"The Dorrington Demons!"................

..................Way back in the 13th Century, a Saxon thane - Tochti - wanted to build a Chapel in the small village of Dorrington. A Pagan Shrine and Beacon were said to have existed on a hill outside the village and Tochti decided the stones from this site should be brought to the village and used to construct the Chapel. This was done, the stones were hewn and work began. When the workmen returned the next morning, all the previous day's work had been destroyed and the stones returned to the Pagan site!!! A man was paid to keep watch overnight and he reported that Demons and ghoulish imps had emerged from an Oak Tree and danced around the stones and took them back again. This happened two or three times so in the end it was decided to build a church on the hill instead of in the village.
This wood carving was created by Nick Jones to mark the spot where the chapel was to be built and to represent the demons.
I love these old legends and superstitions - it makes us think of all the things people used to think and what they used to believe was true and there are still many older country folk
who still have strange beliefs. Many years ago, I had a neighbour who, when there was a new moon, went into the garden with her purse, bowed to the moon three times turning her purse over in her hand at the same time. The first time I saw her do it, soon after we had moved into our house, I was, I admit, somewhat worried that we had a mad woman as a neighbour!!! She assured me that the ritual ensured her good health and that she would never be short of money. She never was!!!

A bright sunny morning - temperature 3 deg C - but I see in today's paper that more snow could be on the way!

Click on "L" to see bigger Demons!