The mysterious story of the Woolpit Green Children that baffled England in the 12th century

Legend has it that the children arrived in Woolpit and eventually settled in the village. Photo: iStock
In the 12th century, the inhabitants of Woolpit, a quiet English village located in Suffolk, England, witnessed an unusual discovery in a nearby well that baffled everyone and still remains unexplained.
Legend has it that in the year 1150, several farmers were in the harvest areas when they noticed the presence of a boy and a girl, both with green skin and strange clothing.
The children wouldn't accept food that wasn't green. Photo: iStock
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However, what most surprised the villagers was the unknown language the children spoke , their constant nervousness, and their rejection of the food offered to them.
According to the testimonies of citizens familiar with the story, the children were taken to the home of Sir Richard de Calne, where for days they refused to eat anything other than green food.
As the years passed, Agnes survived and learned to communicate with a few words of English , so, curious to know where she came from, the peasants asked the girl how she had come to be at Woolpit.
According to the young woman, both she and her brother came from a land known as San Martín , a place where sunlight rarely managed to shine and which bordered another region by a river.
The village of Woolpit where the children were found. Photo: Google Maps
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As the little girl grew more confident, she revealed details of her life in the mysterious land. She said that one day she was with her brother feeding their father's flock, and suddenly they began to hear a loud sound that transported them to the place where they were found.
While the truth about the origin of the green children remains a mystery to historians and folklore enthusiasts, one theory in Suffolk is that the children were malnourished, which is why they had that skin color.
A plaque commemorating the legend of the green children has been installed in Woolpit. Photo: Google Maps
The idea of possible chlorosis gained strength with each century, as children showed physical changes after adapting to village conditions and improvements in their diet.
Despite this, some people still suggest that the disease doesn't produce such an intense tone in the body, no matter how serious it is, giving rise to speculation about a possible link to Flemish immigrants.
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