Went here with my friend Gavin and the dog, a beautiful location where you have to walk across the moors. I was surprised to find the tiny sundews, carnivorous plants which add a splash of red to the boggy areas. We call it the grave of the water monster as it has multiple folkloric explanations. One thing for certain is it’s a pleasant spot and worth a visit.
Stone on Standing Stone Hill, Colden in snowy weather last winter
Snivelling stone showing the foot shaped cavity, according to legend the heel print
The legendary Snivelling Stone, reported lost by English Heritage.
Anglo-Saxon legend tells of how phantom blacksmith Wayland thé Smithy sent his imp into Ashbury village to buy some nails, but the imp went drinking and wénching instead. So Wayland lobbed a Boulder at him which caught him on the heel. The imp went Snivelling into a corner which has been known as Snivelling Corner ever since.
It was said that the stone was still there with the imp’s heel print on it and a hole in the side for which there were various other folklore explanations.
According to English heritage records on past scape the stone was reported missing and assumed destroyed in 1979 but Clive Spinage says in his book that it is still there.
So today I went to look for it, sure enough I found it hidden away in a hedge near the dried up steam where it used to stand. There is a foot shaped cavity and a hole clearly visible on one side.
