Tall Man

Location: Llanilar (Dyfed) - Church
Type: Legend - Old Nick
Date / Time: Nineteenth century
Further Comments: One of several churches in Wales where the Devil was once said to have appeared in the form of a man with an evil looking face (or the head of a dog), with his appearance causing illness to witnesses.

Devil's Hideout

Location: Llanrhos (Clwyd) - The Devil's Tree (old oak tree)
Type: Legend - Old Nick
Date / Time: Eighteenth century?
Further Comments: Contained within the branches of this old, withered oak tree, Old Nick sometimes hides. The troublesome Devil would leap onto the backs of men as they passed, draining their energy and not letting go until they reached home or somewhere safe.

Tall Man

Location: Lledrod (Dyfed) - Church
Type: Legend - Old Nick
Date / Time: Nineteenth century
Further Comments: One of several churches in Wales where the Devil was once said to have appeared in the form of a man with an evil looking face (or the head of a dog), with his appearance causing illness to witnesses.

Devil's Coach Marks

Location: Lochs in Scotland (various districts) (Highland) - No exact location given
Type: Legend - Old Nick
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: During the winter months, when the Devil visits Scotland, the wheels on his coach leave visible marks across frozen Lochs.

Hill Creation

Location: Lower Quinton (Warwickshire) - Meon Hill
Type: Legend - Old Nick
Date / Time: Seventh century?
Further Comments: Upset by the building of the Evesham Abbey, Old Nick threw a lump of dirt at it, but the missile was deflected by the prayers of Saint Egwin - the projectile ended up many miles away, becoming Meon Hill.

Escape Route

Location: Lundy Bay (Cornwall) - Lundy Hole
Type: Legend - Old Nick
Date / Time: Hole still present
Further Comments: While combing her hair nearby, Saint Menfre was confronted by the Devil. She threw her comb at him, striking with such force he dug Lundy Hole in his haste to return to hell.

Frozen Nick

Location: Lydmarsh (Somerset) - Windwhistle Hills
Type: Legend - Old Nick
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: The area is said to become so cold at night that the Devil died of exposure and is buried under a hill. Phantom highwaymen are also said to ride around the countryside.

Winner

Location: Maesteg (Mid Glamorgan) - Mountainside near Colliery
Type: Legend - Old Nick
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: A group of miners playing cards invited a passing stranger to join their game. He sat with them, quickly winning all hands, although the game quickly came to an end when the miners fled, having realised their guest had cloven feet.

South of the River

Location: March (Cambridgeshire) - Church
Type: Legend - Old Nick
Date / Time: Church still present
Further Comments: The villagers of March wanted their church in the village, but the Devil felt so passionately about his fenland he moved the construction materials across the river.

Devil's Jumps

Location: Marshwood (Dorset) - Clumps of trees between village and Thorncombe
Type: Legend - Old Nick
Date / Time: Still present
Further Comments: The small clumps of trees between these points are where the Devil bounced along the ground after being kicked by the Abbot of Forde. Some say that these trees move to a nearby stream to drink late at night, while others tell of the Devil returning after dark to swing from tree to tree.

Dropped Church

Location: Marston Moretaine (Bedfordshire) - St Mary the Virgin church
Type: Legend - Old Nick
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: The Devil tried to steal the bell tower, but found it too heavy and dropped it after several steps - church and tower remain separated to this day.

Moved Stones

Location: Matching (Essex) - Church
Type: Legend - Old Nick
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: The Devil tried to prevent the church from being built by moving stones at night, but he ultimately failed.

Tongs

Location: Mayfield (Sussex) - Mayfield Convent
Type: Legend - Old Nick
Date / Time: Still present
Further Comments: This convent holds the tongs used by St Dunstan to grab the Devil by the nose - the fallen angel was disguised in woman's clothing, but St Dustan noticed his cloven feet. After the attack, Old Nick ran off to the springs at Tunbridge Wells.

Sinking Church

Location: Millom (Cumbria) - Sunkenkirk (aka Swinside) stone circle
Type: Legend - Old Nick
Date / Time: Stones still present
Further Comments: A church is said to have once stood here, but the Devil appears and dragged it underground - all that remains are fifty five stones that form a circle.

Petrified Quoits

Location: Moretonhampstead (Devon) - Hel Tor and Blackingstone hills
Type: Legend - Old Nick
Date / Time: Still present
Further Comments: According to legend, King Arthur stood on Hel Tor, the Devil on Blackingstone, and a game of quoits ensued. They threw discs at each other until Arthur finally won - the Devil, disgusted with the outcome, turned the last two quoits into stone.

St Catherine's Throw

Location: Mottistone (Isle of Wight) - Long Stone
Type: Legend - Old Nick
Date / Time: Stone still present
Further Comments: To settle a dispute over who should control the island, Saint Catherine and the Devil agreed to a stone tossing contest. Saint Catherine’s throw was straight and true, landing some seven miles away. The Devil’s throw fell short and, true to his word, he left the island. Other versions of the story replace Saint Catherine with a neighbourhood giant, but with the same outcome. Either way, the thrown boulder remains for all to see. It is now thought the two stones are part of a Neolithic long barrow, but of course, I’m sure that’s what the Devil wants you to believe...

Wild Humphrey

Location: Nesscliffe (Shropshire) - Kynaston's Cave
Type: Legend - Old Nick
Date / Time: Circa 1500
Further Comments: Wild Humphrey Kynaston, local highwayman and friend to the poor, used this cave as a hideout. His horse was capable of making such daring jumps it was said to either be the Devil himself, or that the Devil helped the horse make the leaps.

Devil's Hoof

Location: Newington (Kent) - Church
Type: Legend - Old Nick
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: A hoof print is visible in a stone by the gate. The Devil was once so upset by the sound of the church bells, he climbed the steeple with the intent of stealing them; he slipped and fell, leaving the single piece of evidence behind.

The Pot o' Pittenyoul

Location: Newmill, Keith (Moray) - Stream by the hamlet
Type: Legend - Old Nick
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: The Pot o' Pittenyoul was a small, rocky pool along the stream. A local legend said that one of the worn stones was a seat used by the devil.

Moved Foundations

Location: North Otterington (Yorkshire) - Church
Type: Legend - Old Nick
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: The church here was intended to be built closer to Thornton-le-Moor but the Devil moved the stones to where the church was finally constructed.

Downed Devil

Location: Northlew (Devon) - General area
Type: Legend - Old Nick
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: Old Nick is said to have died from the cold as he passed through this area.

Sir Rowland

Location: Odell (Bedfordshire) - Church
Type: Legend - Old Nick
Date / Time: Every hundred years (next expected 2044)
Further Comments: Sir Rowland Alston made a deal with the Devil, though when Old Nick came for Alston's soul, the man fled to the nearby church for help. It proved futile, and Alston was dragged to hell. Scratch marks can be seen in the church porch where Alston tried to hold on as the Devil dragged him away. The scene is re-enacted once a century.

The Passenger

Location: Olney (Buckinghamshire) - Whirley Pit (pond)
Type: Legend - Old Nick
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: The pond is said to be bottomless; occasionally a phantom coach pulled by headless horses led by a decapitated driver passes through the village and dives into the pool, their passenger none other than the Devil on his way home.

The Devil Takes His Due

Location: Ormesby (Norfolk) - Exact location unknown
Type: Legend - Old Nick
Date / Time: 15 May (Reoccurring)
Further Comments: The Devil is said to appear and burn down an old mill, containing a miller, his daughter, and a visitor.

Dropped by Old Nick

Location: Over (Cheshire) - Church
Type: Legend - Old Nick
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: The church once stood in the middle of the village, but the Devil tried to run off with it. He dropped the building where it currently stands when he heard the ringing of the bells at a nearby abbey.