John Husband tells Spooky Isles how Illustrated Tales of Cornwall was fuelled by his love for the county’s legends, photography, and storytelling
In Illustrated Tales of Cornwall, John Husband takes readers on a journey through the folklore and legends that define Cornwall’s cultural heritage. The book delves into myths of Cornish piskies, King Arthur, shipwrecks, mermaids and haunted sites. With vivid storytelling and original photographs, John captures the enchanting spirit of Cornwall.
Illustrated Tales of Cornwall interview with John Husband
SPOOKY ISLES: Cornwall seems to have a story lurking around every corner! What was the first Cornish legend or tale that grabbed your imagination, and how did it set you on the path to writing this book?
JOHN HUSBAND: I have been familiar with the majority of tales featured in the book for 40 or more years, through using them in magazine articles I have written, so its difficult to pinpoint one in particular.
Perhaps one of the first was the tale of Will Tinney, last occupant of the stocks at Crantock, whose carved memorial I photographed probably 50 years ago, and the image is included in the book!
Your book features such a great mix of spooky stories, from the Morgawr sea monster to haunted spots like Pengersick Castle. Did any particular tale stand out as a favourite, or maybe even give you a bit of a chill while researching it?
I thought the Botathan ghost tale, originally discovered by Daniel Defoe, was an intriguing one. It has the feel of a first-hand account.
Cornwall’s landscape feels so tied to its myths and legends – from misty moors to rugged coastlines. Are there any places you’ve visited for the book that left you feeling a bit… uneasy or perhaps more connected to the stories you were uncovering?
Stone circles such as The Hurlers, when the mist is down, maybe!
You’ve brought together everything from tales of Cornish saints to grisly historical crimes. Did you come across any lesser-known stories that you think deserve more attention or might surprise readers the most?
I grew up near the Dodman Point, which has a granite cross erected by the rector of Caerhays, George Martin. This has an interesting postscript which I have not seen in print before so I included it in this book.
In 1899, Martin gave up his job for life in Cornwall and moved to Borough Market, where he lived alongside the poorest in the land sharing all his food and doing ‘untold good’.
He was a firebrand too, objecting to money being spent on the coronation of Edward VII. He was arrested early in the morning of the coronation carrying a pound of gunpowder, intending to blow up the grandstands erected in front of Southwark cathedral!
How did your background in the clay industry and your passion for photography play a role in shaping Illustrated Tales of Cornwall? Do you think your love for Cornwall has grown even stronger through this process?
It is through photography and trying to sell my work that I started writing. Initially detailed captions, then longer articles which needed deeper research.
My career as a scientist means I enjoy digging deeper to find more detail. A
particularly useful source are the Newspaper Archives held at Cornwall’s record office, where for example I found press reports detailing the drowning by a ‘great wave’ of Sister Emilie and three young girls at Crantock in 1908.
Cornwall has its fair share of larger-than-life characters, both real and mythical. If you could meet one of the figures from your book – whether it’s a ghost, a saint, or a sea monster – who would it be, and why?
It would be interesting to meet Morgawr – on condition that I have my camera with me!
We’ve been talking about Cornwall’s past, but what’s next for you? Are there more stories from the county – or beyond – that you’re itching to explore in a future project?
Illustrated Tales of Devon is due out next year, and I am preparing a proposal for Amberley at the moment: watch this space!
Illustrated Tales of Cornwall is available from Amberley Publishing.
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