Author: Gerald Findler.
Book Title: Legends Of The Lake Counties

Few places can lay claim to more picturesque surroundings than the town of Kirkby Lonsdale. It has a most charming and romantic appearance, the river Lune, flowing from the fells down delightful slopes, flashing here and there over rocks, then onwards with a sweeping curve past the church and town above, through the golden glade and wood.

The Devil's Bridge is a remarkable structure, composed of three beautiful fluted arches. It gets it's name because an old legend tells us that it was build by no other than His Satanic Majesty!

If good can possibly come from evil, then here indeed is a most splendid example. Every resident of Kirkby Lonsdale will tell you the legend of the Devil's Bridge.

A cow belonging to a poor woman had strayed across the river at some convenient wading place, and not having returned home at the usual milking hour the old woman went to seek her.

But unfortunately the river had risen considerably, and the old woman was unable to cross, while her cow was isolated on the opposite bank.

At this particular moment the Devil in human form appeared on the side of the river near the cow, and assuming the guile of the tempter shouted across the river that he would build a bridge across the Lune, on condition that the first living thing to cross the bridge should become his lawful prize.

To this offer the woman gladly assented. The Devil was cute, for he knew very well that her husband was on his way home from market, and hoped to make good booty.

But the cunning woman was equal to the occasion.

Seeing her husband approaching on the opposite hill, she called her dog and threw a stone across the bridge for the dog to get, much to the dismay of the Devil who was cheated of his prize.

Below the bridge can be seen the Devil's Neck Collar - a rock with large perforation, which is said to have been lost from his neck in his wild unearthly plunge from the bridge on finding his hellish scheme thwarted.

Now, crafty sir, the bargain was

That you should have what first did past

Across the bridge - so now, alas!

The dogs your right.

The cheater, cheated, struck with shame

Squinted and grinned,

Then in a flame he vanished quite.

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