Dyke Leaping

An extract from the book 40 Humourous British Traditions

The sport of dyke leaping has been taking place in the Fens and Lincolnshire since the time of Hereward the Wake and his insurrection against the Norman invaders.

Each village in the counties of Lincolnshire, Cambridgeshire and Western Norfolk has their own festival each year to celebrate Hereward’s successful evasion of the Norman invasion.

There are competitions for children, adults up to the age of 30, and for those 30 and above. Men, women, boys and girls compete in the same event – the only stipulation being that everyone must wear a brown sack in memory of Hereward’s sartorial elegance.