Lancashire Folklore – The Lubberfiend
Lancashire is an English county located in the north-west. It is a place of flat coastal plains, upland moors, rivers and forests; its traditions are ancient, its lore and legends intriguing. Come with me, then, dear friend, as we learn of one of its stranger supernatural residents, the Lubberfiend.
Despite its slightly sinister name, the Lubberfiend was never considered dangerous. If it could be described in one word, that word might be lazy. The term fiend, in this instance, does not refer to something demonic, but instead was often used in old England to describe something of supernatural origin.
Also called a Lob, Lubberkin, or Lob Lie-by-the-Fire, this legendary creature had a role very similar to that of a Scottish Brownie or a Hob from northern England. That is to say, a mythical household spirit, said to dwell within one's home and perform household duties, such as tidying and washing. But where Hobs and Brownies were seen as industrious, tiny, sprite-like beings, the Lubberfiend's appearance was slightly more disturbing.
A typical Lubberkin is described as a large, hairy fellow with a tail. Like a reluctant teenager, he would unenthusiastically perform menial housework in exchange for a saucer of milk and a place in front of the fire. Folktales say that he was born from a union between a witch and the Devil.
Our best source for this lazy but well-meaning entity is John Harland and T. T. Wilkinson's 1867 book, Lancashire Folk-Lore. Here, one of these slothful spirits was said to have been resident in the farmhouses of the Cliviger district, around the Vale of Todmorden. He was described as a stupid demon that would stretch its hairy body across the warm hearthstones, like an idle dog seeking winter warmth.
The Lubberfiend features in a book, The Red Axe, by nineteenth-century Scottish writer S. R. Crockett. Here, he writes:
“…Jan Lubber Fiend, will ever be at his tricks. 'Tis my young mistress that encourages him, more is the pity! For poor serving-men are held responsible for his knavish on-goings. Why, I had just set him cross-legged in the yard with a basket of pease to shell, seeing how he grows as much as a foot in the night—or near by. But so soon as my back is turned he will be forever answering the door and peeping out into the street to gather the mongrel boys about him. 'Tis a most foul Lubber Fiend to keep about an honest house, plaguing decent folks withal!”
There is another being called the Abbey Lubber, which features in European folklore. This is a more sinister entity, said to lurk in the shadows of monastic cellars. It lingers around these holy houses and tempts monks into acts of drunkenness, gluttony and lust – all things that are highly frowned upon for those in holy orders. This being is seen as more demonic than the Lubberfiend, and it is best to steer clear of them if you want to avoid a hangover.
Thank you for taking the time to read my blog, my good friend.
If you would like to hear one of my own tales brought chillingly to life, the wonderfully talented Morgan Scorpion has narrated my short story, Fireside Horror, on her YouTube channel. She has done a truly marvellous job, and I warmly recommend exploring her channel and supporting her work.
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Link to Morgan’s You tube Channel - www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHPkGfSrgus
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Until next week, my friends.
Stay Spooky.
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