Griffydam is a hamlet within the parish of Worthington, Leicestershire .

History

Griffydam is most famously associated with a

chalybeate Chalybeate () waters, also known as Iron oxide, ferruginous waters, are mineral spring waters containing salts of iron. Name The word ''chalybeate'' is derived from the Latin word for steel, , which follows from the Ancient Greek, Greek word ...

well, or sacred spring, which lies along a path below the main road through the village. According to tradition, the name ''Griffydam'' derives from a combination of the terms ''

Griffin The griffin, griffon, or gryphon (; Classical Latin: ''gryps'' or ''grypus''; Late and Medieval Latin: ''gryphes'', ''grypho'' etc.; Old French: ''griffon'') is a -4; we might wonder whether there's a point at which it's appropriate to talk ...

'' (an ancient mythical beast with the body of a lion and the head and wings of an eagle) and ''Dam'', a contained water source. An old local legend tells of how such a creature zealously guarded the well, forcing villagers to walk several miles for their water, until one day it was slain by a chivalrous passing knight. The placename actually derives from 'Griffith's-Dam'. A man-made pond and remnants of the bank built for this dam can still be seen, below the lane called 'The Tentas'. Several nineteenth century trade directories refer to the settlement as 'Griffth's-Dam'. The name 'Griffydam' occurs as early as 1764, when it is referred to as being noted for its mineral water, as a place near

Ashby-de-la-Zouch Ashby-de-la-Zouch (), also spelled Ashby de la Zouch, is a market town and civil parish in the North West Leicestershire district of Leicestershire, England, near to the Derbyshire and Staffordshire borders. Its population at the 2021 census was ...

. It is also referred to as Griffy-dam in

Edmund Gibson Edmund Gibson (16696 September 1748) was a British divine who served as Bishop of Lincoln and Bishop of London, jurist, and antiquary. Early life and career He was born in Bampton, Westmorland. In 1686 he was entered a scholar at Queen's ...

's revised (1722) edition of

William Camden William Camden (2 May 1551 – 9 November 1623) was an English antiquarian, historian, topographer, and herald, best known as author of ''Britannia'', the first chorographical survey of the islands of Great Britain and Ireland that relates la ...

's "Britannia". In 1863, it was described as comprising approximately and belonged to the

Earl of Stamford Earl of Stamford was a title in the Peerage of England. It was created in 1628 for Henry Grey, 2nd Baron Grey of Groby. This Grey family descended through Lord John Grey, of Pirgo, Essex, younger son of Thomas Grey, 2nd Marquess of Dor ...

and J Curzon, Esq. The place is also well known for once having had a popular nightclub called The Traveller's Rest, known to locals as "Travs". Originally a public house, this was converted into a nightspot late in the twentieth century and was finally closed in about 2000, much to the relief of local residents.

Religion

Griffydam has one of the country's earliest Methodist Chapels, built in 1778. It is claimed that before the chapel was built

John Wesley John Wesley ( ; 2 March 1791) was an English cleric, Christian theology, theologian, and Evangelism, evangelist who was a principal leader of a Christian revival, revival movement within the Church of England known as Methodism. The societies ...

came to preach in the village when he was staying with his friend, Selina, Countess of Huntingdon at

Castle Donington Castle Donington is a market town and civil parish in Leicestershire, England, on the edge of the National Forest and close to East Midlands Airport. Etymology The name 'Donington' means 'farm/settlement connected with Dunna'. Another su ...

. It is said that Beaumont, the local squire of

Coleorton Coleorton ( ) is a village and civil parish in North West Leicestershire, England. It is situated on the A512 road approximately 2 miles (3.2 km) east of Ashby de la Zouch. Nearby villages include Newbold, to the north, Thringstone t ...

, decided to disrupt the event by gathering together a band of local men, priming them with ale and arming them with truncheons. The gang-leader was John Massey, a local collier, renowned pugilist and terror of North Leicestershire. Massey is said to have approached the slightly built preacher "savagely", but Wesley continued his sermon. Massey decided to hear a little of what was being said before giving the signal to attack, but the attack never came, for he was converted on the spot.'The United Benefice of Breedon and Worthington', Website, article, 'Speaking in Tongues' by Steve Andrews A Wesleyan Reform Church, opened in 1858, lies alongside the Rempstone Road and is known as 'The Chapel in the Valley'.

References

{{coord, 52.762, -1.389, type:city_region:GB, display=title Hamlets in Leicestershire North West Leicestershire District