A
Discussion of Alderley Edge's Arthurian Connections
By
David Nash Ford
A L D E R L E Y
E D G E
Arthur
& Merlin in Cheshire
According
to the best known legend in Cheshire, the wilds of
Alderley were one of the haunts of Merlin
the Magician, known locally as the Wizard of the
Edge. Merlin's Well (or spring) runs down a rocky
outcrop in the woods to be collected in a small stone
trough.
"Drink
of this and take thy fill
For the water falls by the Wizard's will."
is
inscribed on the rock-face above, along with a three
dimensional carving of Merlin's Head.
King
Arthur and his Knights
are believed to sleep in a nearby cave. A fact
reported by a local farmer from Mobberley in the late
17th century. On his way to sell a fine white mare at
Macclesfield Fair, the farmer had encountered a
cloaked old man on the Edge who offered to buy his
horse. Preferring to get a good deal in the town, the
farmer declined. At which the old man declared that
the vendor would not sell his horse at the fair and
the two would complete their deal on his return. The
farmer proceeded on his way and, to his surprise,
found that the old man's prediction came true. Bumping
into his mysterious friend once more, he was
encouraged to follow him to a shear rock-face. Here
the stranger tapped three times to open a magical door
to a mysterious cave. Within, the farmer saw the
mighty King Arthur and all his Knights of the Round
Table sleeping peacefully, ready to rise again
as the Wizard Merlin now explained, "When:
Thrice
England shall be lost, thrice won,
Twixt dawn of day and setting sun.
Then dabbled wings shall ravens toss
Croaking o'er bloodstained Headless Cross."
But the
slumbering Royal Stable was one horse short. Hence the
old wizard's need for the farmer's fine mare. The
farmer was given gold and jewels from the from that
piled high around the cave. He returned home a happy
man, but was never after able to find the cave or see
the old man again.
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