Bel the Leicester Giant

This story taken from the Leicestershire History Web Site  relays the story of Giant Bel and his great horse. 

The story starts…

     “Once upon a time there was a giant who lived in Leicestershire, and his name was Bel. Now the worst thing about the giant Bel was the way he bragged and boasted….

It continues with Bel saying….

     “I could get to Leicester on my charger in three leaps! Three leaps from this very spot, or I’m not Bel the giant.”

So…

     “At a place near Farmer’s house, he mounted his great sorrel charger. And that place is called Mountsorrel to this day.”

    “He gathered himself up, he called to his steed, and away he went, up in the air, a great long leap, and the people of Mountsorrel said, ‘O-o-oh!’ as he disappeared. In one leap he reached a place half of the way to Leicester. And that place has been called Wanlip ever since. All the people gazed to see the giant land.”

    “Then Bel drew himself up, he roared at his charger, and he leapt again, and all the people said, ‘There he goes!’ as he soared through the air.”

     “But then there was a terrible bursting and crackling noise, a noise like whips of leather, a roaring noise like a tree falling down. It was Bel’s harness, Bel’s horse, and Bel’s bones themselves, bursting with the great long leap.”

     “With a sigh like a storm at sea he came down galumph at a place two thirds of the way to Leicester. And that place has been called Birstall, ever since.”

     “Bel groaned and thought of the farmer’s sheep and cattle [his prize for winning the bet]. He urged on his dying charger with the great spurs, he gave an echoing shout, and away he went again with his harness flying in all directions. (Some of the children ran to pick up the pieces).”

      “But Bel had boasted too much. It was too long a leap for him, too great an effort for his great sorrel charger. He came down groaning like a winter wind at a place a mile and a half from Leicester. And there they rolled over dead, the boastful giant Bel and his sorrel charger. They were buried in once great grave where they landed, and that place has been called Belgrave from that day to this.”

     “As for the people round Leicester, they rejoiced greatly to know the greedy and boastful giant was dead, and their sheep and cattle safe. Especially Farmer Hook and his beautiful bay mare Jennet. He and his wife and his children danced round Jannet singing a rhyme, and this is the rhyme they sang:

                        Mountsorrel he mounted at

                        Rothley he rode by,

                        At Wanlip he leaped o’er,

                        At Birstall he burst his gall,

                        At Belgrave he was buried at.

     “You may still hear it sometimes, in Leicestershire.”

It’s a great story isn’t it! Mountsorrel, Rothley, Wanlip and Birstall form roughly a straight line between Loughborough and Leicester. Belgrave was once a village in its own right but now is part of the city of Leicester. If Bel had made his wager today he would have won his wager as he did indeed make it to Leicester in just three leaps! Other versions of the legend states that he started his journey from Belton near Loughborough (Bel’s tun) – another fitting place name for this legendary character!

At the time of Domesday, Belgrave was called ‘Merdegrave,’ but some historians believe it may have originally been called Belgrave. With Bel meaning ‘beautiful’ in French, some presume they change it to ‘Merde,’ which means ‘dung’ (to say it politely) as a way of oppressing the conquered. The other interpretation is that Merdegrave is the original Old English name, meaning the ‘grove in the meadows’ and it was actually the Norman’s who changed is to Belgrave – the ‘beautiful grove,’ to remove the French connotation of the word ‘Merde.’

We’ll never know the truth but the name Bel has been in the region for many years before the Norman invasion (Belton for example). To the ancient British pagans Bel was the sun god and it is after him that the ancient May Day festival of Beltaine is named after, a festival that continues to be celebrated to this day in Leicestershire. Two ancient British kings, Cassi-Belin and Cuno-Belin were also named after this important god.

We have read how Black Annis could have possibly represented the goddess Anu and by being dark and blue-faced, she represented the darker, more wintery times. It appears that her opposite and counterpart was the summer sun god – Bel. The story of Bel could well have been adapted over the years and originally his journey could be representative for the sun moving across the sky, falling when he reaches Belgrave. Belgrave is only just north east of the Dane Hills (Black Annis’ Bower) so by dying in Belgrave, he could have been giving way to his Winter Queen, Annis/Anu, to rule over the remainder of the year.

Beltaine fires were lit across Leicestershire on May Day to usher in the god of light, the sun god, Bel, and his name has lingered in local folklore ever since – in a child’s story – and long may it live!

WANLIP COMMUNITY NATURE GROUP

The Wanlip Community-Nature Charter asks residents to support the Community Nature Group and to do what they can to encourage and support Nature in their gardens and around the village.

The proposed Plan subject to ratification by the Village Meeting

The Nature Group was formed to identify, advise and implement initiatives that the Parish Meeting and residents can do to bring about improvement in our environment.  Specifically, it will:

Identify environmental supporting actions that residents could do in their gardens.

Give guidance on where residents can get practical environmental advice.

Form links with local organisations such as Severn Trent and The Wildlife Trust to exchange information.

Report to the Parish Meeting concerning actions being taken by the government and local councils to improve the environment.

Support the Parish Chairperson on issues relevant to nature.

Use village Fayres to promote practical ideas, particularly those that children can engage with to improve their knowledge.

Organise talks on relevant subjects of interest.

Lead any special nature projects.

To implement the above plan the group will

Nominate a member of the group to be a lead person for each element of the plan.

Produce information sheets to support residents find information to improve their garden environment.

Report on progress, as things develop, to the Parish Meeting and residents.

Manage a small budget for practical items.

Welcome suggested subjects for investigation from residents.

Wanlip Nature Group April 2026