In 2008, Bungay became Suffolk's first Transition Town and part of a global network of communities that have started projects in the areas of food, transport, energy, education, housing and waste as small-scale local responses to the global challenges of climate change, economic hardship and limited of cheap energy.

Paynter, William and Semmens, Jason (2008). The Cornish Witch-finder: William Henry Paynter and the Witchery, Ghosts, Charms and Folklore of Cornwall. Federation of Old Cornwall Societies. ISBN 978-0-902660-39-7. In actuality, sightings of hellhounds or other demonic figures and acts are often inspired by fearsome weather phenomena. For example, the sightings in Bungay are often attributed to massive thunderstorms that caused buildings to collapse. Lightning strikes might burn wooden structures or at least cause a few stones to fall from stone churches — which could be seen as the devil’s work. Steiger, Brad (2011). Real Monsters, Gruesome Critters, and Beasts from the Darkside. Visible Ink Press. ISBN 9781578592203. Campbell, John Gregorson (1900). Superstitions of the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. Glasgow: James MacLehose and Sons. The history turns to folklore at the funeral of Henry Hobart. After dying of his wound in the hall itself, his family buried his body in the grounds. During the service, a dog came and sat at the feet of the Sexton, whining loudly. Later that day, Henry’s body was found torn from the ground and from his lead coffin and laid out on the grass. The family attempted to bury him again, this time in the woods nearby, but the ‘common ground spat it out’. His body was finally weighted with stones and lowered into the lake. A few days afterwards, the gamekeeper caught a “monstrous eel” from the waters while fishing. Although it looked ‘evil in appearance’ he took it home to cook in a stew.The noted French writer, politician, diplomat and historian, François-René, vicomte de Chateaubriand while exiled from France, 1792 – 1800, during the Revolution spent a period living at the Music House, No. 34 Bridge Street. This is recorded on a blue plaque. [16] In Guernsey is Bodu or tchen Bodu ( tchen being dog in Dgèrnésiais). His appearance, usually in the Clos du Valle, foretells death of the viewer or someone close to him. [41] Capelthwaite [ edit ] More recently, Formula 1 motor racing president Bernie Ecclestone was brought up in Bungay and internet activist Julian Assange was confined to nearby Ellingham Hall, Norfolk in 2010–11. Authors Elizabeth Jane Howard [17] and Louis de Bernières [18] have lived in the town. Blind artist Sargy Mann moved to Bungay in 1990 and lived there until the end of his life. [19] Luke Wright (poet) has lived in Bungay since 2010. [20] Children's author and illustrator James Mayhew currently lives in Bungay. [21]

The railway arrived with the Harleston to Bungay section of the Waveney Valley Line opening in November 1860 and the Bungay to Beccles section in March 1863. Bungay had its own railway station near Clay's Printers. The station closed to passengers in 1953 and freight in 1964. All down the church in midst of fire, the hellish monster flew, and, passing onward to the quire, he many people slew. [14] St Mary’s Church still attracts many visitors who come to see where this strange event took place but whereas the door in Blythburgh Church still retains the scorch marks of the Devils claws there is no similar evidence surviving in Bungay. Fleming was a translator and editor for several printing houses in London, and therefore probably only published his account based on exaggerated oral accounts. Other local accounts attribute the event to the Devil (Fleming calls the animal "the Divel in such a likeness"). The scorch marks on the door are referred to by the locals as "the devil’s fingerprints", and the event is remembered in this verse: Varner, Gary R. Creatures in the mist: little people, wild men and spirit beings around the world: a study in comparative mythology in Algora Publishing 2007, pp. 114–115.Porter, Enid (1969). Cambridgeshire customs and folklore: with Fenland material provided. Taylor & Francis. p.53. The festival was established in 2022 to reclaim the legend, and the date, for the town of Bungay and will run for 3 days in August. There will be a varied programme of events including a carnival parade and an art display

Bungay Castle, which is shown on Bungay's town sign, was originally built by the Normans but was later rebuilt by Roger Bigod, 5th Earl of Norfolk and his family, who also owned Framlingham Castle. The castle contains a unique surviving example of mining galleries, dating to the siege of the castle in 1174. They were intended to undermine and thus collapse the castle's tower and keep. With no more people to eat, the large dogs turned on one another. Only a cunning and very large, single female hound survived. Eventually she grew weak from hunger and was rescued by the fensmen who trained her to hunt the baron’s deer to supply them with fresh meat. Eventually the monks returned to attempt to finish the church again. Although the dog was friendly with the local people, she would reportedly growl at any Christians that came near. One year, the hound disappeared for a week, prompting concern from the fensmen. She soon returned, her paws cut and bleeding as if she had walked miles. It soon became apparent she was pregnant. With no wild wolves around this part of England, the monks nearby suspected the wolf was pregnant with the Devil’s child. Wright, Elizabeth Mary (1913). Rustic Speech and Folk-Lore. Humphrey Milford, Oxford University Press.For he was speechless, ghastly, wan Like him of whom the Story ran Who spoke the spectre hound in Man. Padfoot [ edit ] Shipton, Clifford K (1970). Sibley's Harvard Graduates; Biographical Sketches of Those Who Attended Harvard College. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press. pp.404–406.

The basic story is that the dog was ill-treated by his master and managed to escape but did not know where to go. This was the morning of the day he appeared in the church. He just wanted to shelter from this awful storm. The story tells what happens when the children are suddenly confronted by this apparently savage animal and discover his side of the story.'Rose, Carol (2001). Giants, Monsters, and Dragons. New York: W. W. Norton & Company. ISBN 0-393-32211-4. Evans-Wentz, Walter (1966, 1990) [1911]. The Fairy Faith in Celtic Countries. Citadel Press. ISBN 0-8065-1160-5. The Dark Huntsman". Legendarydartmoor.co.uk. 28 October 2007. Archived from the original on 19 October 2013 . Retrieved 18 June 2012. Hilsdon, Sonia. Jersey Witches, Ghosts & Traditions. Norwich: Jarrold Colour Publications, 1984. Print. McNab, Chris "Mythical Monsters: The scariest creatures from legends, books, and movies" in Scholastic Publishing 2006, pp. 8–9.