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St John's Church

This Anglo-Saxon building, close to the South Yorkshire/North Nottinghamshire border, has several unusual features which make Carlton well worth a visit both for those who believe in legends and those with an interest in early architecture. The tower is Anglo- Saxon, but the belfry was added in the 15th century. Underneath the western belfry window there is an unusual feature of herringbone stonework, where slabs of stone are interwoven in the same style as traditional herringbone fabric. A 'sun stone' is set above the vestry door in the south aisle, which depicts and sun, moon and stars - slightly pagan in feel for the interior of a church, so it comes as no surprise that a crude cross was cut into it at some point in history.

Carlton hosts its own Devil stone, and it is said that if a visitor runs around it seven times, he or she will either experience good fortune or see the Devil himself. This all depends on which way the stone is circled; clockwise (deosil) will bring good luck, whereas anticlockwise (widdershins) will conjure the Devil. Stones such as this are common throughout England, often featuring in very similar legends. The clockwise versus anticlockwise notion is another common superstition, and recalls old beliefs connected with white and black magic. Local legend also suggests that a white lady haunts the site of the stone, which has been connected with a long-forgotten human sacrifice. Dublin | England | Exeter | Godshill | Lincoinshire | Lincolnshire | Norton | Old Lady | Whiston | Whiston |