In the 12th century, the small English village of Woolpit was the site of one of the most peculiar events in history: the sudden appearance of two children with green skin. The children, who spoke an unknown language and claimed to come from a place called “St. Martin’s Land,” have baffled historians for centuries. The tale of the Green Children of Woolpit has since become one of England’s most enduring folklore mysteries.
A Strange Discovery
The story begins during the reign of King Stephen (1135–1154), when villagers working in the fields near Woolpit stumbled upon a brother and sister dressed in strange clothing. Both children had green-tinted skin and spoke a language no one could understand. They were taken to the home of a local landowner, Sir Richard de Calne, where they refused to eat any of the food offered to them except for raw beans.
Over time, the children began to adapt to their new surroundings, and their green skin eventually faded. The boy, however, became sick and died shortly after their arrival, while the girl survived and learned to speak English. She later explained that they had come from a subterranean world called St. Martin’s Land, where the sun never shone, and everything was bathed in a greenish twilight.
Theories of Origin
The story of the Green Children of Woolpit has been passed down through generations, but its origins remain a mystery. Some historians believe the children may have been Flemish immigrants who had become lost in the woods and were suffering from chlorosis, a condition that can cause the skin to turn green due to malnutrition. However, this theory doesn’t explain the children’s strange language or their account of St. Martin’s Land.
Other theories are more fantastical, suggesting that the children were visitors from another dimension or even extraterrestrial beings. The description of a twilight world with no sun has led some to speculate that the children came from a parallel universe, while others have suggested that the story is simply an allegory or medieval folklore.
A Mystery That Endures
The tale of the Green Children of Woolpit has captivated imaginations for centuries, and while some explanations may seem more plausible than others, the truth remains elusive. Whether they were refugees from a distant land, beings from another world, or simply a medieval legend, the Green Children continue to be one of England’s most fascinating unsolved mysteries.
