Ghostly hounds bay along the cliffs as wild winds whip through Cornwall and infuse its folklore. A huge and terrifying ghoul stalks the land; once a mere steward at Landhydrock, Tregeagle’s spectre haunts the dutchy.
There are many Cornish animal ghosts. The White Hare of Looe, a jilted lover, stalks her man down West Looe Hill then jumps from boat-to-boat warning of a storm; the white dog of Porthtowan bites the tail of the dragon frightening her to the sea. Four headless horses pull the Spectral Coach of Talland, and the massive Darley Dog roams the road to North Hill.
Ghosts roll in from the sea, shrouded in a mist and stench of the deep, they find a lonely soul to befriend. The Seaman’s Ghost has left his treasure ashore. The Phantom Ship waits for a condemned soul to board; a ghostly schooner haunts Saint Ives Bay. Frank Lenine was drowned at sea; he comes ashore as a spectral bridegroom, terrifying his fragile bride. The ghosty Forrabury Bells ring out to warm of rough seas or a coming storm. At Croft Pasco Pool, inland on the Lizard, a ghostly ship has been seen.
And many, many ghosts haunt the towns and villages of Cornwall, their chilling tales ripe for telling round the fire on a dark winters night.
‘From ghoulies and ghosties
And long legged beasties
And things that go bump in the night
May the good Lord deliver us.’
(Cornish Litany)
