The Legend of the Green Children: Visitors From Another World?

Deep within the chronicles of English folklore lies the legend of the green children, a narrative that has baffled historians and scientists for over eight centuries.

It remains one of the most perplexing unexplained mysteries from the medieval era, blending history with high strangeness.

Even in 2025, with our advanced understanding of genetics and astronomy, this story refuses to be easily debunked or forgotten.

We invite you to step into the 12th century, a time of civil war, to unravel this enduring enigma.

Table of Contents:

1. What Actually Happened in the Village of Woolpit?
2. Who Were the Primary Chroniclers of This Event?
3. Why Do Historians Believe It Was a Case of Chlorosis?
4. Could the Children Have Been Flemish Refugees?
5. How Does the Extraterrestrial Theory Hold Up?
6. Comparative Analysis of Theories (Table)
7. Where Does the Story Stand in Modern Culture?
8. Conclusion
9. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What Actually Happened in the Village of Woolpit?

The story begins during the turbulent reign of King Stephen, specifically in the quiet Suffolk village of Woolpit.

Villagers harvesting their fields were suddenly interrupted by the emergence of two young children from deep, wolf-trapping pits.

These were no ordinary orphans; their skin glowed with a distinct, vivid green hue that shocked the locals.

Furthermore, the boy and girl spoke a language entirely unrecognizable to the English peasantry, adding to the immediate confusion.

Their clothing was described as being made from a strange material, unlike anything produced in the local weaving guilds.

Taken to the home of Sir Richard de Calne, the children initially refused all food presented to them.

Starvation seemed imminent until they were offered raw broad beans, which they devoured eagerly straight from the stalks.

Over time, the boy became increasingly lethargic and depressed, eventually succumbing to illness and dying shortly after their arrival.

However, the girl survived, eventually losing her green pigmentation and learning to speak English fluently.

She described their home as “St. Martin’s Land,” a place of perpetual twilight where the sun never fully rose.

According to her account, they were tending to their father’s cattle when they heard a loud noise like bells.

Entranced by the sound, they wandered into a cavern and suddenly emerged into the blinding sunlight of Woolpit.

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Who Were the Primary Chroniclers of This Event?

We do not rely on oral tradition alone; the legend of the green children was recorded by two respected 12th-century historians.

Ralph of Coggeshall, an abbot living in neighboring Essex, documented the event in his Chronicum Anglicanum.

He claimed to have heard the story directly from Sir Richard de Calne, the knight who sheltered the children.

This direct lineage to the primary witness adds a layer of credibility that most folklore simply does not possess.

William of Newburgh, a historian noted for his critical eye and skepticism, also included the account in Historia rerum Anglicarum.

Newburgh was generally dismissive of ghost stories, yet he felt compelled to include this narrative due to the overwhelming number of witnesses.

He admitted to being overwhelmed by the weight of testimony, despite the inherent absurdity of green-skinned children.

Both writers place the event squarely in reality, treating it as a biological anomaly rather than a fairy tale.

Scholars today still analyze these texts, looking for linguistic clues that might explain the children’s unknown dialect.

Why Do Historians Believe It Was a Case of Chlorosis?

Skeptics often turn to medical explanations to ground the strange details of the story in biological reality.

The most prominent theory suggests the children suffered from Hypochromic Anemia, historically known as “Chlorosis” or the “Green Sickness.”

This condition, caused by a severe deficiency in iron, can tint the complexion with a distinct greenish pallor.

Malnutrition was rampant during the 12th century, making such dietary deficiencies a plausible explanation for their odd appearance.

Moreover, their exclusive diet of raw beans supports this, as their bodies may have craved the nutrients found in vegetation.

Once the surviving girl adopted a varied English diet, her skin returned to a normal color, supporting the nutritional hypothesis.

However, this theory fails to explain the strange material of their clothes or the unknown language they spoke.

Medical professionals argue that extreme isolation could result in dialect development, but it remains a tentative connection.

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Could the Children Have Been Flemish Refugees?

Historical context provides a darker, more tragic explanation for the legend of the green children involving ethnic persecution.

During the 12th century, a significant number of Flemish immigrants and mercenaries settled in East Anglia.

In 1173, the Battle of Fornham saw thousands of Flemish mercenaries slaughtered by the forces of King Henry II.

It is highly probable that the children were orphaned survivors from a nearby Flemish settlement destroyed during the conflict.

Flemish speaks a dialect of Dutch, which would have sounded completely alien to the English-speaking villagers of Woolpit.

The “St. Martin’s Land” the girl mentioned likely referred to the village of Fornham St. Martin, separated by the River Lark.

The “twilight” she described could have been the dense canopy of Thetford Forest, casting their home in shadow.

Trauma and shock might have led to their confused state, wandering into the flint mines that dotted the landscape.

Historian Paul Harris suggested they hid in the flint mines, eventually emerging in Woolpit, disoriented and malnourished.

This theory effectively grounds the “aliens” as refugees of war, humanizing a story often treated as fantasy.

How Does the Extraterrestrial Theory Hold Up?

Despite rational explanations, the allure of the supernatural keeps the extraterrestrial theory alive in urban legend communities.

Scottish astronomer Duncan Lunan famously analyzed the story, suggesting a potential malfunction in a matter transmitter.

He hypothesized that the children were transported inadvertently from a planet trapped in a synchronous orbit around its sun.

This would explain the “perpetual twilight” the girl described, as her world would lack a traditional sunrise or sunset.

Furthermore, the strange vegetation and their inability to process Earth food initially points to distinct biological differences.

Lunan later withdrew some claims, yet the idea of interdimensional travel remains a favorite among fortean researchers.

Proponents argue that “St. Martin’s Land” could be a parallel dimension intersecting with ours at the ancient wolf pits.

The mention of a loud sound—like bells—before their arrival mimics modern reports of high-frequency noises during close encounters.

While lacking physical evidence, this angle aligns perfectly with modern UFO lore and “Starseed” narratives popular today.

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Comparative Analysis of Theories

To help you digest the complexity of this mystery, we have broken down the three leading viewpoints.

Theory	Core Explanation	Strengths	Weaknesses
Medical	Hypochromic Anemia (Chlorosis) caused green skin.	Explains the skin color recovery after diet change.	Ignores the strange clothes and language.
Historical	Flemish orphans fleeing the Battle of Fornham.	Explains the language barrier and geography.	Does not fully account for the green skin.
Folklore/Alien	Visitors from another dimension or planet.	Explains the twilight world and strange entry.	Lacks physical evidence; scientifically improbable.

Where Does the Story Stand in Modern Culture?

Today, Woolpit embraces its strange heritage, with the children appearing on the official village sign.

The story has inspired operas, novels, and countless articles, proving its lasting resonance in our collective imagination.

In 2025, with interest in UAP (Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena) at an all-time high, the story feels incredibly relevant.

It serves as a reminder that history is not always a linear record of clear facts.

Instead, it often presents us with fragments of truth that we must piece together using modern perspectives.

Whether they were refugees, sick children, or visitors, their plight evokes a universal sympathy across the centuries.

The mystery challenges us to look beyond the obvious and consider the forgotten corners of our past.

If you are interested in exploring more British folklore and documented anomalies, visit The British Library – Folklore and Legend.

Conclusion

Ultimately, the legend of the green children serves as a fascinating mirror to the anxieties of the 12th century.

It forces us to confront how we treat the “other,” the stranger who arrives speaking a different tongue.

While the medical and historical explanations offer comfort to the rational mind, the mystery refuses to die.

We may never know for certain why two green-skinned children walked out of the wolf pits that day.

Perhaps the truth lies somewhere between the tragedy of war and the magic of folklore.

However, the story endures because it touches on the fundamental human fear of—and fascination with—the unknown.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the legend of the green children?
It is a 12th-century account of two green-skinned children appearing in Woolpit, England, speaking an unknown language.

Did the green children actually exist?
Yes, two contemporary chroniclers, Ralph of Coggeshall and William of Newburgh, documented the event as historical fact.

Why were the children green?
Most historians attribute the color to dietary deficiency (Chlorosis), though folklore suggests magical or extraterrestrial origins.

What happened to the green children?
The boy died shortly after discovery, but the girl survived, learned English, and integrated into society.

Where is Woolpit located?
Woolpit is a real village located in the county of Suffolk, in East Anglia, England.

Is there a movie about the green children?
While no major blockbuster exists, the story has inspired many documentaries, books, and artistic interpretations.

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