Welcome back, fellow wyrdo's!
This week on the podcast, we took a trip to the beautiful, and deeply unsettling, Kenall Vale Nature Reserve in Cornwall with our special guest, Rob from darkcornwall.com. Rob's passion for Cornish folklore is infectious, and he explains how his personal mission to share these stories with his children turned into a thriving platform for artists and storytellers.
You might be asking, why is a place as idyllic as Kenall Vale considered a "haunted forest"? Rob explains that it was once the site of a gunpowder factory built in 1812. Due to the dangerous nature of the work, a number of tragic accidents occurred, leading to several workers being "decimated" by explosions. The negative energy from these sudden, violent deaths is said to linger, trapping the spirits in time and making Kenall Vale a hotbed of paranormal activity.
But the story of Kenall Vale isn't just about ghosts. Rob describes the area as being part of the "kingdom of the fae" where the veil between our world and theirs is incredibly thin. He shares his own personal experiences of seeing strange, "tadpole-like entities" and feeling a strong, magical energy that he believes is the reason why bluebells grow so thick in the area.
Our chat with Rob takes a deep dive into Cornish folklore. We discuss the scarcity of dragon stories in the region and the unique tales that do exist, like a dragon being healed by a saint. We also explore the symbolic role of giants, who often appear in stories as a way to explain the clash between old pagan beliefs and the arrival of Christianity.
One of the most fascinating topics we cover is the Owlman, a relatively modern myth that Rob feels a strong connection to. He sees the cryptid not as a malicious monster, but as a guardian of the land, urging people to be respectful and tread lightly. It's a sentiment that echoes some of our previous discussions about Bigfoot and the Green Man, suggesting a recurring theme of protector spirits in folklore from around the world.
Rob also shares the ongoing struggle of his work with darkcornwall.com, a platform that has grown far beyond his expectations. He grapples with the responsibility of promoting and preserving these ancient sites and stories while trying to prevent the negative effects of over-tourism. It's a delicate balance between encouraging people to engage with their history and protecting these special places from being ruined.
To hear all the eerie details and our full chat, listen to the latest Wyrd Wessex podcast episode.
You can also find Rob's fantastic work, including his maps and art collaborations, at darkcornwall.com.