Dear Katy,
The river Don which runs through South Yorkshire has always had the
reputation of claiming lives. There is a two line stanza in local folk
belief (although I doubt many know about it today) It is quoted in David
Clarke's book - STRANGE SOUTH YORKSHIRE that was published in 1994 by Sigma
Leisure of Wilmslow, Cheshire and he quotes his source of reference as Rev.
Joseph Hunter (1819 & 1828).
The two lines are as follows:
The shelving, slimy river Dun,
Each year a daughter or a son.
The Dun was an old pronunciation of the Don and where the river split into
what used to be 3 channels prior to the drainage of them in the 17th
century, the Dun is still used today to define the difference between the
canal, the river Don and a dyke at an outlying village called Barnby Dun.
There are a few reasons given for the belief in the river claiming sacrifice
including traditions going back to the Anglo-Saxons and the Vikings. (The
AS/Viking water Goblin Nykr is remembered in place names such as Nicker wood
near Rotherham and suggests the Devil in modern Christianity.) The Goddess
Danu is believed to have been the Deity that gave the river its name (and
indeed the founding of the roman fort of DANUM). and was the Mother Goddess
in Celtic Belief who may have had sacrifices made to her to ensure the
fertility of the harvests etc.
BTW the river does indeed claim at least one life per year between Sheffield
and Doncaster (and beyond). When a neighbor of my late father's when
missing for 6 weeks and then his body was found in the river, the police did
not suspect foul play and believe he simple stumbled and fell in. He had
been walking into town and for some reason chose to walk on the banks of the
Don. A nice day as I remember so I doubt the banks were slippy. He was
definitely not the type to commit suicide and he was going into town to buy
something for one of his grandchildren on whom he doted. The coroner
recorded the death as Accidental but who knows....
Hope this helps
Gill
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: Katy Jordan <[log in to unmask]>
> > To: <[log in to unmask]>
> > Sent: Thursday, May 10, 2001 9:39 AM
> > Subject: [Fwd: hungry rivers]
> >
> > > I've just had this enquiry, and wonder whether any list-members can
help
> > with
> > > it. Does anyone have present-day examples of belief in hungry rivers?
> > See
> > > Jane's email below for more details.
> > >
> > > Please reply to the list as I for one want to see what we can come up
with
> > for
> > > this one! But as Jane isn't a list-member, please 'reply all' so she
gets
> > to
> > > see the answers too.
> > >
> > > Katy
> > >
> > > Jane Alexander wrote:
> > >
> > > > Dear Katie
> > > > I am researching a feature on the concept of "hungry rivers" -
rivers
> > which
> > > > demand a sacrifice (human or animal) either yearly or less
frequently.
> > > > I have found several references to old beliefs and folklore but
ideally
> > > > hope to find people who believe in this idea and maybe have some
direct
> > > > experience - ie a near escape, know of people who were "taken".
> > > > Can you help at all? I would be very grateful for any suggestions
as to
> > > > where to look!
> > > >
> > > > All best wishes
> > > > Jane Alexander
> > > > for Adrian Tierney-Jones
> > > > Jane Alexander
> > > >
> > > > See my website at www.smudging.com
> > >
> > > --
> > > Katy Jordan
> > > Faculty Librarian, Engineering & Design
> > > Library & Learning Centre
> > > University of Bath
> > > BATH BA2 7AY
> > > Tel: 01225-826826 X5612
> > > -------------------------------------------
> > > http://www.bath.ac.uk/~liskmj/home.htm
> > > -------------------------------------------
> > >
>
> --
> Katy Jordan
> Faculty Librarian, Engineering & Design
> Library & Learning Centre
> University of Bath
> BATH BA2 7AY
> Tel: 01225-826826 X5612
> -------------------------------------------
> http://www.bath.ac.uk/~liskmj/home.htm
> -------------------------------------------
>
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