest
• barghest
• The Barguest: Demon Dog, Silly Sprite or Spectral Hound?
• barguest
• What is the Legend of the Barghest?

Folklore in a Nutshell by Ronel

With as many variations in its name as in its looks, the Barguest is a black dog from British mythology. For some, it is only found in Yorkshire, for others, it also comes from Manchester, Northumberland and Durham. Some even believe that it is wrapped in chains, or drags chains behind it. Feels too much like Marley in some Dickensian nightmare, if you ask me.

In some tales, local dogs will bark to announce the appearance of the Barguest. In other tales, the Barguest leads the local dogs in a procession when someone important is about to die. I suppose the only people of note in these tales are those with titles, money and land. It is unclear whether the Barguest can be seen by anyone except the dogs. My own dogs regularly walk in procession for some mischief or another…

For the most part, the Barguest is a black mastiff with fiery eyes, horns, fangs, and claws. It is sometimes seen as a black bear, a white cat, a white rabbit – or even a headless human. The white rabbit sounds a bit too much like the one Alice followed, and the cat like a caìt sìth which is a different faery altogether.

According to Keightley in The Fairy Mythology, the Barguest appears in the shape of a mastiff dog and terrifies people with its shrieks. I can see the Barguest like this. A dog that shrieks instead of barks or yelps will be totally terrifying.

Some rare tales talk about the Barguest’s bite not healing; this faery not being able to cross water; and that only those doomed to die soon can hear its howl.

Whether a shrieking spectral hound or one that resembles my sweet Caitlin yelping in her sleep, it’s probably best to stay clear of this harbinger of death.

Barguest in Modern Culture

A band

Despite being a worldwide genre, black metal is still most associated with the freeze and isolation of Scandinavia. The genre’s heart and (evil) soul doesn’t have an address; it comes down to the people involved knowing what to utilize and how to do it. This is how a band from the humid swamps of Louisiana made one of the best black metal albums in recent memory.

Read more about Barghest here.

Games

Barghest are creatures summoned by the Beast and haunt Vizima‘s outskirts. There are those who claim they are ordinary dogs transformed into monsters by some curse; others believe they came from the spirit world to torment the town’s inhabitants. Packs of barghests appear out of the blue, in the middle of the night, to kill those who are late getting home.

The Witcher

Barghests (pronounced: /bɑːrˈgɛst/ bar-GEST^[6]  listen) were fiendish lupine shapeshifters and the only true natives of Gehenna.^[3][7] They commanded goblinoids and consumed mortal souls to gain power and return to the Fourfold Furnaces

Forgotten Realms

A movie

Following the unexpected death of their wealthy father, two estranged sisters return home to sort out the estate. But the women share a dark secret from their childhood, one that will lead to a confrontation with the ghastly supernatural creature known as The Barghest. Camp meets horror in this low-budget thriller in the tradition of 1960s William Castle films.

Check it out here.

A book

She stopped short as a deep growl rent the air in the clearing. She froze, hair standing on end, unable to detect the direction the sound had come from.
A twig snapped behind her and she whirled around to see an enormous black dog stalking towards them. In the firelight, the creature’s huge teeth and claws were bone-white and deadly sharp.
“Barghest.” Kiefer’s voice was barely above a whisper. A snarl on Aria’s other side signalled the arrival of a second beast.

The Fair Queen by Lyndsey Hall

You can read my review here.

Barguest in My Writing

The Origin of the Fae: Barguest

The Barguest is a black dog who usually looks like a German Shepherd with reddish eyes. But a mirror can reveal its true nature and looks: a spectral creature with fire for eyes.
They live in the Underworld, keeping souls from escaping back to the world of the living. And if souls were to escape, they go on the hunt in the human realm and forcibly take them back to where they belong.
Barguests ensure that all deals made with creatures from the Underworld are upheld. Usually it entails keeping the foolish mortal safe.
They are great companions and loyal. They have a strong sense of duty.

‘You will be guarded, of course. I want you to live as long as possible.’

‘Guarded…?’

A spectral dog emerged from the shadows. Its eyes gleamed like hot coals. Alyssa blinked and the creature was merely a large dog with red eyes. Scary but not nearly as terrifying as the beast she thought she’d seen.

‘Barguest will take good care of you.’

Wishmaster, Once… Tales, Myths and Legends of Faerie

Have you heard of the Barguest before? Any folklore about the Barguest you’d like to share? Check out my Pinterest board dedicated to the subject.

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