WESTCOUNTRY TALES S1E1 - The Sabbatical

Welcome to the first episode of this drama series from the 1980's. If you're a fan of classic British anthology horror you'll find a hidden gem in Westcountry Tales . This atmospheric BBC series aired for two seasons and offers a uniquely eerie glimpse into the folklore of South West England. Unlike scripted dramas, the first series of Westcountry Tales was born from a direct appeal to the public. The BBC asked viewers to write in with their real-life experiences of the weird and supernatural. From hundreds of letters, 13 stories were adapted into television scripts, giving the show a grounding in genuine local legend and reported phenomena. This episode is based on an anonymous contribution and written by Josephine Poole. The Rev. Anthony Shaw played by Keith Barron takes a much needed break from his work and has a holiday in a West Country village. His discovery of a lonely village church leads to a night of terror dominated by the villagers (played by Joan Hansford, Douglas johns, Betty Tucker, Hubert Tucker and Ken Harris). His salvation comes from a little girl he has met played by Charlotte Helyar. The story is narrated by John Abineri . This upload has been subject to video and audio restoration with an added opening title sequence. Copyright resides with the original holder https://www.bbc.co.uk/historyofthebbc