The Legend Of The Castle Eden Hare

[jcm 2,327]

A number of authors have retailed the legend of the Easington Hare. The version of it provided in "Folk Tales of the North Country" by F. Grice, published in 1944, places part of the story very firmly in the Dene.

 

Once the men of Castle Eden were fond of coursing. They bred and trained their own greyhounds and had rare sport. The carpenter would match his dog against the blacksmith's and the thatcher would challenge the shepherd, and on the first fine holiday they held their coursing matches in the fields around the village.

 

One year, however, they began to be troubled by a strange hare that threatened to spoil their sport. No sooner had they let slip their greyhounds than this strange animal came loping through the hedge over the furrows. It was not sandy like the other hares, but darker and greyer coloured almost like a mole, and it ran across the path of hounds as if to say "Course after me. I am not so fleet as my brothers, and you'll soon catch me". It never failed to turn the hounds from their proper game; but no sooner had they turned to give chase than it led them a merry dance, and drew them after it into the depths of Castle Eden Dene. It was in vain for the men to whistle the dogs back. They would not leave the hare; and long after it had eluded them they kept coursing through the Dene, barking madly and running backwards and forwards. Sometimes they ran their heads against the boles of the trees and killed themselves, and sometimes they strayed so far that they were lost. Instead of enjoying a days sport, the men spent many weary hours tramping through thick undergrowth in the Dene, searching for their missing greyhounds.

 

They soon grew to recognise the mischievous hare, and to wish that they could catch it and put an end to its pranks, for it brought them nothing but inconvenience and loss. It always outstripped the swiftness of their greyhounds and no trap or snare was cunningly enough laid to catch it. Day after day it ruined their coursing matches, until it seemed that soon the men would have to give up altogether.

 

At last the men held a meeting to discuss what they could do. "When we try to shoot it", said one, "every bullet seems to miss it."

 

"When we set traps", said another, "we find the traps closed but no hare in them".

 

"When we course it", said a third, "we only lose another greyhound. What can we do".

 

They were all at a loss, but at last one proposed that they should seek the advice of an old man who lived near Castle Eden, and was skilful in healing sick horses and cows.

 

"He may help us", said the man, "for he is more learned than we are in the ways of animals".

 

So they went to visit the old man. He listened very carefully to their story, and then he said, "This hare has powers that no other hare possesses, and it will not be caught by ordinary means. Tomorrow you must take with you, not a greyhound but a bloodhound. If it is a black bloodhound all the better, and if it has been fed on human milk I think you will be sure of catching your hare".

 

The men thanked the old horse-doctor and obeyed his instructions. The next day they took with them a coal-black bloodhound, and as soon as the hare appeared they loosed it. Immediately the hare made for the Dene, and the bloodhound followed it. But so slow did the bloodhound seem, that one of the men cried out, "It is no good. It is like setting a magpie to keep up with a swallow."

 

Most of the men were of his mind, and when both hare and hound had disappeared into the Dene they tied their horses to the branches and prepared for another weary search. But just when they had given up hope they saw the hare running up the bank at the other side of the ravine, and soon the hound appeared running after it, with its nose to the ground and its big ears flapping as it ran. For once the hare had been hunted out of its refuge in the woods and forced out into the open country. The men remounted their horses and crossed the Dene, just in time to see both hare and hound running a bee-line for the village of Easington.

 

They gave chase, and though the many hedges and gates prevented them from catching up, they drew close enough to see that the hare was limping and the bloodhound was gaining upon it. On they went, past straggling hedges of tall thorn trees and haystacks standing like new-cut loaves on a green cloth, and over pasture and pleated ploughland, until they came to Easington Village. The hare ran straight across the village green. On the opposite side of the green stood a little stone cottage, with curved brown tiles and a cracked and dirty door. There was a little space cut away in the bottom of the door, like an opening left for hens to wander in and out, and through this ran the hare. It was almost too late for just as it bolted through the opening the bloodhound caught up to it, and seized it by one of its hind legs. However, the hare shook its leg free and disappeared into the cottage.

 

The huntsmen tried the door, but it was locked. Then they knocked but no-one came to let them in. So at last they burst in the door, and rushed into the room. But they could see no hare. Instead they saw, sitting before the fire, an old woman. She was hastily bandaging her heel, and trying in vain to stop the blood from flowing, and to hide a wound. None of the men spoke to her. Perceiving that the old woman knew that her witchcraft had been found out at last, they turned and left the room; and never again was their sport spoiled by the mischievous hare.

[jcm 2,327]

But of a story from my local area found it on the bet so I thought I'd share as I enjoyed it

[bunny tickler 876]

nice story i enjoyed that thanks

[arcticgun 4,548]

Sounds like a job for the single handed Bridlington whippet

[jcm 2,327]

All I can say is that witch wouldn't of made it home to soak her heels if around Castle Eden nowdays

 

Nice tale just a mile or so from where I was brought up.

I have spent a lot of hours on them feilds and in the dene, where were you brought up ?

[mad4it 694]

the fable hare comes to mind

[low plains drifter 10,546]

Good story cheers JCM

I remember one day we were crossing back over some fields after a day out three of us with four lurchers and a terrier, when a hare come loping over the stubble about 100 and odd yards ahead of us and lay down, when we got to it all the dogs put their noses to the ground, but not one of them could put it up, and not one of us could see it anywhere, they certainly are a real mystery sometimes no wonder there is so much folklore myths and legends written about the cat of the wood

[Gaz_1989 9,539]

I enjoyed that thanks

[The one 8,479]

Nice read mate

[BlackBuck 655]

Great story, very enjoyable read . Thanks for posting

[Quarter bull 240]

That was a good read thanks mate

[Joseph123 9]

Very enjoyable read thanks

[lurcherman 887 13,156]

good read

[jcm 2,327]

Seen it years ago then came across it again the other day, I have hunted the feilds in and around this area ?

[the duke3 95]

Good story pal caught many a morgan round that area ..few years back mind