water-spirits

Several rivers were said to be inhabited by beings who dragged people (especially children) into the water to drown them. These include the Ribble and the Tees (both in Lancashire), homes of Peg o' Nell and Peg Powler (Henderson, 1866: 265). Several northern and western counties used the name Nelly Long-Arms; there was also Jenny Green-teeth in pools in Lancashire and Cheshire, and a male figure called Nicky Nye in Somerset (Tongue, 1970: 108-16).