The dramatic, rugged look of the Stiperstones, with its jagged rock towers and spooky quiet, has naturally become a breeding ground for awesome myths and folklore. These legends aren't just stories; they give the landscape a deep, cultural meaning, making its physical features feel both supernatural and historical.
The most famous story centers on the Devil's Chair, the biggest rock outcrop on the ridge. Local legend says the Devil was carrying an apron full of stones he'd grabbed in Ireland, planning to use them to fill up the valley on the other side of the ridge, which is appropriately known as Hell's Gutter. He sat down on the hill for a quick rest, but when he stood up, his apron strings snapped! The stones spilled out and formed all the weird rock piles you see today.
There's a darker version, too, claiming that on the longest night of the year, the Devil returns to his chair to call together his local crew of witches, imps, and other "ne'er-do-wells" for a massive party where they choose their earthly ruler for the next year. A related prophecy says that if the Stiperstones ever sinks completely into the earth, England will collapse. To try and make that happen, the Devil supposedly throws himself down on his chair periodically, trying to smash the hill into the ground. This legend turns the hill into a symbolic guardian, a tough shield against national ruin.
Another key figure in the local folklore is Wild Edric, a Saxon nobleman who fought against the Norman invaders back in 1066. After his resistance, the story goes that he and his men—along with his fairy wife, Godda—were cursed and locked away inside one of the area's old lead mines. The curse says that whenever England faces a truly grave threat, Edric and his host must ride out from their underground prison on horseback to fight on the country's behalf. People have actually claimed to see this spectral host riding out before major national conflicts, including the Crimean War and both World Wars. Past miners even swore they could hear Edric's ghost knocking deep in the mines, supposedly guiding them to new, rich deposits of ore. Like the Devil's Chair tale, the legend of Wild Edric positions the Stiperstones as a powerful, living part of the national story—a physical place intrinsically linked to the fate and defense of England.