A STRANGE STORY

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 11, 14 January 1933, Page 16

A STRANGE STORY

The. Lively Legend of the Lamfoton! ■'"■ ■: . ' Worm

Legendary lore clusters around and about various districts in the County of Durham. Some of the strangest things have been handed down from generation to generation, and are actually on record. Museums prove that-some of the most extraordinary animals roamed over the undulating lands of this county in the misty past, but the Lambton Worm takes some "swallowing" eve though its history is actually set down for anyone to read (says a writer in an English paper). The story begins with a young heir to the Lambton estate. He was said to be somewhat dissolute, and spent his Sundays fishing in tho Eiver Wear. One day he laboured long without ■ ; result, and, so it is averred, expressed himself in curses loud and long. Having exhausted himself in this way he dropped tho, line once again in the river, and presently- there was a tug. He thought his luck had changed, and began to reel in. It was a difficult task which required all his strength. At length the end appeared in sight, but, instead of a fish he found he had caught only a worm, and a worm of a diabolical type. It was so disgusting that the enraged angler tore it from the hook and flung it into a well near by. Another attempt was made to secure a fish, and while the young aristocrat ;. was thus engaged a stranger of vener- _ able appearance passed by, » "What sport?" he inquired, and the fisherman, replying, "Well, truly, I think I've caught the.devil," directed him to look into the well. The worm , could be seen, and the stranger said he- had never Been anything like it— that it was like an eft, that it had nine holes on each side of its mouth, and that.it betokened evil. The worm remained unheeded in the '_ -well, but soon grew so large that it became necessary to seek another habitation. ' To that point any sane reader would agree that the story is quite palatable. We have all seen strange and unaccount- ■ able creatures at one time or another. But if you will follow me a little further I will tell you what legend says ... of this" worm. > Having outgrown the ; well- it returned to the river, and lay - coiled during the day round a rock in - : midstream. It was a night-walker, be- ;.... caus.e we> learn that when . darkness ;.;,. fell- iti would frequent" a neighbouring * hill, twining itself, around' the base. ?,: I* grew to1, enormous proportions, until r it could wrap itself three times round :■■ the.hill. " ■ • "_■ -This worm : 'was now the terror of .-•■ the _whole district, devouring lambs, sacking the cows' milk, and committing - every species of injury on tho cattle ■-:-■- of the peasantry. The neighbourhood ,— was_ soon laid waste, and the worm, finding no further support for its great bulk on the north side of the river crossed toward Lambton Castle, whero the old lord was then living. The lonely . old .man was bemoaning the loss of his 7 son, the angler. Having repented his sms, he had gone to tho tylis in a far distant land. .In the courtyard at the castlo Was a large trough. filled with milk. The ," monster approached it, drank tho contents, and returned to its favourite hill. Next day it returned at the same hour. The quantity of the milk was the produce of nine cows, and if at any time the quantity, was less the worm enraged, would lash his tail about the trees in the park and drag them up by • the roots. % -.- Attempts wero frequently made to > slay this brutal visitor, but: without avail. Gallant knights assailed it, but 'it is recorded that, although they had : succeeded in cutting it asunder, the two parts came together again, and the • assailant was' fortunate if he escaped • without the loss of a limb. :'. But-even a worm has its day! Back :"■ from the wars came the heir of Lamb- ,;■ ton to learn with horror of the waste ~ and desolation upon the broad lands of -f the'estate of his ancestors. He crossed .. tho river and saw the huge creature

coiled round the hill. Soon he learned of the fate of many who had gallantly attempted to take its life, and he adopted the precaution of consulting a wise woman as to the best process to adopt. Now comes a melancholy part of the strange narrative. The woman of visions told him that he was the direct cause of the visitation and the misery, and that he could remove it Iroin the land. He must wear his best suit of mail coated with the blades of spears, and take his stand on the rock in the middle of the river, trusting to his valour and the might of his sword. But he must also take a solemn vow, if successful, to slay the first living thing he met the death of the worm. The warning of the old woman was: "If you fail to do this the lords of Lambton, for nine generations, will never die in their beds." The vow was made, and then, armed in tho way directed, ho took up his appointed station upon the rock in the river. At the usual hour the worm uncoiled and too-k its course to tho castle of Lambton. It approached the rock where the knight stood ready for the combat. He struck tho monster upon the head with all his might without producing any other effect than to annoy it. Tho worm closed upon him and received the full force of the spear heads. Blood issued from the. wounds until tho river was crimson. The strength of the monster rapidly diminished, and at the proper'timo, the knight made. tho final attack and cut it into several parts. The several portions were carried away in the stream and the remaining part was expeditiously and skilfully destroyed by the assailant. Now for the sequel. Proud of his victory the young man sounded a blast upon his horn to assure the aged father of his safety. The latter ran forth to, meet him, and they embraced. It waß a terrible moment for the son, remem-. Bering the injunction of the old woman. It was more than he could do to strike his father down; and he sounded the bugle again. A favourite hound bounded forward, and the knight reluctantly drew his sword, which he plunged into the heart of his faithful companion. But it was to no purpose; the vow had been broken. The prediction was fufilled. For nine generations tho woman's curse pressed heavily upon, the House of Lambton. People of the district learned of the curse, and they looked with great curios! . wondering whether it would hold good. Henry Lambton died in his carriage on 26th June, 1761, while driving over the now bridge at Lambton.' The son of the hero who slew the worm was said to have been drowned near the chapet where his father made the unkept vow. Sir William Lambton, a Koyalist, was slain at tho Battle of Marston Moor, and his son William received his deathblow at Wakcfield while leading a troop of dragoons in 1643. It is further related that General Lambton, not being able to die in bed, had to be taken out of it before his agonies could be terminated. At one time ther& was actually' at Lambton the effigy of the member of the family who got rid of the worm. It represented the knight, armed cap-a-pie, his visor raised, and_ .the back of his coat of mail closely inlaid with spear blades. His left hand held the head of the worm by the car, and his right was drawing the sword out of it? throat into which it had descended up to the hilt. Another uffigy was that of the woman who was believed to have pronounced the curse. A trough was in tho grounds which is traditionally associated with the legend, and it used to be said there was a piece of something resembling a bull's hide which was declared to be part of the worm's skin. Such is the story of the Lambton Worm. I can only leave it with you to foT..i your own conclusions!