Ralph Calvert, a shoemaker at
Thorpe, went twice a year to Fountains Abbey with a sack of sandals to sell to
the monks, spending a night at the monastery and returning the next day. One
night he dreamed that the devil had caught him and was shoving him into the
sack. Ralph’s own screams woke him just as the devil was tying the strings.
Next day, laughing off the dream, he set off for home. Reaching Gill Ford,
where the Grassington road crossed the river, he found it swollen with recent
rains, and had to take off his boots and socks in order to paddle across.
Sitting on a stone on the far side to tie his laces he sang to himself, ‘As he
was riding along the highway, Old Nick came unto him and thus he did say, Sing
link-a-doom, hey-down, ho-down, derry’ and a voice added, ‘Tol lol derol,
darel dol, dol dol, derry.’ The Devil himself. ‘How far is it to Grassington?’
he asked. ‘Too far without something to eat,’ said Ralph, and, producing the
fine eel pie the monks had given him, fell to eating as if unconcerned. The
devil was so impressed by Ralph’s boldness that he wanted to impress in his
turn, and began to boast of his powers. Promptly, Ralph said, ‘You take the
credit for many a strong bridge in other parts of the country. Make one here,
and I’ll believe you.’ ‘In three days,’ said the devil, and was gone. Three
days later there was a bridge at Gill Ford, which ever since has been known as
'Devil’s Bridge.'
