Legend of the Weal Barrow Hound

 Many years ago, in the time of witches and fairies, there existed in the shadow of the hill called Weal Barrow a small village. This was at a time long before the village became the town it is today. It was not a poor village but the inhabitants were far from happy. An evil Warlock who lived in caves on the Barrow was terrorising the people of the area. He would ride his black horse into a village, steal food, poison streams, desecrate graves and put a curse on anyone who dared to oppose him. He made the lives of all who lived there a misery.

    Nobody knew what to do so the villagers asked the Little People for help. The fairies explained that if all the people banded together they could kill the warlock and promised that they would grant immortality and untold happiness to the one who would have the courage to strike the mortal blow.

    When the warlock made his next visit a ragged militia gathered but, alas, in spite of the fairies' promise, they were all too afraid to act and the evil warlock laughed at them. However, a stray dog, excited by the commotion, ran out of the crowd barking and jumped up at the warlock's horse, which reared in sudden fright. The warlock was pitched out of the saddle, and striking his head on a rock was killed instantly.

    The cowardly villagers saw that their enemy was dead and there was great jubilation with each man telling his neighbour how brave he himself had been. When the fairies came they rebuked the peasants for their cowardice but true to their word they granted their reward to the one who had killed the warlock, the dog.

    To this day it is said that if a lone traveller encounters a hound that wags its tail with evident pleasure at the meeting it is the immortal Weal Barrow dog living its unending life of untold pleasure. If you treat the animal with kindness and give it your food they say that a little of the magic rubs off and you will have great good fortune.

    In one respect the fairies' promise of immortality certainly came true because the dog has never been forgotten. As the village developed into a town the dog was featured in the town's coat of arms and more recently was incorporated into the crest of the Weal Barrow Railway.

Extract with permission from: Legends of Ranby by J.T.Westwood. Published by Stodder & Houghton

NOTE: All of what is written above is pure fiction and should never be considered as anything but. If you refuse to believe me, please feel free to try and contact Stodder & Haughton Fictional Publishers or looking for a non-existant book called Legends of Ranby!!!!!