The Devil’s Stone Inn: A 17th Century Inn and Its Eponymous Legend

The Devil’s Stone Inn stands as one of North Devon’s most historically significant and mysteriously atmospheric establishments, its 400-year history intertwined with ancient folklore, coaching heritage, and supernatural tradition. Located in the picturesque village of Shebbear, this remarkable inn serves as both a testament to England’s coaching era and a living repository of folkloric practice that predates written history.

Saxon Origins and Medieval Foundations

Shebbear itself possesses ancient credentials that far predate the inn’s establishment. The village appears in the Domesday Book of 1086 as the third-largest settlement in North Devon, recorded under its Saxon name of Sceftbeara, meaning “Spear-shaft Wood.” This nomenclature reflects the dense forests that once covered much of North Devon, providing timber for weapons and tools that sustained Saxon communities.

The strategic importance of Shebbear’s location became apparent during the medieval period. Positioned along ancient trackways that connected the Devon coast with inland markets, the settlement served as a natural stopping point for traders, pilgrims, and official messengers. The presence of St Michael’s Church, built in the 12th century and dedicated to the warrior archangel, suggests the area held religious as well as commercial significance.

The Birth of The Devil’s Stone Inn

The inn began life in the early 1600s as a substantial farmhouse, reflecting the agricultural prosperity that characterised rural Devon during the late Tudor and early Stuart periods. The building’s initial construction utilised traditional Devon materials and techniques: thick cob walls, local stone foundations, and oak timbers sourced from the remaining ancient woodlands that gave Shebbear its name.

Archaeological evidence suggests the site may have been occupied continuously since Saxon times, with the 17th-century farmhouse possibly replacing earlier structures. The discovery of medieval pottery shards and building stones during recent renovations supports theories of much older settlement on the site, connecting the inn to centuries of human habitation.

As the coaching trade expanded throughout the 17th century, the strategic advantages of Shebbear’s position became increasingly apparent. The farmhouse’s location directly opposite the church, on the main route through the village, made it an ideal candidate for conversion into a coaching inn. By the late 1600s, the building had been adapted to accommodate travellers, with additional rooms, stabling facilities, and the large kitchen necessary to serve meals to passengers and crew.

The Coaching Era and Commercial Success

The transformation from farmhouse to coaching inn reflected broader changes in British transportation and commerce. The Great Fire of London in 1666 had stimulated demand for improved communication networks, whilst political stability following the Restoration encouraged domestic travel. Coaching services expanded rapidly, requiring reliable stopping points at regular intervals along major routes.

The Devil’s Stone Inn became a crucial waystation on several important routes connecting North Devon’s market towns. Travellers journeying between Holsworthy, Great Torrington, and Bideford found Shebbear a convenient overnight stop, whilst those travelling to and from Cornwall appreciated the inn’s position as the last substantial accommodation before crossing into the neighbouring county.

The inn’s success during this period is evidenced by the substantial architectural improvements undertaken during the 18th century. Additional guest rooms were added, the main hall was enlarged to accommodate dining, and specialized facilities for handling mail and cargo were constructed. The building’s distinctive features—flagstone floors capable of supporting heavy traffic, multiple fireplaces for warmth and cooking, and thick walls that provided both security and sound insulation—all reflect its adaptation to commercial hospitality.

The Devil’s Stone: Ancient Legend and Annual Tradition

The inn’s distinctive name derives from the remarkable boulder that dominates Shebbear’s village green, situated directly opposite the establishment on the church grounds. This massive conglomerate stone—weighing approximately one ton and measuring roughly six feet by four feet—represents one of Devon’s most enduring folkloric puzzles.

Geologically, the Devil’s Stone presents an anomaly. As a glacial erratic boulder, it should not exist in an area that was not glaciated during the last Ice Age. This scientific impossibility has fed centuries of supernatural speculation, with local legend providing various explanations for its presence. The most persistent tradition claims the stone fell from the Devil’s pocket when he was cast from Heaven, landing in Shebbear as a permanent reminder of cosmic struggle.

The annual tradition of turning the Devil’s Stone on November 5th represents one of England’s most unusual community rituals. At 8pm each year, villagers gather outside St Michael’s Church to witness the bellringers lift and turn the massive boulder, supposedly preventing the Devil from digging his way out from beneath it. This ceremony, documented since at least 1906 but believed to be far older, may predate Guy Fawkes Night celebrations.

The ritual follows specific protocols that suggest ancient origins. The church bells ring discordantly to ward off evil spirits, strong villagers use traditional tools (spades and pickaxes) to move the stone, and the entire community participates in the ceremony. During World War II, when the stone was not turned due to wartime restrictions, a series of local misfortunes convinced residents to perform the ritual despite the challenges, demonstrating the community’s genuine belief in its protective power.

Architectural Heritage and Hidden Mysteries

The Devil’s Stone Inn’s architecture reflects four centuries of continuous use and adaptation. The original 17th-century structure employed traditional Devon building techniques, with thick cob walls providing excellent insulation and structural integrity. Local stone, probably quarried from nearby outcrops, formed the foundations and lower courses, whilst oak timbers created the structural framework that remains visible today.

The flagstone floors, installed during the coaching era, demonstrate both practical necessity and lasting craftsmanship. These massive stones, sourced from local quarries, could withstand the constant traffic of heavily laden travellers whilst providing a surface that was easily cleaned and maintained. The multiple fireplaces, each designed for specific purposes—cooking, heating, and social gathering—reflect the inn’s role as a complete hospitality centre rather than simple accommodation.

One of the inn’s most intriguing features is the reputed hidden tunnel connecting the building to St Michael’s Church across the square. Whilst definitive proof of this passage remains elusive, local tradition insists on its existence and historical use. Such tunnels served various purposes throughout English history: escape routes during religious persecution, smuggling passages for contraband goods, or simply practical connections between related buildings.

Recent renovations undertaken by current owners Lee and Suzy have revealed additional architectural mysteries. The discovery of bricked-up doorways, concealed alcoves, and unusual structural modifications suggests the building has undergone numerous alterations throughout its history, some of which may have been deliberately hidden. These findings support theories that the inn served purposes beyond simple hospitality, possibly including storage for contraband goods or shelter for individuals avoiding official attention.

Paranormal Reputation and Modern Recognition

The Devil’s Stone Inn’s reputation as one of Britain’s twelve most haunted pubs reflects centuries of accumulated supernatural activity. The building’s combination of great age, continuous occupation, and association with ancient folklore creates ideal conditions for paranormal phenomena. Multiple spirits are reported to inhabit different areas of the inn, each with distinct characteristics and historical connections.

The inn’s paranormal reputation has attracted numerous investigations by television programmes, paranormal research groups, and individual investigators. These studies have documented various forms of unexplained activity, from visual apparitions to electromagnetic anomalies, supporting the establishment’s supernatural credentials with contemporary evidence.

Restoration and Modern Stewardship

Under the dedicated stewardship of Lee and Suzy, The Devil’s Stone Inn has undergone careful restoration that preserves its historical character whilst meeting modern standards of comfort and safety. This work represents a challenging balance between conservation and adaptation, maintaining the building’s ancient atmosphere whilst ensuring its viability as a 21st-century business.

The restoration process has revealed numerous historical details previously hidden by centuries of modifications. Original beam work has been exposed, historic fireplaces have been restored to working condition, and traditional materials have been used wherever possible to maintain authenticity. This careful approach ensures that The Devil’s Stone Inn continues to serve as both functioning hospitality establishment and living museum of English coaching history.

Today, The Devil’s Stone Inn stands as a remarkable survivor of England’s coaching era, its ancient walls housing both historical memory and continuing tradition. From its origins as a Saxon settlement through its evolution into a coaching inn and its modern reputation as a paranormal hotspot, the building represents the layered complexity of English rural history. The inn’s connection to the Devil’s Stone tradition ensures its place in the continuing folklore of North Devon, whilst its architectural heritage preserves tangible links to four centuries of hospitality and community life.