In a world saturated with information, a different kind of history is being kept alive by a voice committed to the past. Storyteller Eileen Budd is on a mission to bring "village stories" – the authentic, working-class folklore of Scotland – to life, not just through words, but through the very objects that once populated these tales.
Budd's unique approach centres around what she calls her "Travelling Folk Museum." This isn’t a collection of priceless antiquities, but rather a humble trove of items, many of them donated, that hold a far greater value: stories. "I really got into the idea of telling stories about objects," Budd explains, contrasting her work with the grand, often top-down narratives found in larger institutions. "The stories I like to tell are the ones from the village… because they tell you everything else, whether it's good, politic to know or not."
Recently, she's added native herbs to her collection, a way to engage the senses and literally allow her audiences to "smell the third century." It's a testament to her belief that history isn't just to be seen, but to be felt, handled, and experienced in every possible way.
This passion for oral history is deeply personal for Budd. "I come from a family of storytellers," she shares. A key part of her story is that she is legally blind, a fact that went unnoticed until she was eight. By then, she had already developed a profound ability to listen and remember, becoming an adept keeper of the oral tradition. This unique skill, honed from childhood, became the foundation of her career.
The Lamp and the Boy
The power of Budd's work is perhaps best illustrated by a single, simple object: a "crusie lamp," a traditional Scottish oil lamp. While its history connects to broader narratives of whaling and poverty, its richest story came from a recent school visit. After an entire day of sessions where no student had correctly identified the lamp, a single, quiet pupil, who rarely spoke in class, correctly named it. The teacher later revealed it was the first time that child had ever given a right answer in that child's entire school career. The experience so profoundly impacted the boy that he began to write and illustrate his own stories, creating a new layer of folklore attached to the very object that sparked his imagination.
The Picts and the Parallels
Budd’s curiosity about the past extends to her other major project, the podcast "At Home With The Picts," which explores the mysterious ancient inhabitants of Scotland. The series delves into the daily lives of the Picts through an interdisciplinary lens, connecting their intricate stone carvings to crafts like weaving. "I'm really, really interested in interdisciplinary ways of learning and working," she says, pointing out how a modern-day blacksmith can understand an ancient object in a way an academic cannot.
This interdisciplinary fascination is a cornerstone of her philosophy, as evidenced by a project she was part of with the Victoria & Albert Museum and a group of newly qualified surgeons. The doctors, who had never done drawing or handwriting, couldn't use their surgical knives with precision. By pairing them with artists and craftspeople, their manual dexterity improved, proving that seemingly unrelated fields are deeply interconnected.
Werewolves and a Muffinier
No discussion of folklore is complete without cryptids. Budd expresses a fondness for werewolves and, of course, the Loch Ness Monster, sharing a chilling story of her parents’ eerie encounter with unexplained ripples and a sudden, unnatural silence on the loch.
The conversation takes a lighter turn with a look into her own life. Budd admits she could survive on a Viking-age diet, though she would sorely miss coffee and salt. And the weirdest item in her kitchen? A muffinier, a specific and wonderfully decadent device for dusting powdered sugar.
For her journey to Valhalla, Budd’s grave goods would include a good bottle of Rioja, a haunch of venison, and some herbs.
Eileen Budd is more than a storyteller; she is a custodian of community memory, a scholar of the everyday, and a bridge between the past and present. Her ability to bring history to life through objects, personal anecdotes, and a deep understanding of folklore is truly inspiring.
To hear more of this fascinating conversation and the full story of the salted dried plum, you can listen to the complete interview on the Will I Vike It? podcast.
You can find more of Eileen's amazing work on her website at linktr.ee/eileenbudd, on Instagram at @EileenBudd, and be sure to check out her podcasts, Scottish Folk and At Home With The Picts.
Stay Wyrd.