The Brassknocker Beast

Over at the Creature of the Month section at the blog of New Page Books, I take a look at the weird story of the "Beast of Brassknocker Hill," about which I begin as follows:

"The strange saga all began in July 1979, amid wild rumours that a terrifying monster was haunting the dark woods of Brassknocker Hill, situated near the old British city of Bath. Described variously, and in both excited and hysterical tones, as a long-fanged, four foot tall creature resembling a baboon, chimpanzee, spider-monkey, gibbon or lemur, the creature was of far more concern to some than it was to others."