Ralph Whitlock in one of his many books (over 100), Wiltshire Folklore And Legends, published in 1992 by Robert Hale, in a chapter titled ‘Black Dogs,’ noted:
“On Palm Sunday the people of Longbridge Deverill walked up to Cow Down where, from time immemorial, they had held a picnic. But one Sunday a huge dog appeared and so frightened them that the festival was discontinued. One would like to know more of the circumstances.”