the hillside in Dorset, holding aloft his club; but did giants really exist?
Local writer Daniel Codd tells of the skeleton of a ‘true giant’ that was unearthed in 1931 under Haxey High Street in Lincolnshire – a 7-foot tall man, thought to have been a Roman soldier. 1
Lincolnshire has its fair share of giant folklore; oftentimes heroes whose epic deeds have elevated them to the status of giant.
There is a legend of a heroic fisherman, named Grim, after whom the Lincolnshire town of Grimsby is supposedly named. Although dismissed by many throughout the ages as a mere fairy tale, the story was very popular, especially in the eleventh century until around the time of Elizabeth I, with many claims that its roots were firmly based in fact. One of the earliest surviving written records alluding to the legend is a poem believed to have been created during the twelfth century, ‘The Lai d’ Haveloc’. The poet does, however, claim his poem is inspired from an older source and another writer claimed he used the sixth-century monk, Gildas, as his source, possibly dating the story back as far as AD 500.
According to the tale, during an invasion in Denmark the Danish King, Birabegn, was killed and the usurper, Godard, apparently ordered Grim to drown his boy,Havelok, the true heir to the Danish throne. Grim disobeyed and escaped with Havelok on a ship bound for England, eventually landing and settling along the Lincolnshire waters, making his living as a fisherman. He brought Havelok up as his own son and told no one, not even Havelok, of the boy’s true heritage.
Havelok grew into an extremely tall and strong young man, yet kind and just – a true gentle giant. He would help his father sell and distribute fish, his great strength enabling him to carry vast amounts; more than double any other man could lift. As he grew older he found employment as a scullion to the Earl of Lincoln, where he became famous for his aptitude at sports. At stone-throwing contests it was always Havelok who managed to lift the heaviest stones and throw them further than anyone else. One such boulder he is said to have thrown can today be seen at the Welholme Galleries, aptly named the Havelok Stone.
Then Havelok bent to raise the stone…I saw his mighty limbs harden and knot under the strain, and up to his knee he heaved it, and to his middle, and yet higher, to his chest…and then with a mighty lift it was at his shoulder, and he poised it…then hurled it from him…[a] full four paces beyond the strong porter’s cast it flew, lighting with a mighty crash, and bedding itself in the ground. 2
The Havelok Stone can be found within the grounds of the Welholme Galleries, Grimsby. The site is an old church, situated along the B1213, Welholme Road, between Hainton Avenue and Intax Mews.
News of Havelok’s great might soon reached the ears of Earl Godrich, who had as his ward Goldborough, daughter of the late King Athelwold. Once of age, Godrich had promised to marry Goldborough to the strongest man in the land. Athelwold, obviously meant a king or prince, but Godrich took this opportunity to marry her off to the servant lad Havelok, therefore ensuring his own son would be heir to the throne instead of her. The two were forced to marry, both resenting the fact bitterly, but fate was to thwart Godrich, as Westwood explains:
…one night she [Goldborough] saw a light shining from her husband’s mouth as he lay asleep. She saw, too, a cross on his shoulder, which the voice of an angel explained was the mark of a king, prophesying that Havelok would rule both England and Denmark. 3
After questioning Grim about this secret and discovering the truth, Havelok and his new wife travelled to Denmark and overthrew Godard, Havelok claiming his rightful throne as king. Then they invaded England and defeated Godrich, apparently burning him to death. Havelok became King of England as well as Denmark, thus fulfilling the prophecy. It is told that Havelok
Local writer Daniel Codd tells of the skeleton of a ‘true giant’ that was unearthed in 1931 under Haxey High Street in Lincolnshire – a 7-foot tall man, thought to have been a Roman soldier. 1
Lincolnshire has its fair share of giant folklore; oftentimes heroes whose epic deeds have elevated them to the status of giant.
There is a legend of a heroic fisherman, named Grim, after whom the Lincolnshire town of Grimsby is supposedly named. Although dismissed by many throughout the ages as a mere fairy tale, the story was very popular, especially in the eleventh century until around the time of Elizabeth I, with many claims that its roots were firmly based in fact. One of the earliest surviving written records alluding to the legend is a poem believed to have been created during the twelfth century, ‘The Lai d’ Haveloc’. The poet does, however, claim his poem is inspired from an older source and another writer claimed he used the sixth-century monk, Gildas, as his source, possibly dating the story back as far as AD 500.
According to the tale, during an invasion in Denmark the Danish King, Birabegn, was killed and the usurper, Godard, apparently ordered Grim to drown his boy,Havelok, the true heir to the Danish throne. Grim disobeyed and escaped with Havelok on a ship bound for England, eventually landing and settling along the Lincolnshire waters, making his living as a fisherman. He brought Havelok up as his own son and told no one, not even Havelok, of the boy’s true heritage.
Havelok grew into an extremely tall and strong young man, yet kind and just – a true gentle giant. He would help his father sell and distribute fish, his great strength enabling him to carry vast amounts; more than double any other man could lift. As he grew older he found employment as a scullion to the Earl of Lincoln, where he became famous for his aptitude at sports. At stone-throwing contests it was always Havelok who managed to lift the heaviest stones and throw them further than anyone else. One such boulder he is said to have thrown can today be seen at the Welholme Galleries, aptly named the Havelok Stone.
Then Havelok bent to raise the stone…I saw his mighty limbs harden and knot under the strain, and up to his knee he heaved it, and to his middle, and yet higher, to his chest…and then with a mighty lift it was at his shoulder, and he poised it…then hurled it from him…[a] full four paces beyond the strong porter’s cast it flew, lighting with a mighty crash, and bedding itself in the ground. 2
The Havelok Stone can be found within the grounds of the Welholme Galleries, Grimsby. The site is an old church, situated along the B1213, Welholme Road, between Hainton Avenue and Intax Mews.
News of Havelok’s great might soon reached the ears of Earl Godrich, who had as his ward Goldborough, daughter of the late King Athelwold. Once of age, Godrich had promised to marry Goldborough to the strongest man in the land. Athelwold, obviously meant a king or prince, but Godrich took this opportunity to marry her off to the servant lad Havelok, therefore ensuring his own son would be heir to the throne instead of her. The two were forced to marry, both resenting the fact bitterly, but fate was to thwart Godrich, as Westwood explains:
…one night she [Goldborough] saw a light shining from her husband’s mouth as he lay asleep. She saw, too, a cross on his shoulder, which the voice of an angel explained was the mark of a king, prophesying that Havelok would rule both England and Denmark. 3
After questioning Grim about this secret and discovering the truth, Havelok and his new wife travelled to Denmark and overthrew Godard, Havelok claiming his rightful throne as king. Then they invaded England and defeated Godrich, apparently burning him to death. Havelok became King of England as well as Denmark, thus fulfilling the prophecy. It is told that Havelok
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