Sawney Bean is a legendary figure from Scotland, who is said to have been a prolific cannibal. Together with his equally cannibalistic family, Sawney Bean murdered and robbed unfortunate victims from their hidden sea cave on the Ayrshire /Galloway coast. These victims would then be eaten, and their leftovers pickled. According to the legend, the Bean family butchered and ate up to 1000 victims during a reign of terror that lasted for 25 years. They were eventually captured and executed. Whilst some argue that the legend is just a tale, others believe that it has its roots in real events that happened, though it grew and was exaggerated over time.
The Beans’ History
In the tales, Alexander ‘Sawney’ Bean is said to have been born in East Lothian sometime either during the reign of James I of Scotland in the early 15th century, or (more commonly) during the reign of James VI of Scotland (known also as James I of England) around the end of the 16th century. In some versions of the legend, Bean’s father is said to have been a hedger and ditcher, whilst others place his family’s trade under the general heading of ‘laborer’s’. In any case, the Beans were honest workers, though the future cannibal is said to have not been interested in such work. One story claims that Bean had been frequently beaten by his father for not being a good enough son, perhaps as an explanation for his later decision to leave society, and to lead a life of crime.
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In any case, Bean met a woman, Agnes Douglas, who was just like him, and the couple removed themselves from society to live in a sea cave, commonly said to be Bennane Cave, on the Ayrshire coast. To support his wife, Bean began to ambush and rob travelers on the lonely narrow roads that connected the villages in that region. In order to prevent his crimes from being reported to the authorities, Bean murdered his victims. Furthermore, to dispose of his victims, and to avoid unnecessary trips back into society for provisions, he took to cannibalism.
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