Mill Bay and Nanjizel - south of Land's End

It is said that Tregeagle is to blame for the constant change in sand to rock in this cove of Nanjizel (Low Valley)! He was an unscrupulous lawyer and was tormented mercilessly in the afterlife by either hellhounds or his victims. After failing to empty Dozmary Pool on Bodmin Moor with a leaky shell, his final penance was to be bound and led to Gwenvor Cove where they doomed him to gather sand into a truss and bear it around to Carn Olva. This impossible job has ever since depleted the sand at Nanjizel and Sennen, Tregeagle sometimes having more success en route than at other times. I have to admit this version of events may have been affected by my faulty memory and a series of 'Penwithian Whispers'!

William Bottrell writes the story in his second series of Traditions and Hearthside Stories, it is a mere two pages, so I could transcribe it for you.....

[Tregagle, died 1655]
Our vague traditions, represent him as having been a most unscrupulous lawyer; and say that he rose from low estate, by taking bribes to lose his poorer client's cases, by bearing or procuring false witnesses; forging documents relating to the bequest of property; and other nefarious transactions which resulted in his acquisition of much riches and consequent power. He is also said to have been so cruel in his domestic relations, by having despatched several wives, who, were rich heiresses, that he is regarded as a sort of Cornish Bluebeard, who sold his soul to the devil that he might have his wishes for a certain number of years…….

A man who resided in the eastern part of the county, lent a sum of money to another without receiving bond or note or anything for security, as the transaction was witnessed by Tregagle; for whom the money was borrowed; and who died before the money was repaid.

Soon after Tregagle's death, the lender demanded his money, and his debtor denied ever having received it. The case was brought before the court at Bodmin assizes; and when the plaintiff said that Tregagle was the only witness, the defendant denied it with an oath, and exclaimed, ‘If Tregagle ever saw it I wish to God that Tregagle may come and declare it.’

The words were no sooner uttered than Tregagle stood before the court, and, pointing to the man, said, ‘I can no more be a false witness, thou hast had the money, and found it easy to bring me from the grave, but thou wilt not find it so easy to put me away.’ Wherever the terrified man moved about the court Tregagle followed him; he begged the judge and long-robed gentlemen to relieve him from the spirit. ‘That's thy business,’ said they, one and all, ‘thou hast brought him, thou may’st get him laid.’

The man returned home, but whithersoever he went Tregagle followed, and would seldom quit his side or let him rest by night or by day. He repaid the borrowed money, gave much in alms, and sought to get rid of the spirit by the aid of parsons, conjurors, and other wise men, before they succeeded in binding it, for a while, to empty Dozmery Pool with a crogan (limpet shell) that had a hole in its bottom.

Having soon finished that task, he returned to the man that brought him from his grave, and followed and tormented him worse than before, until he procured the help of other powerful exorcists who were more astute. The first thing they did was to draw a circle, out in the town-place, and put the man to stand within it. The spirit then took the form of a black bull and tried to get at him with horns and hoofs, but the man was safe within the line traced. A parson continued reading all the time, while others kept an eye on the spirit that took many shapes. At first the holy words of power made him furious; by turns, he bellowed like a mad bull, hissed like an adder, or roared like a wild beast, that he might be heard for miles away. Yet, by degrees, Tregagle became, as gentle as a lamb, and allowed the spirit-quellers to bind him with a new hempen cord; and to lead him far away to Gwenvor Cove.

There they doomed him to make a truss of sand, to be bound with ropes made of the same material, and carry it up to Carn Olva. Tregagle was a long while at his tiresome task without being able to accomplish it, until it came to a very cold winter, when, one hard frosty night, by taking water from Velan Dreath brook, and pouring it over his truss, he caused it to freeze together and bore it in triumph to Carn Olva. He then flew back to the man who raised him, and he would have torn him in pieces, but, by good luck, he happened to have in his arms an innocent young child, so the spirit couldn't harm him.

Without delay the terrified man sent for the nearest parson, who, however, was not able, alone, to cope with Tregagle; the most he could do was to prevent him from harming the man until other spirit-quellers were brought to his assistance; with whose aid the furious spirit was again bound, led away to Gwenvor, and required to undertake the same task, without going near fresh water.

So Tregagle was matched at last, for he is still there on the shore of Whitsand Bay vainly trying to make his truss of sand; and he is frequently heard roaring for days before a northerly storm comes to scatter it.

That was industrious of you, Treeve! Thank you!

You are welcome, what is the point of having all these books and notes (from 40 years of digging) here otherwise?