Hexham wolf facts for kids

The Hexham wolf was a famous grey wolf that caused a stir in Northumberland, England, over 100 years ago. This large wolf, also known as the Allendale wolf, was believed to have escaped from a zoo. During the winter of 1904, it was known for attacking farm animals in the areas of Hexham and Allendale. People described the wolf as being very big and male, though its exact color was debated.

The Wolf on the Loose

In late 1904, farmers in Hexham and Allendale faced a big problem. Their farm animals were being attacked, and many were lost. People suspected a wolf was responsible. On December 10, 1904, the local newspaper, Hexham Courant, reported on the "Wolf at Large in Allendale." Farmers were so worried they started keeping their animals indoors at night.

Searching for the Wolf

People thought the wolf might have escaped from Captain Bain's collection in Shotley Bridge. However, his wolf was too young to cause such damage. A much larger wolf was seen near the Allenheads school. On December 9, 1904, a grey wolf attacked a flock of sheep. Search parties tried to track it for miles, but it got away. The next day, the wolf returned to its kill, and another search began, but again, they couldn't find it.

Public Concern and Rewards

The people of Northumberland grew very anxious. Farmers kept their sheep inside and lit lights all night to protect them. Rewards were offered to anyone who could kill the wolf. On December 20, a large meeting of farmers was held. The local Member of Parliament, Maj. Wentworth Henry Canning Beaumont, led the meeting. They offered a £5 reward for the wolf's skin. A group called the Hexham Wolf Committee was then formed to help find the animal.

The Mystery of the Found Wolf

On December 29, 1904, some platelayers (people who work on railway tracks) found the body of an animal. It had been cut in half by a train and thrown about 40 yards away. They buried the animal, but later, after talking to the Stationmaster at Cumwhinton, they dug it up again. They brought the body to the station, where a member of the Hexham Wolf Committee identified it. They believed it was a full-grown male grey wolf.

Was it the Hexham Wolf?

Captain Bain, the suspected owner of an escaped wolf, said the found wolf was too old to be his. So, on January 7, 1905, it was announced that the wolf found by the railway was NOT the Hexham wolf. This meant the real Hexham wolf was still out there! By the end of January 1905, people's interest in the Hexham wolf stories began to fade. Newspapers stopped writing about it, and the mystery slowly disappeared.

The Wolf's Legacy

Years later, in 1971, some strange stone carvings called the Hexham Heads were found. After this discovery, people reported seeing werewolves in the area. Some thought these sightings might be connected to the legend of the Hexham wolf.

In 2014, the Allen Valleys Folk Festival began. A special part of this festival is burning a large wooden sculpture of the "Allendale Wolf." One year, the wolf sculpture was even given features of a Dalek. This was done to support the Museum of Classic Sci-Fi, which was facing problems with local planning rules.

See also

• Hexham Heads
• List of wolves