| St Dunstan's connection with Mayfield appears to be genuine, his biographer states clearly that he founded a wooden church at "Mayhfeld" and finding it incorrectly orientated miraculously pushed it into correct alignment.
Later according to the well known legend, while working as was his custom, at his Mayfield forge, he had avision of the Devil disguised as a beautiful woman, but seeing through the deception, the Saint grabbed him by the nose with his pincers causing the devil to leap to cool his nose first in the stream at Dunstans Bridge and then in the Tunbridge Wells springs.
The reputed tongs can still be seen at the Convent and the iron from the forge may have come from the ancient workings found lately below Court Meadow.
In these legends can be traced some of the authentic characteristics of the Saint as architect, craftsman and mystic.
from Chapter Two - Roman and Saxon times - Mayfield a History by Major R. C. G. Foster, M.C. |
