Hob (folklore)
Household spirit From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Household spirit From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A hob is a type of small mythological household spirit found in the English Midlands, Northern England,[lower-alpha 1][lower-alpha 2] and on the Anglo-Scottish border, according to traditional folklore of those regions.[3] They could live inside the house or outdoors. They are said to work in farmyards and thus could be helpful; however, if offended they could become nuisances. The usual way to dispose of a hob was to give them a set of new clothing, the receiving of which would make the creature leave forever. It could, however, be impossible to get rid of the worst hobs.[4]
"Hob" is a diminutive form of the name "Robin", which is itself a diminutive form of the name "Robert". [5]
"Hob" is sometimes a generic term given to a goblin, bogle or brownie. The name "Hob" became associated with the mythical creature as "a piece of rude familiarity to cover up uncertainty or fear";[6] essentially, calling a mystical creature by a common nickname was a way to make the concept less frightening, and the nickname eventually became the common term.
As well as the brownie, another cognate exists in the Scandinavian nisse or tomte; all are thought to be derived from the household gods of olden times, known in England as the cofgodas (Old English for "house-gods") of which the brownie and hob are indeed a survival.[7][full citation needed]
Hobs have been described as small, hairy, wizened men. Hobs were viewed as kind but mischievous spirits, helpful to local people in need. One famous hob lived near Runswick Bay in a hobhole; this hob was believed to be able to cure young children of kink-cough (whooping cough).[8] Parents would bring their ailing young to the hob's cave dwelling and recite the following:[9]
Hobhole Hob!
Ma' bairn's gotten 't kink cough,
Tak't off ! tak't off!
Hobs are generally considered household spirits, who preferred to be about at night. Hobs were not tied to a particular place, but seemed to come and go as they chose.[10] A hob would help the farmer in the field or the shopkeeper in his store.[11] The householder had to be careful in dealing with a hob, so as not to offend it. If a farmer were to speak poorly of a hob on his farm, the hob might retaliate by breaking dishes and turning loose livestock.[12] Most importantly, a hob must not be given a gift of clothing, as this would be greatly resented and might cause a helpful hob to leave immediately.[13] This was said to have happened at Sturfit Hall in Yorkshire, where the well-meaning family left a small hat and cloak for their helpful hob; however, when he encountered the gift, he exclaimed "Ha! a cap and a hood, / Hob'll never do mair good!" and was never seen again.[14] Another Yorkshire hob, this one at Hart Hall, refused with a warning when offered a work shirt: "Gin Hob mun hae nowght but a hardin' hamp, / He'll come nae mair nowther to berry nor stamp."[9]
Farndale in the North York Moors is separated from its neighbour Rosedale to the east by a high but relatively level moorland promontory known as Blakey Ridge. On the east side of that ridge is a topological feature known as Hobb Crag, overlooking the village of Rosedale Abbey. A local story relates how a farmer in Farndale was so troubled by a Hob that he decided to relocate to another farm – just to get rid of that Hob.[2]
He loaded his cart with furniture and farm equipment and set off. On the way he met a neighbour who exclaimed, "What's thoo doin' George, flittin'?" And a voice from the churn called out, "Aye, lad, we're flittin'!" So the farmer turned his horse and cart round and went back to his farm, knowing that the hobgoblin would always be with him.[2]
Note the local dialect word flittin[lower-alpha 3] which may be derived from the Old Norse language.[citation needed]
"Hob-trush Hob ! Where is thou ?[lower-alpha 4]
. . ."Ah's tying on mah left-fuit shoe;
An' Ah'll be wiv thee—Noo!"
J.C.Atkinson – Cleveland Dialect.[16]
It was customary for a local hob to have a local name and a local habitation.[lower-alpha 5]
Some "Hob" names may suggest their mischievous personality:
The name Hob-thrush may be derived from Hobbe Hyrste[lower-alpha 7] or Hob o' t' hyrst – "Hob of the hurst".[lower-alpha 8]
See also WiKtionary : Old English < hyrst > ..."hurst, hillock, eminence, height, wood, wooded eminence".
The following names may be derived from Hobbe Hyrste:
Name | Habitation | Location |
---|---|---|
"Hob-trush" | Hob-trush Cave[lower-alpha 4] | Mulgrave woods, North Yorkshire. |
"Hobthrush" | Obtrush Rook[lower-alpha 9] | Farndale, North Yorkshire. |
"Hobthrush" | Hobthrush's Isle | St Cuthbert's Isle (Hobthrush), Northumberland. |
"Hob Hurst" | Hob Hurst's House | Hob Hurst's House, Beeley Moor, Derbyshire. |
Similar names are found in disparate parts of the country – it is possible that these were introduced by migrant workers while moving between employments, especially those involved with mining and railway construction.
The habitation was usually a topological feature, such as a hill, crag, hole, cave or island.
Often the feature would be within view of the farm or local settlement:
Habitation | Settlement |
---|---|
Hobb Hill | Bloxham near Banbury. |
Hobb Crag | Rosedale Abbey |
Hobthrush Isle | Holy Island |
WiKtionary: The name element hole might relate to:
Habitation | Location |
---|---|
Hob Hole[lower-alpha 10] | Calais Beck south of Runswick Bay, North Yorkshire. |
Hob Hole | Hob Hole Beck near Kempswithen, Kildale Moor, Eskdale, North Yorkshire. |
Hobbs Hole | Hobbs Hole Farm near Great Tew, Oxfordshire. |
It was common for Hob place names to be associated with tumuli:
Habitation | Location | Listed |
---|---|---|
Hobthrush Rook[lower-alpha 11] | Farndale, North Yorkshire. | Two round cairns[HE 1] |
Hob on the Hill | Commondale Moor, North Yorkshire. | Wayside cross[HE 2] Round barrows[HE 3][HE 4] |
Hob Hurst's House | Beeley Moor, Derbyshire. | Square tumulus[HE 5] |
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Many topological features, especially in North Yorkshire, are named "Hobs".[lower-alpha 12]
Place name | Link | Location | Area | Feature | Map [lower-alpha 13] |
Latitude N – S |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hob Hill | The Fairy Glen, Saltburn-by-the-Sea.[lower-alpha 14] |
North Yorkshire | Hill | [Map 1] | 520200 | |
Hob Hole[lower-alpha 10] | Hob Hole | Calais Beck south of Runswick Bay. | North York Moors | Hole | [Map 2] | 515500 |
Hob on the Hill | Tumuli | Between Guisborough and Commondale.[lower-alpha 15] | North York Moors | Cross[HE 2] | [Map 3] | 512420 |
Hob-trush Cave[lower-alpha 4] | Name | Mulgrave woods[lower-alpha 16] | North Yorkshire | Cave | [Map 4] | 511700 |
Hobshaddow Wood | Name | Between Hutton Rudby and Stokesley. | North Yorkshire | Wood | [Map 5] | 508300 |
Hob Hole Beck[lower-alpha 10] | Hob Hole | South of Kempswithen (Kildale moor) near Castleton, Eskdale.[lower-alpha 17] |
North York Moors | Hole | [Map 6] | 507800 |
Hobb Crag | Habitat | West of Rosedale Abbey, Rosedale. | North York Moors | Crag | [Map 7] | 495400 |
Hobthrush Rook[lower-alpha 11] | Name | Farndale, North Yorkshire. | North York Moors | Tumulus[HE 1] | [Map 8] | 494400 |
Place name | Link | Location | Area | Feature | Map [lower-alpha 13] |
Latitude N – S |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hobthrush | Name | Lindisfarne | Northumberland | Islet | [Map 9] | 641600 |
Hobkirk | South-east of Hawick | Scottish Borders | Church | [Map 10] | 610900 | |
Hobb's Flow | Anglo-Scottish border near Kielder Forest | Northumberland | Wetland | [Map 11] | 590100 | |
Hobroyd | Whitfield, Glossop. | Derbyshire | Wood | [Map 12] | 393200 | |
Hob Hill | Whitfield, Glossop. | Derbyshire | Hill | [Map 13] | 392800 | |
Hob's House Cave | Monsal Dale | Derbyshire | Cave | [Map 14] | 371300 | |
Hob Hurst's House | Tumuli | Beeley Moor near Chatsworth House | Derbyshire | Tumulus[HE 7] | [Map 15] | 369200 |
Hob Hall Hob Wood |
South of Wirksworth | Derbyshire | Croft Wood |
[Map 16] | 352700 | |
Jester's Hill | Name | Shutford near Banbury.[lower-alpha 18] | Oxfordshire | Hill | [Map 17] | 239500 |
Hobb Hill | Habitat | Bloxham near Banbury. | Oxfordshire | Hill | [Map 18] | 236600 |
Hobb's Hole | Hob Hole | Hobbs Hole Farm[web 1] near Great Tew. | Oxfordshire | Hole | [Map 19] | 229100 |
Hobbard's Hill | North-west of Wootton-by-Woodstock. | Oxfordshire | Hill | [Map 20] | 220400 | |
Hobb's Hill | Hobb's Hill tin mine, Bodmin Moor.[HE 8] | Cornwall | Hill | [Map 21] | 069400 |