The Lambton Worm

Evening all, it's been a while since I've been on. Hope you're all well.

Does anyone know anyone from the This is Wearside group that did the Lambton Worm banner at the game on Saturday? I'd like to talk to them. Feel free to DM me, or whatever.

 

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Nice to hear from you NC. I'm sure someone will be on to you. Would you be having some historical input re The Worm?

 

Yeah, it's to do with a history/heritage project that I'm involved with. I think what they did was great and I'd like to talk to them for this project.

 

Great to see you post Norton. Can't help with your request but it's wonderful knowing that you are still around and posting. Long may it continue

 

Cheers mate. Good to hear from you!

 

You have been missed Norton.

 

Can't help with this,but it's good to see you back on here. I've missed your always intelligent debate.

 

Cheers mate, nice of you to say. Hope all is.good with you

 

Thanks mate, that's nice to hear. I hope all is well with you.

 

Welcome back mate,

 

Cheers mate!

 

Don't know if this helps mate

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Ballad of the Lambton Worm
The Lambton Worm

Words by C.M. Leumane (1867)



One Sunday morn young Lambton went

A-fishing’ in the Wear;

An’ catched a fish upon he’s heuk,

He thowt leuk’t varry queer.

But whatt’n a kind of fish it was

Young Lambton cuddent tell.

He waddn’t fash te carry’d hyem,

So he hoyed it doon a well.

chorus:

Whisht! Lads, haad yor gobs,

An Aa’ll tell ye’s aall an aaful story

Whisht! Lads, haad yor gobs,

An’ Aa’ll tell ye ‘boot the worm.

Noo Lambton felt inclined te gan

An’ fight i’ foreign wars.

He joined a troop o’ Knights that cared

For nowther woonds nor scars,

An’ off he went te Palestine

Where queer things him befel,

An’ varry seun forgat abootT

he queer worm i’ the well.

(chorus)

But the worm got fat an’ growed and’ growed

An’ growed an aaful size;

He’d greet big teeth, a greet big gob,

An’ greet big goggle eyes.

An’ when at neets he craaled abootT

e pick up bits o’ news,If he felt dry upon the road,

He milked a dozen coos.

(chorus)

This feorful worm wad often feed

On caalves an’ lambs an’ sheep,

An’ swally little barins alive

When they laid doon te sleep.

An’ when he’d eaten aall he cud

An’ he had had he’s fill,

He craaled away an’ lapped he’s tail

Seven times roond Pensher Hill.

(chorus)

The news of this myest aaful worm

An’ his queer gannins on

Seun crossed the seas, gat te the ears

Ov brave and’ bowld Sor John.

So hyem he cam an’ catched the beast

An’ cut ‘im in twe haalves,

An’ that seun stopped he’s eatin’ bairns,

An’ sheep an’ lambs and caalves.

(chorus)

So noo ye knaa hoo aall the foaks

On byeth sides ov the Wear

Lost lots o’ sheep an’ lots o’ sleep

An’ leeved i’ mortal feor.

So let’s hev one te brave

Sor John That kept the bairns frae harm,

Saved coos an’ caalves by myekin’ haalves

O’ the famis Lambton Worm.

(Final chorus)

Noo lads, Aa’ll haad me gob,

That’s aall Aa knaa aboot the story

Ov Sor John’s clivvor job

Wi’ the aaful Lambton Worm.


The worm when people tried to slay it by cutting it in half would rejoin and carry on it terrible reign.
Lord Lambton consulted the local witch who told him to stand on a rock in the middle of the Wear wearing a suit of armour studded with sharp razor like swords.
As the worm coiled around him it was cut to pieces and each section washed away by the river so he became an instant hero.
The witch added a condition to the instructions that Lambton had to slay the first living thing to greet him after or a curse would befall his family.
He instructed his servant to release a hound but his son was so overwhelmed at the victory he beat the hound to his father. His father stepped to one side and killed the hound but the curse was enforced and to this day all Lord Lambtons died with their boots on.
Don't know about the last bit being true but that is what legend says.

 

Thanks mate. I maybe need to give you all a bit more detail. So, I've been writing for this website-
www.footballheritage.co.uk
There are some well respected football writers and historians (and me) that contribute to it, so its a proper thing. I was talking to the lad that runs it about the Lambton Worm banner and explaining about its links to local folklore/heritage. He'd like to do a piece on the banner and would like to talk to the people responsible for it.

I wondered if anyone involved with RAWA or one of the SAFCSA branches might have any links to, or contacts at, the This is Wearside group.

 

I heard it was the idea was from the club not the supporters groups they just helped - Try reaching out to the SLO Chris to put you in touch with the marketing team who I believe were responsible

 

Ah, brilliant mate! Thanks very much!

 

I don't know if this would help you, but the club had put out a tweet about the Tifo. It might give you some leads if you haven't already seen it.
https://x.com/sunderlandafc/status/1957784666800549923?s=48&t=TJLMFNakMN6RDg7o9NHwsQ

Good luck, if be really interested to see how your project gets on.

 

I remember being told the last bit, but it was his father that ran out to meet him, not his son. I guess there's a few variations on the story, a bit like the Cauld Lad.

 

Things like this are passed down through oral forms for centuries so I suppose variations become normal. I love the story of the lambton worm. There are lots of other worms in folklore. One theory is that they are related to viking invaders, with the worm representing them somehow and the residents beating them back in battle. Who knows, I do enjoy the stories and pondering them though.

Anyway, welcome back Norton. Hope to see you posting a bit more. Always enjoy your thoughts.

 

Thanks mate, funnily enough, it was because I reposted that Tweet that the lad decided he wanted to do a piece on it. If anything comes off, I'll post a link to it when it's done. Keep an eye on the website too though, it's got some good stuff on it, and their twitter account (@_footyheritage) is worth following too.

 

Yeah, that theory is that the worm represents the Viking long ship. Love stuff like this!
Cheers mate, hope you're well.