DOBBIES OF THE FELLS

This is transcribed from pages 54/55 of "Ghosts of the Lake Counties", by Gerald Findler. Published in 1969 by the Dalesman Publishing Co. Ltd., Clapham, Yorkshire.

The little folk of Ireland -- the Leprechauns -- are perhaps better known than the brownies of Scotland, but outside the north-west one seldom hears of the Dobbies of Lakeland. Yet some of the older inhabitants still talk of a family's own "Dobbie." For the Dobbie, a kind of household fairy, was once a regular resident of Cumberland and Westmorland. His habits were nearly the same as those of both the Brownie and the Leprechaun.

Only to favoured families did the little Dobbie attach himself, and the conditions of his service were simple -- a bowl of milk and an oaten cake -- or for a change of menu -- a bowl of curds and cream -- to be left every night for his use. In return he assisted the operations of the servants and assured his employers that all things would go well in the household. Any neglect of the Dobbie's simple demands was followed by the penalty of ill-luck in cooking, churning or cheese-making, and even the work of the day like weaving, knitting, sewing or washing was undone or spoilt during the night.

For some time no Dobbies have been seen in the Lake District, and the last records around 1850 concern Jack Wilson of Martindale. He was returning home in the moonlight and, nearing Sandwick Rigg, he noticed a large company of Dobbies intensely engaged in their favourite games. They observed him as he drew near, then climbed a little ladder into the sky. At the time of the construction of the Lancaster to Carlisle railway it was said that the Dobbies were angry at such a disturbance and started pulling down the big bridge at Shap. Perhaps with the modernisation of the roads the fairies or dobbies have, like many of the boggles and ghosts, deserted Lakeland for ever.