Black Shuck is the name of a ghostly black dog which roams the coastline and countryside of East Anglia. The name Shuck comes from the old English word succa which means “devil, fiend” however accounts of the creature’s nature varies from an omen of death to a companion.

Huge Black Dog

Descriptions of the Black Shuck vary from a large dog to the size of a horse.

Visiting a church at midnight

The earliest printed account of the Black Shuck is from the 1850 edition of the journal Note and Queries by Reverend E.S. Taylor which describes the animal as “Suck the Dog fiend”. Taylor goes onto describe the curse of the black shuck as a “black shaggy dog, with fiery eyes and of immense size, and who visits churchyards at midnight”.

News

In 2020 the Eastern Daily Press published an article “have you seen the devil dog?” as many people have claimed to have witnessed the dog at Blakeney.
A potential black shuck skeleton was unearthed in 2014 at the ruins of Leiston Abbey in neighbouring Suffolk.

Black Shuck Gin

Norfolk's Legendary Spirit, Black Shuck Gin, founded in 2011 and named after the creature is a popular gin available throughout the county. The spirit amalgamates traditional botanicals such as Juniper, Coriander and Bitter Orange Peel with Norfolk's own Lavender and Sea Buckthorn. It is available to purchase at Satchells wine at Burnham Market.
The company has since branched out into other gins and spirits including black shuck blush gin and Black Shuck Rum.

Frequently asked questions

What type of dog is Black Shuck?

The breed of dog is unknown but is described as very large with shaggy black fur and glowing red eyes.

What is the legend of the Black Shuck?

The Black Shuck is a large dog that roams East Anglia.