I live in an area bordering Lincolnshire, Cambridgeshire, and Leicestershire, where there is rich and varied folklore. One of the characters I love the most is the Lincoln Imp, as seen on this caddy spoon. (For those who don’t know what caddy spoons are, they were used to measure tea at a time when tea was very expensive.) I have told his story before, but it is so much fun I thought I’d share it again in a little more detail.
According to 14th-century legend, the Devil was in a mischievous mood, and let out all his demons to play; with a group of imps sent to Earth to do his bidding.
After causing havoc in Northern England, stopping at Chesterfield to twist the spire of St. Mary and All Saints Church, the imps moved on to Lincoln Cathedral, where they planned to create as much trouble as possible. The imps set about their chaos, breaking the lights, smashing up the place, knocking over candles, destroying stained glass windows, and tripping up the Dean.
An angel appeared to the group, and confronted them. A number of imps managed to escape the angel, leaving two imps remaining. The first threw rocks and insults at the angel, the second cowered under broken furniture. The angel boomed at the first imp “Wicked Imp, be turned to stone!” immortalising his terrified form into cold, hard stone, as seen on the wall of Lincoln Cathedral.
Whilst this was happening, the other, slightly less naughty, imp managed to escape. According to one legend, the imp made it to the coastal town of Grimsby, where he continued the destructive behaviour at St. James’ Church, now known as Grimsby Minster. The angel appeared and gave the imp a good hiding, before turning him to stone. The Grimsby imp can be seen in St. James’ Church, holding on to his sore bottom.
The Lincoln Imp can be seen all around the town of Lincoln. He’s present on door knockers, on items and souvenirs in gift shops, and in the name of the local football team, The Red Imps, who sport the Lincoln Imp image as their logo. It is said that on still days it is windy around the cathedral, which is the second imp circling the building looking for his friend.
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