The Devil Builds Filey Brig

A folktale from Yorkshire England


Thorskegga Thorn of Thorshof


The source of this tale was convinced that the Devil in the story represents the god Thor, I am far from convinced but I have included the story as it is very similar to both Tor Trollbane and the Eddic capture of Loki.

At Filey Bay in Yorkshire there is a dangerous ridge of rocks called Filey Brig. This ridge was built by the devil, and when he was constructing it he dropped his hammer into the waters below. The devil plunged into the water to retreive his hammer and reached out his hand to grasp the handle but caught hold of a fish's tail instead. The devil cried out 'Ah Dick!' and the fish remains known as the 'haddock' to this day. The fish's tail still bears the mark of the devils touch across its shoulders.

The Norwegian tale Tor Trollbane associates Thor with rocky landscapes, as does the Eddic tale of Utgardaloki. In the tale of Loki's capture Loki is caught by Thor while in the form of a trout and Thor held onto him so hard that the fish developed its distinctive shape.

Most references to Thor in English folktales are of dubious authenticity so it is unlikely that this devil story can be traced back to Thor although it does share a tale style with some of his myths.

Source:

Folklore of East Yorkshire by John Nicolson, EP Publishing 1973 (reprint of 1890)


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