Devil
The Devil's Spadeful
One worn-out pair of shoes saved a whole town.
See it clearly
- What's there
- Sandstone knoll with pines on open heathland
- Legend from
- Local tradition, printed 1839
- Tone
- Light-hearted
The Devil asked a cobbler how far to Bewdley. The cobbler held up a worn-out pair of shoes.
Between Bewdley and Kidderminster rises a sandstone knoll crowned with Scots pine, the Devil's Spadeful or Spittleful. The tale says the Devil was carrying a spadeful of earth to throw into the Severn and drown Bewdley for its great godliness. He met a cobbler going home with a pair of shoes to mend and asked how far it was to Bewdley. The cobbler said so far that he had worn out those very shoes walking from it. The Devil threw down his load on the spot. A Bewdley poem of 1839 has the cobbler ply the Devil with drink. The knoll has a cave once inhabited.