The Devil at St. Dunstan’s Church

The village of Mayfield in East Sussex holds one of England’s most ancient supernatural legends. Here, in the 10th century, St. Dunstan, Archbishop of Canterbury, is said to have battled the Devil himself. The encounter has left a spiritual mark on the village that persists to the present day.

The Legend

According to tradition, St. Dunstan was working at his forge when the Devil appeared to him disguised as a beautiful woman. Recognizing the deception, Dunstan seized the Devil’s nose with his red-hot tongs. The Devil fled, cooling his burned nose in a spring at Tunbridge Wells, which explains that town’s famous waters.

The Evidence

The Old Palace at Mayfield, now part of a convent school, contains what are claimed to be the actual tongs used by St. Dunstan. The medieval stone building incorporates remains of an earlier structure associated with the saint. Visitors report an unusual atmosphere in the oldest parts of the building.

The Hauntings

The church and village have been the site of numerous supernatural reports over the centuries. Dark figures have been seen near the church at night. Unusual sounds emanate from the Old Palace. Some visitors report feeling watched or followed when walking through the village after dark.

The Connection

Local tradition holds that the Devil has never forgiven his humiliation at Mayfield and occasionally returns seeking revenge. Unexplained misfortunes in the village were historically attributed to his malice. The annual celebrations of St. Dunstan’s Day were partly intended to ward off diabolic attention.

Assessment

Whether the legend of St. Dunstan and the Devil has any historical basis, it has shaped Mayfield’s identity for over a thousand years. The concentration of reported supernatural activity in the village suggests that belief itself may create or attract such phenomena.