Spring-Heeled Jack
Everton, Liverpool 1888
“Out of the night he came, a leaping, bounding superman who terrified the English nation for more than 60 years.” - Ellen Castelow
We love legends here at Northern Folklore Archive, so imagine my sheer joy at finding out one of the U.K’s most feared menaces paid a visit to the North?!
Spring-Heeled Jack was the nickname of an urban legend that took the form of a devil-like figure who leapt from roof-top to roof-top. Often described as a tall, imposing figure with sharp features, Spring-Heeled Jack became known late in the summer of 1837 when a ‘shape changing creature’ began to have reported sightings. Some saw him as an imp, some a white bull, others a ghost, a few saw an armour clad man and some reports saw a bear…
By January 1838, the number of reported sightings were at an all-time high, and so the Lord Mayor of London, Sir John Cowan, convinced that this was the work of silly pranksters, vowed to punish those responsible for starting this rumour to severe punishment. Dubbed ‘Spring-Heeled’ by the press for his supposed skill in leaping large distances, Jack began being spotted all over London and yet seemed incapable of capture.
So, why are we archiving this in Northern Folklore Archive? Well, because our favourite Victorian house-leaping terrorist paid us a visit in the North, lucky us! He ventured up to Everton, Liverpool in 1888. Members of Everton’s Saint Francis Xavier’s Boys’ Guild were playing games one evening in the school room, when a frightened boy raced into the room. He exclaimed, wildly, that a creature had been sighted on nearby Shaw Street. The boys of the Guild, after hearing his description, knew that it must have been Spring-Heeled Jack!
They all rushed outside in search of Jack, but found nothing but a small crowd of people who had gathered during the commotion. Someone in the crowd claimed to have seen Spring-Heeled Jack clinging to the steeple of a nearby church.
Another tale of Jack’s visit to Liverpool details how a young boy named Tommy decided to sneak out of his house one night. Unfortunately, the thrill of the escape was met with fear, as Tommy suddenly began hearing soft, echoing laughter that came from all directions. Running from the sound, Tommy turned a corner to be confronted by a tall, cloaked figure with fiery red eyes. Tommy’s parents did not believe him, but the neighbourhood children built up a frenzy hearing his story.
After Tommy’s experience, more sightings were reported in Everton. People swore they saw a cloaked figure appearing on misty nights, spewing eerie blue flames from its mouth.
Many believe Liverpool to the be last place that Spring-Heeled Jack was ever sighted. They say Jack was chased by angry townsfolk all the way to the reservoir on High Park Street in Toxteth, where he jumped across and vanished entirely. Back to Hell, maybe?
