In the heart of Shakespeare’s country, Warwickshire, England, lies the tranquil village of Salford Priors, standing not too far from the specified latitude and longitude. This village is enveloped in an arcane story tied to ancient megalithic stones known as The Devil’s Quoits. The Devil’s Quoits, according to local folklore, came into being when the devil himself decided to play a game of quoits. As the devil played, he supposedly threw these stones, thus explaining their scattered and random placement.
The game of quoits, which involves tossing rings at a stake in the ground, was a popular pastime during the medieval period, and this tale might have been an attempt to explain the mysterious existence of these prehistoric stones. Residents and passersby alike regard these stones with a sense of wonder and dread, imagining the devil indulging in a game, tossing these colossal stones around like mere toys.
Further enhancing this tale is another piece of folklore, suggesting that if anyone dares to count these stones and arrives at the same number twice, the devil would emerge. This superstition deterred locals from keeping track of these stones and added further mysteries to their existence.
However, many historians and archaeologists believe these stones were a part of a Neolithic monument, a theory supported by the discovery of cremation remains and pottery fragments. Yet, the enchanting folk tale of the devil playing quoits prevails and contributes to the mystical aura of Salford Priors and its surrounding regions.
Whether merely a product of imaginative storytelling or holding some element of truth, the Devil’s Quoits continue to captivate passers-by with their eerie charm and remain a focal point of local folklore in Salford Priors.