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Earlier in the month, a short distance from Venice, the remains of a sixteenth century woman were discovered with a brick jammed between her upper and lower jaws. Anthropologist Matteo Borrini, based at the University of Florence, considers the discovery as the first evidence of anti-vampire practice in the region. In an age where the nature of death was not fully understood, it was believed that some of the dead returned to life, spreading plague as they fed. The resting undead could be identified in the grave by a hole over the mouth in the shroud that was used to cover the deceased (thought to have been chewed away, though current science tells us this hole was a product of bacterial decay). To prevent the return of the vampire, an uneatable item would have to be placed in the mouth; in the Venice case, a brick is a more than adequate implement.

While mainland Europe may have been gripped with vampire fever at various stages of its development, we in the UK have very few vampiric myths and legends to our name.

One twelfth century story comes from Melrose Abbey. When an immoral and unpious priest who spent more time hunting and chasing women died, he was buried within the grounds of the abbey. He didn't stay down for long, and soon began stalking the local neighbourhood. By some accounts, the local monks tolerated his return, but once the brothers started to receive complaints that the undead holy man was terrorising a nearby nunnery, the strongest monk was selected to slay the creature. The monk waited until the sun set, and when the priest climbed from the tomb, the monk took his head off with one stroke of a large axe.

An even earlier account of a vampire can be found in Irish mythology. A blood drinking fifth century warlord named Abhartach was killed by Cathrain, a rival for the throne. Abhartach was buried, but returned two days later and started feeding on the locals. Cathrain killed the undead leader once again, only for Abhartach to return after another two days had past. Realising that this could go on for some time, Cathrain approached druids, who advised him that the vampire could only be finally put to rest by stabbing him through the heart with a sword made from yew. Cathrain made his weapon and took Abhartach down for the final time, who never returned. Abhartach's grave is said to be visible close to Garvagh, covered with a large stone with a thorn tree growing from one side.

The most recent report of UK 'vampire' activity I have on file relates to the urban myth that took Birmingham by storm around January 2005. A gentleman, reported to be in his twenties, bit another man walking along the street before pouncing on neighbours who came to the victim's aid. One woman who was present was said to have had a chunk bitten out of her hand. Before long, several communities were sharing stories about a crazy guy who was going around knocking on doors and biting people. Despite the many 'friend of a friend' stories, police never received any first hand complaints, and the last story I can find on the case is from the icBirmingham website 'Police Closing in on Vampire'. I'm willing to wager he was never found.

Darren Mann
www.paranormaldatabase.com