Creatures, Myths & Legends

The story of Morgawr - Nessie's Cornish cousin

By T.K. Randall
May 4, 2020

Image: AI-generated (Midjourney) The Loch Ness Monster - Scotland's world-famous lake monster - needs no introduction, but it is by no means the only monster legend to have originated in the UK.

Another well known example is Morgawr - a creature said to lurk near Falmouth Bay, Cornwall.

Described as a 20ft-long, dark-colored serpent-like beast, this mysterious denizen has been sighted numerous times over the last century and - like Nessie - has become a staple of the local folklore.

The earliest recorded sighting of the creature was in 1876 when two fisherman who were overhauling their crab pots in Gerrans Bay discovered a large serpent coiled around one of their floats.

A similar creature - which was estimated to be 20ft long - was caught in Falmouth Bay by two fishermen in 1926, however it ultimately managed to escape, tearing their nets as it went.

The legend of Morgwar would go on to gain a certain degree of notoriety in 1976 when researcher Tony 'Doc' Shiels produced a hoaxed image of the creature attributed to "Mary F", however despite this, further sightings of the monster have continued to be reported.In May 2002, two fishermen aboard different boats independently reported seeing a large creature in the same stretch of water in the same week.

"I said to the fisheries officer that there was something a bit weird in the water and as we got a bit closer I saw this huge head," said Dan Matthew of Cornwall Sea Fisheries.

"As we got within 100 yards its neck was completely out of the water but when it saw us coming its neck fell from a vertical position and made quite a big splash. It was grey/black in color."

"I've boated in the Fal for many years and I've never seen anything like this."

"I've seen lots of dolphins and whales but it wasn't either of those."

As things stand however, no conclusive evidence of the creature's existence has ever been found.

Source: Cornwall Live

Tags: Sea Monster, Morgawr