She Waits Beneath the Surface… The Truth About Wicked Jenny

Jenny Greenteeth (a.k.a. Wicked Jenny) – Folklore Entity

Location: Predominantly associated with the Lancashire and Cheshire regions, United Kingdom
(Specific sites include local ponds, rivers, and marshes throughout Northern England)

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History:

Jenny Greenteeth, also known by the sinister nickname “Wicked Jenny,” is a figure rooted in English folklore, especially prevalent in the northern counties of Lancashire and Cheshire. Descriptions of Jenny Greenteeth first began to circulate in the 18th and 19th centuries as part of oral storytelling traditions, often used to keep children away from dangerous waterways.

She is typically depicted as a malevolent water spirit or hag, with green skin, long tangled hair, sharp teeth, and claws. Jenny lurks beneath the surface of still or slow-moving water—ponds, canals, and marshes—waiting to grab unsuspecting victims.

Her most common targets were said to be children and the elderly, whom she would drag beneath the water to drown and devour.

Jenny Greenteeth may have roots in ancient Celtic water spirit traditions, and she shares similarities with other mythological beings like the Scottish kelpie or the Slavic rusalka.

Over time, she evolved from cautionary folklore into a symbol of local ghost stories, appearing in many regional legends and, later, fictional tales.

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Hauntings:

While Jenny Greenteeth is primarily mythological, there are locations throughout Northern England—particularly in villages near murky bodies of water—where residents have claimed encounters with a “woman in green” or strange activity near swamps and rivers.

Reported hauntings and supernatural phenomena include:

• Apparitions: Sightings of a gaunt, green-skinned woman near riverbanks or half-submerged in water, usually seen from a distance before disappearing.
• Strange Noises: Guttural sounds, like growling or hissing, heard around ponds and canals, especially after dark.
• Water Disturbances: Rippling water, bubbles, or disturbances with no clear source—especially when people are alone or feel watched.
• Animal Reactions: Dogs reportedly refuse to go near some of these waters, growling or becoming agitated without any visible threat.

In some towns like St. Helens or Wigan, certain areas have gained reputations for being “haunted by Wicked Jenny,” particularly in places where drownings occurred under mysterious or tragic circumstances.

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Personal Experiences:

• A Wigan resident in the 1970s claimed to see “a green-skinned woman with stringy black hair” rise from the canal during a foggy evening. He was so disturbed by the incident he avoided that part of town for years (source: Local Legends of Lancashire, 1998).
• In 2005, paranormal investigators visiting a boggy area near Croston reported unexplained cold spots, high EMF readings, and the sensation of being watched near the edge of the water, though no apparition was captured.
• In 2011, a child visiting a pond in Cheshire with his grandparents reported “a green lady trying to grab me” after leaning over the water, though no adult witnessed anything.

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Paranormal Activity Rating:
Medium (Regular activity)
While Jenny Greenteeth is primarily considered folklore, the consistency of sightings, experiences, and geographic clustering near water sources have led to ongoing paranormal interest and investigation in rural Northern England.

​While there are no direct film adaptations of the Jenny Greenteeth legend, the character has inspired portrayals in cinema. Notably, the 1985 fantasy film Legend, directed by Ridley Scott, features a character named Meg Mucklebones—a green-skinned, hag-like creature residing in a swamp—who is directly inspired by the Jenny Greenteeth folklore. ​

Additionally, the 1981 Canadian horror film Ghostkeeper incorporates elements reminiscent of water spirits and hags from folklore, though it doesn’t explicitly reference Jenny Greenteeth. The film revolves around an old woman who harbors a malevolent entity, drawing parallels to legends of female water spirits who lure victims.

While Jenny Greenteeth hasn’t been the central figure in mainstream films, her influence is evident in various media, including literature and audio storytelling. For instance, the short story “Jenny (A Fairytale)” by Michael Byrne, featured on the horror podcast PseudoPod, offers a modern retelling of the Jenny Greenteeth legend. ​PseudoPod

These examples highlight how the eerie essence of Jenny Greenteeth continues to permeate horror and fantasy narratives across different mediums.