The Devil comes to Widecombe

"Widecombe on a summer's day does not, however, suggest its evil repute as the haunt of his Satanic Majesty.  "What do you know about your ghostly enemy?" asked the west-country parson in Sunday-school.  "Please, sir, he lives to Widecombe."  came the prompt reply.

From the bitter cold of the winter fog and snow, from the wild winds that sweep down the valley, and howling round Bell Tor and Hound Tor, echo to the yell of the Wisht Hounds, has Widecome earned its reputation. The story of the great storm everywhere repeated keeps this notoriety alive.

In October, 1638, On a Sunday when all the folk were in church, the tower was struck, - it shows marks of the rents to this day - the lightning injuring many of the congregation, while a storm of never-to-be-forgotten awfulness swept over the valley.  A long rude poem printed on boards, and now placed in teh tower, tells of the this storm, and its ravages, and of the very miraculous escapes of many of the people.

The verses were written by the village schoolmaster, Richard Hill, who is related to one of the victims of the storm.

Local legend has minute particulars to account for this fearful thunderstorm. At Poundsgate, near Leusdon, an old woman who happened to be at home that morning saw a man ride up on a coal-black horse.  He inquired the way to Widecombe and and asked for a drink.  This she gave to him and the awful identity of the stranger was revealed by the liquor hissing as it went down his throat! She fled with a scream, and the Evil One galloped all the way to Widecombe.  Here everyone was in church, but alas! a member of the congregation was asleep.  This gave the devil his opportunity : he snatched up the culprit and flew with him through the roof of the church tower, vanishing with his victim on the wings of a storm so terrific, that it has never been forgotten.

Some say the soul of the sleeper was due that day to the devil, who came to fetch him and caught him napping."

Cresswell 1921 (Dartmoor with its surroundings: a handbook for visitors)

Map - Widecombe on the Moor