In order to get a better idea of what these folk tales detail about Hobs such as characteristics and appearance; it also helps me plan out what tale to base my game off so I can start researching and writing a design document, a brief and then progress to creating concept art.
Hob Stories:
The Hob of Hobthrush Hall
The folktale about a Hob in Over Stilton, North Yorkshire; not too far from the village, deep in the North Yorkshire moors the Hob lived in the scarrs, a cliffside cave known as Hobthrush Hall, the Hob would visit the village and was a faithful servant to a man who kept the village inn.
It was Hob's invariable practice to churn the cream during the night, which was prepared for him the evening before, for which his reward was a large slice of bread and butter, always placed ready for him when the family retired to bed, and always gone in the morning.
One night, the cream was put into the churn as usual, but no bread and butter placed beside it. The Hob was so disgusted by ingratitude, that he never returned to the inn or the village.
"In the precipitous cliffs, a short distance north-west of the village, called 'the Scarrs,' is a cave in the rock, known by the name of Hobthrush Hall, which was formerly the abode of a goblin of somewhat remarkable character, who appears by the stories yet current relating to him, to have been possessed of great agility, as he was in the habit of jumping from the hills above his dwelling to the top of Carlhow Hill, about half a mile distant. He was not of the malignant kind. On the contrary he was one of those friendly to man. The Silton goblin was a true and faithful servant to a person named Weighall, who kept the village inn, and rented the land on which his hall was situate. It was Hob's invariable practice to churn the cream during the night, which was prepared for him the evening before, for which his reward was a large slice of bread and butter, always placed ready for him when the family retired to bed, and always gone in the morning. One night, the cream was put into the churn as usual, but no bread and butter placed beside it. Hob was so disgusted with this piece of base ingratitude, that he never came to churn more, and appears to have entirely left the neighbourhood. His dwelling yet remains, a rugged cave among the rocks, dark, wet, and uncomfortable, but extending a considerable distance underground."
The book this tale is mentioned in is :- The Vale of Mowbray: a historical and topographical account of Thirsk and its neighbourhood by William Grainge, published in 1859
The Hob of Runswick Bay
Folk tale about a Hob in Runswick Bay; it is believed that the cliffs along the coast of the beach have small caves that were believed to be inhabited by a Hob - thus the caves have been known as ‘Hob Holes’.
To locals of the fishing village the Hob was helpful to people in need of healing; the fishermen’s wives would carry their children to Hob Holes to cure them from the whooping cough by reciting this rhyme “Hob Hole Hob, My bairn’s gotten t’kink cough, Tak it off, Tak it off.”
Hob of Hob Hill
The Hob from Hob Hill, Upleatham, who assisted the Oughtred family as late as 1820 was the normal type of Hob, he assisted in herding, turned hay, and tailed turnips etc.
They did nothing to annoy him but one day a man left his coat on the winnowing machine overnight. The Hob turned into a poltergeist and caused so much trouble they decided to flit.
The day the Oughtreds were moving a friend came by and visited them. He asked Oughtred if he was moving when the Hob replied “Aye getting ti flit ti morn.” Oughtred then decided to stay and kept the Hob under control by magic.
The Hob of Farndale
Folk tale about a Hob in Farndale, North Yorkshire; in the tale he is described as an elf like fellow with long shaggy hair and was attached to a farm belonging to Jonathan Gray.
The Hob worked very hard all the time, but only asked for two things. No-one should see him work and he should be left a jug of cream nightly.
Unfortunately Jonathan’s wife died and later he re-married. The new wife was rather shrewish and close-fisted, she refused to waste the luxury of cream on the Hob and so swapped the jug of cream for skimmed milk.
The Hob stopped work and instead of leaving he became mischievous and things started to go wrong about the farm. Soon no-one would work for Jonathan so he was resolved to move from the farm.
A friend who had been away saw Jonathan in his cart moving home.“Noo, then Jonathan, what’s gahin on?” he asked. Jonathan exclaimed his problems and added “So you see, we’re flitting.” And to his horror, the lid of a milk churn raised and a small, brown and wizened face peered out. “Aye,” said the Hob, “We’re flitting.”
The Hob at Hobgarth
Folk tale about a Hob in Glaisdale, North Yorkshire; The Hob collected sheep and repaired fences that had been broken down by a vindictive neighbour. He was described as a little old fellow, with very long hair, large feet, hands, eyes and mouth stooping much as he walked and carrying a long holly stick.
The Hob of Mulgrave Woods
Locals tell tales about a Hob who lived in a Hob’s Cave that is found in Mulgrave Woods, North Yorkshire. If you wished to beckon him, you should call out “Hobthrush Hob! Where is thou!” and the Hob would reply “Ah’s tying on mab left – fuit shoe, An ah’ll be wiv thee – Noo!” The Hob was a local spirit known for whimsical pranks.
The Hob of Sturfit Hall
The folk tale about a Hob in Reeth, North Yorkshire; He was attached to the family residing at Sturfit Hall and used to churn, make up fires, and so on, till the mistress, pitying his forlorn condition, provided him with clothes.
Much like other Hobs in his powers of work and hatred of clothing. He exclaimed “Ha! a cap and a hood, Hob’ll never do mair good!” and has not been seen since.
The Hob of Hart Hall
The folk tale about a Hob in Glaisdale, North Yorkshire; at night the Hob would thresh the corn and barley along with many other farmyard chores.
One night, one of the farm boys crept out to the barn. Peering through a gap in the wood, he saw a little brown man, covered with hair. According to the boy, the creature was "amaist as nakt as when he wur born". When the boy related what he had seen to the other servants, they made the hob a smock.
That night the Hob arrived and approached the smock. After peering at it, he said: "Gin hob mun hae nowght but a hardin' hamp. He'll coom nae mair, nowther to berry nor stamp". With that the hob disappeared, and was never seen again.
What the servants didn't know was that hobs were offended by gifts of clothes, indeed the way to rid a house of spirits was often to give them a new set of clothes.
Research Reference:
http://nymcc.org.uk/hobgoblin-of-hobthrush-hall/
https://arcanum33.blogspot.com/2020/10/the-hob-thrush-of-over-silton.html
https://hauntedgeneration.co.uk/tag/runswick-bay/
https://sites.google.com/view/thehawthorntree/introduction?authuser=0
https://mjwayland.com/hobthrush/
Notes on the Folk-lore of the Northern Counties of England and the Borders, William Henderson, 1866
Fairies, Ghosts, King Arthur, and Hounds from Hell. The Pagan and Medieval Origins of British Folklore, Robin Melrose, 2020
