Whitby Myth and Folklore: Giant Wade
Many areas of England have folklore which link the local topography and geography to the movements and whims of mythical creature, such as giants and Whitby and the surrounding countryside is no exception. The legend of the Giant Wade has been used to explain the existence of many of the local hills, standing stones and natural amphitheatres.
Folklore tell us, (contrary to historians who would accredit the Romans) that Wade's Causeway, an old road running from Malton to Eskdale was built by the giant Wade for his giantess wife Bell so that she could used it to take her cow onto the moors for milking. Tales are also told of how in creating this road Wade needed extra earth and soil and so scooped up the ground with his hand and thus leaving the mile long bowl like valley known as the Hole of Horcum. When Wade had completed this highway he found that he had some excess earth left and so he flung it away onto the moors creating either Blakey Topping, Roseberry Topping or Freeborough Hill depending upon the version of the story you are being told.
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