Devil
Marford John's Devil
He swore at the presence behind him, and woke to church bells.
See it clearly
- What's there
- A huge Iron Age ditch through woodland
- Legend from
- Undated
- Tone
- Eerie
Ahead is the Devil's Dyke, where a drinker walking home swore at the Devil, and woke up the next morning to church bells.
Devil's Dyke is a huge Iron Age ditch on the east side of Wheathampstead, up to about thirty metres wide and twelve deep, and part of the defences of a Catuvellaunian settlement. Its name credits the Devil, and a local tale says he walks there. A man called Marford John, heading home late from the pub along the dyke, felt a diabolical presence behind him and, out of fright, swore aloud. Swearing put him in Satan's power, and the Devil knocked him to the ground. The next thing John knew, it was morning, and he was being woken by the bells of St Helen's church.
One sourceOnly one written account of this legend has been found so far.