This session we continued the topic of the Devil in British Folklore in the context of the other world creatures we have been looking at.
In the previous session, for convenience, the topic was loosely grouped into 3 categories, though there was some overlapping
- Legends and tales linked to unusual landscape features, very similar to features attributed to giants.
- Attacks on Christianity
- The devil looking for human souls, making deals and pacts and collecting his dues for them.
In folklore the devil is very different from the one in the bible. We speculated on who the devil may be, the origins and purpose of these stories.
- They are good stories, often it is known these are not why a feature is there, but it is entertaining.
- Provide explanations of geographical features
- Memories/echoes of pagan spirits/gods. These were venerated at sacred sites and it has been suggested this is where these stories have originated. In cases they may have been changed into the devil by the Christian Church.
1/. Legends and Tales Linked to Unusual Landscape Features
We recapped and finished the legends and tales linked to unusual landscape features, very similar to features attributed to giants and were used to cover unusual things in the landscape by dropping stones, threatening to destroy certain towns etc.
- Tunstall, Norfolk:- the Devil stole the church bells.
- Eldon Hole, Derbyshire:- the Devil’s escape route to hell.
- Cockcrow Stone, Wellington Somerset:- prehistoric standing stone under which the Devil buried treasure. If you were there at a specific time coinciding with the crowing of a cockerel you could dig up buried treasure
- Callow Pit, Southwood, Norfolk:- contained an iron chest filled with gold.
There are a number of stories relating to raising the Devil
- Cymbeline’s Castle, Ellesborough, Bucks.
- Druid’s Stone, Bungay, Suffolk
- Devil’s Arrows, North Yorks.
- Longcompton, Warwickshire; North Leigh, Oxfordshire.
These had rituals involving circling the hills, stones etc for a set number of times, sometimes backwards, counter to the circling of the sun in the sky etc.
The number seven recurs in the tales
- In Tarrington in Herefordshire the devil can be raised by walking backwards seven times round the preaching cross whilst reciting the Lord’s Prayer backwards.
- In Stoke Edith in Herefordshire the devil was said to be able to be raised by walking seven times round the church and then looking in through the keyhole.
- In Chanctonbury Ring (an Iron Age hill fort) in Sussex the Devil could be raised by walking seven times round the hill on a moonless night
We looked at an extract from ‘Folklore, Myths And Legends Of Britain’ Geoffrey Ashe et al, 1973, covering the Horseman’s Word from Scotland. This covered the initiation into a secret society, which when successful gave control over horses. This was from around 1870-1930’s. There were Celtic horse cults which may be the precursor of this. There had to be an odd number, preferably thirteen, special knocks, oaths taken, a ‘minister’ who oversaw the ritual etc.
2/. Attacks on Christianity
We started the second category covering attacks on Christianity and how Christianity developed his character.
We looked at several ones relating to churches including
- Towednack Cornwall:- the Devil stole the stones from the church tower.
- West Walton :- The Devil flew off with the church tower but dropped it as it was too heavy.
- East Bergholt, Suffolk:- the Devil prevented the people building a stone tower attached to the Church.
These often included church bells. Bells have their own identity and personalities and in bell ringing they have names. They were believed to drive away evil spirits and protect against storms. They are also used to mark the important stages of life; birth, marriages and deaths.
Last Updated on November 8, 2021