In a mysterious corner of Northern England, lying in close proximity to latitude 54.45422300000001 and longitude -3.211602000000001, is the city of Carlisle, with a rich history filled with fascinating folklore. One such tale is the legendary Cursing Stone of Carlisle. The stone, seventy-seven lines of hex, is a large granite boulder inscribed with a curse first invoked by Archbishop Gavin Dunbar in 1525 against the notorious Reiver families of the bloody Anglo-Scottish borderlands. The Archbishop’s original curse was a colossal 1,069 words long, invoking the wrath of God, saints, and spirits on the thieves, routed in detailed, chilling Early-Modern English. The stone was carved and placed in 2001 and quickly created considerable controversy and unease among local residents. Many believe that the stone has brought them ill fortune. Mysterious events, from foot and mouth disease to local football team Carlisle United struggling, floods that damaged the city, to an unusually high rate of road accidents in the area are blamed on the dark influence of the stone. Fueled by these events, the bishop of Carlisle called for the stone to be smashed and, in 2005, local councilors were urged to debate the stone’s removal. It seems after 500 years, Dunbar’s curse has lost none of its power to stir fear into the hearts of men. However, the stone is still in place and continues to intrigue and thrill visitors to Carlisle, much as it has disturbed some locals. A haunting reminder of a turbulent past, the Cursing Stone of Carlisle continues to remain an enduring piece of folklore into the modern day.