SOURCE: "The Ash-tree" by M. R. James  (Ghost Stories of an Antiquary (1904)

DESCRIPTION: "First, at the fork, they saw a round body covered with fire - the size of a man's head - appear very suddenly, then seem to collapse and fall back. This, five or six times; then a similar ball leapt into the air and fell on the grass, where after a moment it lay still. The Bishop went as near as he dared to it, and saw - what but the remains of an enormous spider, veinous and seared! And, as the fire burned lower down, more terrible bodies like this began to break out from the trunk, and it was seen that these were covered with greyish hair." ("The Ash-Tree" by M. R. James)

NOTES: The inhabitants of Castringham Hall in Suffolk turn mysteriously ill. Only when the ash-tree on the property is destroyed do they find the spider-like culprit and several mysterious skeletons.

HISTORY: Ash-Tree Press of Ashcroft, British Columbia chose their name from this classic monster story.

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