Nearly Knowledgeable

We are told that the storm which hit Shrewsbury in January 1553 was biblical. The rain lashed down and thunder ripped through the sky. The frostiness of the night felt oppressive, filling the hearts and minds of the town’s inhabitants with a sense of foreboding. Fear whipped its way through the winding streets, and on this night, if we are to believe the chapbook of St Alkmund’s church, the Devil Came to Shropshire.  This wasn’t the first time his cloven feet trod on Shropshire soil, for Shropshire is the Devil’s County, and one doesn’t have to look far to find a rich body of Folklore which concerns his exploits. Littered across the landscape are a plethora of folk tales alluding to his presence, and proclivity for the region, which he either loves or loathes depending on who you speak to. This is not to suggest that he cannot be found throughout British Folklore, as the Devil has left his mark on placenames, buildings and cultural narratives throughout the UK. He has always been t...