And Nigel Sustins, author of a newly-published narrative poem that builds on the legend of horseman Edric and his fairy bride Godda, is giving a talk about the Saxon kings exploits at Ludlow Assembly Rooms next Sunday (28 September). He [Nigel] will be accompanied by local experts on landscape and literature, Anne Oakes Jones and Gordon Dickins. Some of the paintings by Rod Shaw which inspired the 64-page poem will be on display.

Edric made life very uncomfortable for the Normans, but he eventually settled his differences with them and joined them to take on the Scots.Edric, Godda and their followers are said to live on to this day, imprisoned in the old mine workings under The Stiperstones as punishment for making peace with the Normans. A ghostly Edric and his men riding the Wild Hunt across the south west Shropshire countryside are said to be harbingers of war.

Edric was to Shropshire what Hereward the Wake was to the Fens, so when I saw Nigels poem and Rods paintings on the book covers, we were delighted to brew the beer, said Woods MD Edward Wood.

Said Nigel: “Ive re-imagined the story of Edric and Godda with some new characters, and a new slant on the supernatural element. Im delighted that the commemorative beer and book together will raise awareness of the Shropshire stalwart.

Woods are donating 2p to the Shropshire Wildlife Trust for every pint of Wild Edric sold. The poem publishers, Marchland Books, are also planning to donate 50p per copy of the books 6.50 cover price to the Wildlife Trust. The book will be on sale at the Assembly Rooms event and is sold by local bookshops.

Wild Edric is a 4.3% draught bitter that will be sold at selected local free houses in the coming weeks.

It is the third outdoor celebration beer that Wood’s have created this year. It has also brewed Shropshire Hills Beauty to mark the 50th anniversary of the Shropshire Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and Shropshire Way Trail Ale to mark the extension of the countys long-distance footpath. Wild Edrics Way is another long-distance path running nearly 50 miles over some of south Shropshires finest countryside between the Church Stretton start and Ludlow finish