The Wild Folk shaped Cornwall’s earliest imagination. Giant legends formed the backbone of its creation mythology, explaining hills, tors, cliffs and even some standing stone sites as the work of powerful beings who shaped the land.
As Cornwall changed, new folklore emerged. The Knockers grew from mining culture and the industrial age, becoming underground spirits of warning, luck and mischief. Cornish miners later carried these stories across the seas.
Cornwall’s bestiary is still growing. In the last fifty years, Owlman, the Woodwose and many UFO sightings have joined the older legends.
Step into the realm of The Wild Folk to find out more.
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These are a collection of books that have inspired our depiction of the Cornish Wild Folk. Please note: most of these books are only available via second-hand book sellers. Where they are currently in print, we have included a link to an online bookseller.
Below are a selection of videos that cover Cornish folklore, their history and some of the theories around how they functioned. All rights reserved.
