Grimsby is by far one of the most unique and interesting towns in the county of Lincolnshire. For one, its history and heritage has far more to do with Danish and Viking influence than nearly any other area for miles around. Even the name of the town is derived from a supposed Danish fisherman who went by the name of "Grim" and the Norse word for "city". One thing is certain, though: No matter how Grimsby truly originated it is now the home for over a hundred thousand English citizens and most of these folks love the town no matter how it came to be.
Grimsby is definitely sprung from Danish roots, though, and it is speculated that the town arose in the 800s after being set up by Vikings. Grimsby is flanked by bodies of water all around including the Humber and the Haven and as such it is the perfect place from which to send out and receive ships. The importance of such a feature to the water loving Viking Danes can not be stressed enough. The proximity of the town to the North Sea in addition to the other rivers made the town ideal for fishing as well and the overall layout of the area make Grimsby something of a safe haven for boats and ships during storms. All told, Grimsby was the perfect location for a Viking settlement and that is exactly what it became.
The Vikings were the originators of the deep and dark Norse Mythology and one of the most beloved Gods of this pseudo-religion was the famed Odin. It was believed that Odin liked to disguise himself as a mortal and walk among humans undetected. Whenever Odin would do this he would use a name that was similar to "Grim" in some capacity, such as Grimnir (which meant "the masked one"). Thus, most of the people at the time actually believed that this Grim fisherman was none other than Odin in disguise and it was his divine power that allowed such a beautiful town to come into the hands of the Vikings.
Another mythological story involving the founding of Grimsby can be found in the long Anglo-Norman poem entitled "Havelok the Dane". This tale is reputable for being only the second English romantic poem ever written that still exists to this day. It is said that the poem was written in the later years of the 1200s. At any rate, the tale unfolds in and around Grimsby and the town even still has a plaque that details the adventures of the characters in the story. The Norse Mythology is fascinating and dark but what is truly remarkable is how long it was carried on when many other countries and peoples began to eschew the idea of multiple Gods ruling in the heavens. If it weren't for this longstanding belief in Odin, though, we may not have a Grimsby today so there is something to be said for belief in the impossible. Sometimes it helps to create something that nobody even knew they were looking for.
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