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The Celts believed the hare had supernatural powers. They were rumoured to shape-shift and even change sex. Brett Westwood goes in search of the Mad March Hare.

There is a roof boss in a church in Devon of three hares running after one another in a circle. Whilst three hares can be clearly seen and each hare has two ears, when you count the ears there are only three. What does this motif mean and where else can it be found? All is revealed when Brett Westwood goes in search of the truth about the elusive and magical Mad March Hare, learns about an ancient coin bearing the image of a hare, and has an unforgettable encounter with several wild hares on a Norfolk farm.

First broadcast in a longer form 20/06/2017
Original producer for Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Audio in Bristol Producer Sarah Blunt.
Archive producer for Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Audio in Bristol Andrew Dawes

Available now

28 minutes

Last on

Sun 19 Mar 2023 06:35

Chris Skinner

Chris Skinner

Chris Skinner was born at in Norfolk whichΒ he now manages for wildlife along with his son. This is where Brett meets him to search for hares.

Tom Greeves

Tom Greeves

Cultural environmentalist Tom GreevesΒ was born in Plymouth in 1949. The universities of Essex, Edinburgh and Exeter prepared him for extensive research, publication, teaching and interpretation, on which is built his reputation as an authority on the archaeology and history of Dartmoor. He has worked independently since 1990.

A varied career has included being Sites & Monuments Officer for Devon, Archaeologist for Dartmoor National Park, and Local Initiatives Officer for the environmental arts group Common Ground. He has worked independently since 1990. Since 1998 he has been Chairman of the Dartmoor Society. He was President of the Devonshire Association 2015-2016.

Besides unravelling Dartmoor’s cultural landscape, Tom’s core interests include Tinworking, The Three Hares, European Prehistory, the Isles of Scilly, and Theatrical Performance.

Dr Sue Andrew

Dr Sue Andrew

Sue Andrew’s studies at Edinburgh and Plymouth universities encompassed anthropology, art history, and architectural conservation. Her doctoral thesis focused on the medieval oak carvings of men and beasts, including the Green Man and the Three Hares, to be found in the roofs of the churches of Devon. Sue gives talks and writes about subjects ranging from the cross-cultural journey of the Three Hares motif, and medieval church art and architecture, to nineteenth-century ecclesiastical carving, and epitaphs in the graveyards of Dartmoor.

In 2016 Sue collaborated with Tom Greeves and Chris Chapman on the book The Three Hares: A Curiosity Worth Regarding (Skerryvore Productions).Β Β 

Chris Chapman

Chris Chapman

Chris Chapman is a Dartmoor photographer and author.

He worked on the project along with Sue Andrew and Tom Greeves and took the photographs for the book about their quest which is discussed in the programme.

Jane Russ

Jane Russ isΒ Chairman of the and author of The Hare Book as well as being an artist.

Broadcasts

  • Tue 20 Jun 2017 11:00
  • Mon 26 Jun 2017 21:00
  • Sun 19 Mar 2023 06:35

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