dewerstone

Dewerstone in Devon.

Dewer is said to be a local name for the devil and in legend he and his hounds chased sinners across the moor causing them to throw themselves off the rock in terror so he could collect thier souls at the base. One particularly gruesome tale relates that an old farmer wending his weary way home met the devil carrying a sack away from the base of the rock. In failing light and with failing eyesight the farmer did not recognise the devil and, assuming he was a hunter, asked if he had had a successful day. The devil laughed and thrust the bag at the former telling him he was welcome to the catch. The gleeful old man hurried home and called to his wife to come and see what he had got. When the pair emptied out the sack it contained the broken body of their son.

Sir Conan Doyle made use of this legend in 'the hound of the baskervilles'

 

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