S05E33 - The Devil Went Down to Devon

S05E33 - The Devil Went Down to Devon

From MonsterTalk by Blake Smith

June 1, 2026 · 1h 8m · Season 5 · Episode 33

About this episode

The episode explores the mysterious hoof-shaped tracks found in Devon in 1855 and the various theories surrounding their origin.

On the morning of February 9, 1855, residents across south Devon, England, discovered strange hoof-shaped tracks in the snow. The prints - about 4 inches long, 3 inches wide, and spaced roughly 8 inches apart in single file - appeared to have been left by a biped with a donkey-like hoof. Reports came in from more than 30 locations across the county. Within days, the Illustrated London News published a letter from a correspondent calling himself "South Devon" that would define the legend for generations: a continuous 100-mile trail, identical prints in every parish, passage over rooftops and through haystacks, a crossing of the two-mile-wide River Exe. The Devil, some locals whispered, had walked through Devon. In this episode, Blake, Karen, and Matt dig into the original sources, trace how the story was embellished over 170 years of retelling, and examine the many theories - from wood mice to Romani conspiracies - that have been offered to explain the Great Devon Mystery. EXTENSIVE show notes at https://monstertalk.org Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support . Some product links may be affiliated with Amazon revenue sharing.

People in this episode

Host: Blake Smith

Guests: Karen, Matt

Topics covered

  • Great Devon Mystery
  • hoof-shaped tracks
  • local legends
  • historical analysis
  • theories of explanation

Keywords

  • Devon
  • hoof-shaped tracks
  • Great Devon Mystery
  • historical legend
  • February 9, 1855

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Illustrated London News

Places: Devon

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