Devil's Bridge in Acklam

B

Bob Fischer

Active member
While I'm here... thought this might be of interest. It's a fun little investigation I wrote up, looking at the folklore attached to Devil's Bridge - the little stone bridge that crosses the beck from the Acklam Hall estate to Saltersgill. I went there every weekend as a kid in the 70s, and was fascinated by stories of the devil's hoofprint being visible on the underside of the bridge. Be intrigued to know any other memories of that story!

hauntedgeneration.co.uk

Urban Wyrd: Devil’s Bridge – The Satanic Rites of Acklam

All the kids in Acklam knew about the hoofprint on the underside of Devil’s Bridge. It was five minutes walk from my Gran’s house. Add another five if the weather was cold, and she was …
hauntedgeneration.co.uk hauntedgeneration.co.uk
 
No bridge stories,but i used to love 'beck jumping' in that area,we used to have names for the jumps,can only remember 'rats corner'now.good times.
 
Walked across it many times on my way too and from St. Mary's. Always a bit dicey if you were on your own dodging the rascals on mopeds and scramblers.
 
Went to Devil's Bridge frequently, whilst pretending to actually run whilst doing the cross-country run when I was at St Mary's College back in the day. Turned left after the bridge iirc then past the fields to Ladgate lane - it was well out of town in those days.
 
Devils Bridge was where the Hell Gang used to hang out. Though no one actually saw them they were said to be very rough
 
I recognise that bridge but can't place it. I grew up in Acklam other side of the beck from kader junior school. Where is it from there?
 
Walked across it loads and hung out when dodging chemistry lessons at St Mary’s, over to the pub.
 
Laughing said:
I recognise that bridge but can't place it. I grew up in Acklam other side of the beck from kader junior school. Where is it from there?
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From there you would have to cross Acklam Road, go through the acklam cemetery end of the avenue of trees, walk across sandy flats until you get to the path that runs alongside the golf course and then walk towards Tollesby.
 
SE4 Red said:
From there you would have to cross Acklam Road, go through the acklam cemetery end of the avenue of trees, walk across sandy flats until you get to the path that runs alongside the golf course and then walk towards Tollesby.
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If only you could walk across Sandy flats. It’s like a prison of war camp.
 
Ah is it. I've not been over there for a long time. Have they done anything on the old St David's school site yet? Presumably that's going to be housing?
 
Bob Fischer said:
While I'm here... thought this might be of interest. It's a fun little investigation I wrote up, looking at the folklore attached to Devil's Bridge - the little stone bridge that crosses the beck from the Acklam Hall estate to Saltersgill. I went there every weekend as a kid in the 70s, and was fascinated by stories of the devil's hoofprint being visible on the underside of the bridge. Be intrigued to know any other memories of that story!

hauntedgeneration.co.uk

Urban Wyrd: Devil’s Bridge – The Satanic Rites of Acklam

All the kids in Acklam knew about the hoofprint on the underside of Devil’s Bridge. It was five minutes walk from my Gran’s house. Add another five if the weather was cold, and she was …
hauntedgeneration.co.uk hauntedgeneration.co.uk
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Now Bob, I've missed your book club on Radio Tees this year and haven't a clue what to buy the wife for her Christmas read. I will blame you if she is miserable on Christmas morning. 😁

Good to hear from you. (y)
 
Me & my son walked across that bridge, from where we live in Acklam for a full season when he played football at St Mary's collage

I still use the bridge when on my 6 mile excersie walk 🚶👍
 
Used to cycle over it a lot to 'go on the bumps' with my tracker bike back in the mid 70's. Fabulous, but not for the faint hearted. I ended up in the beck once, unable to stop :)
 
SE4 Red said:
Ah is it. I've not been over there for a long time. Have they done anything on the old St David's school site yet? Presumably that's going to be housing?
Click to expand...
No they haven't(apart from demolishing the school) I think it is supposed to be housing at some point.
 
Bob Fischer said:
While I'm here... thought this might be of interest. It's a fun little investigation I wrote up, looking at the folklore attached to Devil's Bridge - the little stone bridge that crosses the beck from the Acklam Hall estate to Saltersgill. I went there every weekend as a kid in the 70s, and was fascinated by stories of the devil's hoofprint being visible on the underside of the bridge. Be intrigued to know any other memories of that story!

hauntedgeneration.co.uk

Urban Wyrd: Devil’s Bridge – The Satanic Rites of Acklam

All the kids in Acklam knew about the hoofprint on the underside of Devil’s Bridge. It was five minutes walk from my Gran’s house. Add another five if the weather was cold, and she was …
hauntedgeneration.co.uk hauntedgeneration.co.uk
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Lovely article that Bob cheers. Used to nick off occasional lessons from Newlands and wait at the devil's bridge. Blast from the past
 
Erimus74 said:
Me & my son walked across that bridge, from where we live in Acklam for a full season when he played football at St Mary's collage

I still use the bridge when on my 6 mile excersie walk 🚶👍
Click to expand...
Happy memories. I used to live towards the other end of the beck. Not too far up from St Chad´s church. The beck and the grassy area nearby were my playground. On occasions I used to walk up to Devil's bridge. However not that often as it felt like a long way.

I played footy for St Mary's College in the early 70s. Along with rugby for the colts at Middlesbrough rugby club. Plus cricket for Marton cricket club. Used to use the tennis courts at the college quite a lot as well.
 
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