Tregeagle 5: Loe Bar and Porthcurno

Spinning for ever and ever

Loe Bar

Tregeagle was tasked with carrying sacks of sand across the River Cober to Porthleven. One day he had a particularly heavy sack and he dropped it. Sand stacked up across the river creating what is known today as the Loe Bar. The people of Helston were as disturbed by Tregeagle’s incessant moaning as those of Padstow and something had to be done. As night fell, the hell hounds gleefully surrounded Tregeagle growling for his soul.

St. Petroc’s chain of prayers was redeployed. All the saints in Cornwall flanked Tregeagle as he was taken over to Porthcurno Beach. Here his task was to sweep all the sand from the beach and around the headland. With every effort he made; the winds and the tides washed the sands back again, providing him with an endless task at which he still toils to this day.

When his howling gets too much for the people of Porthcurno the saints take Tregeagle back to Helston. When his howling gets too much for the people of Helston, the saints take him back to Padstow. When the people of Padstow can bear the noise no longer, out comes the chain of prayers and Tregeagle is hauled back to Dozmary Pool.

On a stormy night you may hear the wailing and moaning of Tregeagle; perhaps if you listen again, you may hear the echo of the hounds as they taunt him.

                           ‘Howl like Tregeagle’

Location
Loe Pool
Area
Type of place
Co-ordinates

50.070472, -5.29494

Retold by
Source
Collector
Date collected (approx)
1865
Date story set (approx)
17C
Theme