IN days of old when knights were bold, ordinary people entertained themselves by telling stories in the darkness of their homes, lit by candles and firelight.

This was long before the advent of radio, television, films and iPads. There is no doubt that the surrounding darkness, particularly at this time of year as the nights grow longer and darker, added a hint of fear, mystique and atmosphere to the storytelling.

This region is particularly rich in worthwhile stories which include tales of ghosts and mysterious happenings, several of which have survived into modern times, usually in the guise of folklore.

This means they continue to be related mainly in writing although experts in our folklore will entertain audiences by re-telling or re-enacting these tales, sometimes dressed in the clothing of the period.

One such story is set within the splendid ruins of Gisborough Priory with its beautiful east window.

The ruins are close to the town centre which means they are accessible to provide a haven of peace away from market day crowds and traffic.

Permission to build the priory was given to Robert de Brus by Pope Calixtus II in 1119. It was a rich foundation and in 1263, Henry III granted a weekly market to Guisborough which was held outside the priory gates.

The priory was for the use of Augustinian monks and was to be dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary.

The first building was Norman in design, and the second was English but the latter burnt down in 1289 due to the carelessness of a workman who was repairing the roof.

He was melting lead to effect some repairs and went for a break, leaving his fire blazing with disastrous consequences.

Building a replacement started immediately.

The main work on the third priory was completed around 1309-11 on 2,000 acres of land given to the monks by the de Brus family and at the Dissolution of the Catholic monasteries at the Reformation, Guisborough was one of the richest in this region, only Fountains, Selby and St Mary’s at York being wealthier.

However, the gatehouse and an old dovecot survived both the fire and the Reformation.

There are two enduring legends about this priory. One is that it is haunted by the Black Monk, who returns once a year to inspect the ruins.

He arrives at midnight during the first new moon of the year and lets down a long-vanished drawbridge over an invisible moat.

The second relates the brave adventure of a cobbler called Crispin Tocketts.

Like most local people, Crispin knew that somewhere beneath the priory was a tunnel containing a huge chest of gold that was guarded by a giant black raven.

If anyone tried to take the chest of gold, the raven would attack them and peck out their eyes. Not surprisingly, none of the local people dared to risk attempts to seize the treasure and in time, the entrance to the tunnel became lost.

But Crispin was renowned locally for his adventurous nature accompanied by bravery and so he decided to attempt the recovery of the legendary treasure.

His preparations were meticulous. He rediscovered the old tunnel and realised that underground there may be other tunnels linked to it.

He calculated the distances involved, worked out what sort of lights he would require, how long he would be underground and how much food he would need for a lengthy trip.

Due to the expected attack by the raven, he would have to be armed with a sword and staff and he would also have to make plans to find his way out if his lights failed.

For this, he took a huge roll of sheep’s wool, one end of which he tied to a bush near the entrance.

It would unroll as he progressed, and if he got lost he would be able to follow the line back to the entrance.

Once he was inside the tunnel, progress was slow. It was very narrow and dangerous in places with pools of water of unknown depth along his route, along with subterranean animals such as moles leaving mounds.

Fluttering bats also hindered his progress. There were landslips in some places which he had to remove, and at several locations the roots of trees reached down from above to form barriers.

There was also a shortage of fresh air which made it difficult to breathe.

But Crispin’s stubborn refusal to give up was rewarded because he was suddenly faced with a huge chest in a cavern cut from the earth, its metal bands and locks glinting in the light of his lantern.

As he hurried towards it, he realised the chest was standing on a stone table and it bore a brass plate on the front which was covered with indecipherable writing.

And there was no lock on the chest.

He rushed towards it, realising that his great moment had come and when he lifted the heavy lid, he was astonished to see the contents – gold coins, gold plates, silver coins and silver chalices, a mitre in gold and silver with precious stones covering the floor of the chest … so the story was true!

Here was unlimited wealth.

Just as he began to lift out the precious goods and was wondering how to convey them from the cavern, there was a swish of wings and a rush of air as a mighty giant black raven arrived and settled on the lid.

So large and heavy was the bird that its weight forced the lid to close as Crispin backed away in alarm and dropped his few treasures back into the chest.

As the lid settled into its former position, the raven turned into the Devil, fiery, angry and dangerous, and so Crispin ran for his life.

He stumbled and sometimes crawled in his terror as he followed the wool line back to the entrance with the Devil’s voice roaring in his wake.

He emerged, a quivering wreck of a man and it was many years before he had the courage to tell anyone of his adventure. When stories of his experience circulated around Guisborough, no-one else tried to find the precious hoard.

It remains hidden under the ruins of Gisborough Priory, still guarded by that giant raven.

Ravens have often been associated with evil but this is countered by some positive stories. One says that if the tame guardian ravens leave the Tower of London, the British crown will fall and the country with it.

Another story tells of Sir John Duck of Durham whose wealth and rise to social prominence began when a raven dropped a silver coin at his feet.

And Scottish deer-stalkers believe it is a sign of good fortune if a raven croaks as they begin their hunting.