TONY WILSON "Northern Tales" The Lambton Worm at Penshaw monument

This is a 'pilot' for my collection of "Northern Tales" where I tell stories from the Northeast of England on location in or around the areas that they come from. The "Lambton Worm" is a famous tale about a beast that was dragged out of the River Wear by the young Sir John Lambton and when it grew it then terrorised the whole of the local area. The legend has it that because he did not fulfill the witch's request his family suffered the consequences. This version was recorded at Penshaw monument almost by accident; we had to take the car to be repaired and as we passed the monument I told the tale to try out mikes and location shooting to see if it worked. Penshaw monument is a local tourist spot of great interest to people from all over the world. There is a Music-Hall song that also chronicles the story and I have recorded that on the channel.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• TONY
• WILSON
• STORY
• STORYTELLER
• LAMBTON
• WORM
• NORTHEAST
• TOURIST
• WEAR
• PENSHAW
• DURHAM
• NORTHUMBERLAND

[thebanj]

I say calm down. It's only a story and facts are few and far between in a story that has been changed through time. I have read about four different versions of this same story and really there are no facts about a worm that grows and eats bairns alive.

If anyone wants to, there is a lot of space for telling their own versions.

Tony

[popsbar1]

Tony Wilson, I presume, was standing on Penshaw Monument hill, whereas the mythical Lambton worm wrapped itself around Worm Hill, about a mile from the Monument and closer to Washington, Tyne & Wear.

[thebanj]

@popsbar1 I do say in the notes that this was a spontaneous rendition of the story and a try out of the camera. Local legends have differnet aspects.

Tony

[thebanj]

The music hall song "The Lambton Worm" tends to cloud the specifics of the story about where this 'actually' happened. Even in the recorded versions there are conflicting differences in the locations and sequence of events. This was always going to be a pilot version as we were just driving past and happened to have the camera with us and I wanted to test what an outdoor story would look like. I am going to tell the story by the Wear in Washington and Worm Hill. Grateful thanks for the comment

[thebanj]

Qualifier863 wrote

There are so many aspects of your tale that are not mentioned in any other version of it, and you are simply making them up. For instance, the Lambtons were not admitted into the peerage until 1838, so there was no 'Lord Lambton' at that time.

I write. Mmmmm. I don't want you to confuse me with someone who is ever likely to tell the truth when I'm telling a story. In essence it is about a 'truly' magical, monstrous, regenerative worm that ate cows and uprooted trees. Tony

[TheBradyOpinion]

It's lovely , true or pure story !............

[IsraeliteMessenger]

@thebanj It's documented that there were great sea serpents of the past (and maybe today). Do you suppose the Lambton worm really existed?

[violinmusicboy]

There are various myths and Legends surrounding this awesome story lets get the facts right!!

firstly - there was a Lord Lampton and Yes Lampton town DID exisit, and yes it did rap itself around penshaw hill - Worm Hill is where it came from - please leave the Wearside stories for the Wearsiders - nobody else can understand our own language and stories for goodness sakes - you know it alls!!! concentrate on YOUR own local stories......if you have any!!

[lookie1992]

penshaw monument when you have been away from the area for a while and you see this you know your home

[MRT4472]

why have you done this documentry infront of penshaw monument instead of the actual hill the worm wraped itself around ajacent to worm hill terrace near fatfield bridge

as many people incorectly think this is the hill you are refering to

[michaeljulia123]

The Lambton Worm was thrown into the well at Fatfield, just beside the Riverside pub. It rapped itself around "Worm Hill", NOT Penshaw Monument.