Sockburn Worm
A Northumbrian wyvern said to have inspired Jabberwocky.
The Sockburn Worm was a wyvern that, according to Northumbrian folklore, terrorized the village of Sockburn in Durham. It was said to have been slain by John Conyers. The tale is believed to have inspired Lewis Carroll's poem Jabberwocky.
Quick Facts
- Type
- Wyvern
- Location
- Sockburn, Durham
- Slain by
- John Conyers
- Associated weapon
- Conyers Falchion
Facts from the source article.
Did You Know?
- The tale may be inspired by Viking longships, which carved heads of Worms (Ormr) on the bow.
- The Sockburn Worm is one of several dragon legends from Northumbria, alongside the Laidly and Lambton Worms and the Worm of Linton.
Traditions
For centuries, a new Bishop of Durham was greeted at the southern edge of the diocese, at Croft-on-Tees, by the Lord of Sockburn. The lord would present the Conyers Falchion, a medieval sword kept in Durham Cathedral, said to be the weapon Sir John Conyers used to kill the Sockburn Worm. A traditional speech accompanied the offering. The bishop would take the blade and then hand it back, wishing the lord good health and a long hold on the manor. This custom stopped in 1771, and the sword was given to the cathedral in 1947. It was brought back in 1984 by Bishop David Jenkins, with the Mayor of Darlington making the presentation. In 2026, Bishop Rick Simpson, appointed from within the diocese, received the sword on the riverbank instead of on Croft Bridge. The Sockburn Worm, with the falchion stuck in it, is featured on the badge of the Darlington and District Scout Association.
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