English legend

The Lambton Worm

a story about John Lambton

When he was young he went fishing at the river one Sunday morning. He caught a strange looking fish. The fish was a slithery and long green worm. John was angry that he had only caught a worm so he threw it in a nearby well. He could not be bothered to take it home.

Lambton went to fight in a war. He joined some brave knights. Very soon he forgot about the ugly worm in the well.

Meanwhile ... in the well the worm grew long and fat with huge yellow teeth and eyes as big as saucers.

It looked like it was going to explode. It grew a big mouth like a deep dark cave.

Soon it crawled from the well and when it was thirsty it drank milk from a field of cows.

The worm often ate calves, lambs and sheep. When he had eaten everything he could, he wrapped his tail seven times around Pensher Hill.

Soon the news crossed the seas to the ears of brave Sir John. So John crossed all the seas to catch and fight the awful beast.

So let’s drink to brave Sir John. He kept babies from harm. He saved cows and calves and sheep and lambs by chopping the worm in two.

That is the story of Sir John Lambton and the Lambton Worm.