Chelmorton Hob

One night long ago a farmer from Chelmorton called Joseph Swindell was walking home from his sister's cottage. He'd taken a sackful of provisions to her family and stayed late into the evening, drinking ale and now he was carrying a little but he was in no danger of losing his way, it was a clear night and the moon was full. He followed a limestone path that weaved through the deep gorge of Deep Dale.

The night was silent except for a tinkering of a stream and the nighttime rustlings of the undergrowth.

Something else stirred in the dim twilight. A gruff mumbling of a pottering mind. A low voice yet totally unrecognisable.

Joseph could not believe his luck. For in front of him was but a hob!

This was just Joseph's luck, a man who was struggling to maintain his homestead and farm. His farm and home were dirty and messy and unwelcoming - sadly, especially to his nieces and nephews. Everyone knows it's wise to catch a hob for it will do your chores for a little a payment as a bowl of porridge and a glass of ale. Joseph's plan was set.

Joseph approached the hob as quietly as possible, trying not to disturb the distracted little being that was busy muttering away along the path.

The hob fluttered and dashed right at the last moment of Joseph trying to catch the poor thing. The hob was almost away from capture until a great sack scooped the hob up. The sack was tied up and slung over Joseph's shoulder

The sack soon began to wriggle and writhe and moan and cry. Then it wailed. Joseph was a rather unfeeling man - he had just kidnapped an innocent bystander - but the hob's cries of help worked and the sack slumped to the ground and the knot of rope was loosened.

“Ah wunna gonna hert thee.” promised Joseph.

“Ah only wanted thee for looking after t’ouse.”

The hob scurried from beneath the hessian and scampered all the way back up to a nearby cave.

Not many folk ever saw the hob again after that day. But many believe the spring that sits just below the cave's entrance is very special - blessed by the Chelmorton Hob himself in gratitude to Joseph's mercy.

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Both the spring and the cave, named Thirst House, are deeply associated with the land of faerie. The waters are said to possess healing powers