The folklore of the Lampton Worm traces back to the early 14th century in County Durham, England. It centers around the protagonist John Lambton, an heir of the Lambton Estate, who skipped church one Sunday to go fishing in the River Wear. He caught a small eel- or lamprey-like creature and impulsively discarded it down a well. John eventually grew remorseful of his actions and left for the crusades, leaving the worm to grow monstrously large and terrorize the region. It would uproot trees, devour livestock and poison wells with its venomous breath, even reattaching parts of its body if they were chopped off. Upon John’s return, he found his family estate in ruins and was filled with guilt. Facing the beast, he sought the advice of a witch. She advised him to cover his armor with spearheads and confront the worm in the River Wear, where the flowing water would prevent the creature’s reintegration. John managed to kill the creature, but the witch’s prophecy that he would also have to kill the first living thing he saw afterward to prevent a curse on his family eventually resulted in a tragic end for his beloved hound. Today, the tale of the Lambton Worm remains a popular piece of local lore, shared through song. It serves as a reminder of the consequences of our actions, the fateful lure of superstition, and the power of redemption.