St Cuthman

Today being All Saints' Day, it would seem appropriate to narrate another Sussex legend, this one about the origin of a notable landmark, the Devil's Dyke. This is a steep-sided, dry valley which cuts into the north side of the South Downs just outside Brighton.



Cuthman lived in Steyning on the far side of the Downs from Brighton and, it is said, had converted many of the Sussex people to Christianity. As a result, a large number of churches had been built in the Sussex Weald. One day Cuthman set off to visit a woman living as a hermit on the top of the Downs and to hear her confession. The climb up from the bottom of the hill was a stiff one and he rested when he reached the top. As he looked out over the Weald, wondering at the numerous churches built as a result of his ministrations, the Devil paused by his side.

'All that you are looking at,' said the Devil, 'once belonged to me. I will win it back yet.'

'Really?' responded the saint. 'And how do you propose to do that?'

The Devil stated his intention of digging a mighty ditch through the Downs to the sea so that the Weald would be flooded and the people drowned.

Cuthman challenged him. 'You'll never do that in one night.'

The saint and the devil agreed that if the Devil succeeded in digging the ditch between sunset and sunrise, he could take back the souls Cuthman had won for God. On the other hand, if he could not do it, the Devil was to leave Sussex, never to return.

As the sun set, the Devil started his mammoth task while Cuthman set off to visit the hermit woman. Having heard her confession (which wasn't very much at all, really), Cuthman told the woman her penance. She was to pray in darkness through the night but at 3.00am, was to light a candle and place it in the west-facing window of her cottage. Leaving her to her prayers, Cuthman returned to watch the Devil at work. Huge chunks or earth and chalk were being flung from the Downs as the Devil dug furiously, convinced that he was winning his race against the clock. Every now and then he looked at Cuthman and laughed maniacally. Cuthman just watched in silence. Meanwhile, the hermit woman was at her prayers.

Then at 3.00am, as instructed by Cuthman, the hermit lit a candle and placed it is the west-facing window. The Devil's attention was attracted by the light. With sweat pouring into his eyes, he couldn't see it clearly and thought it was the first light of dawn. Flinging aside his shovel, he vanished and has never again been seen in Sussex. But the Devil's Dyke remains to remind us of the strength of the devil.