The Washaway Teleportation

A while ago I discovered an incredibly strange piece of Cornish folklore that dates from 1687 which seemingly reports a case of teleportation and abduction in North Cornwall. This tale has appeared online in recent years, but it never made complete sense, as the details of the setting have been confused and distorted from the original account,* incorrectly placing the weird events at Cardinham. After some additional research and place name identification, I have now put it all together, and have re-written the folktale, placing the story in its correct location at Washaway. 

The Washaway Teleportation
by Alex Langstone

Strange Events near Bodmin. May 1687

The narrative begins at the manor of Park, where Jacob Mutton was a young servant employed by local landowner William Hicks. Park stands in the hamlet of Washaway, just off the main road from Bodmin to Wadebridge. Jacob was honest and hardworking and was well regarded and respected around Bodmin and district. He had arrived at the farmhouse, parts of which date back to the 14th century, with many local recommendations to work for Hicks, who also served as rector of St Meubred’s church in Cardinham. 

Park Farmhouse

On Sunday 8th May 1687 at around 8pm, Jacob retired upstairs to bed. Already in another bed was his colleague, another servant with whom he shared the room. Jacob was exhausted, having been working in the kitchen gardens for most of the day. As Jacob began to get ready for bed, he heard a strange noise which he described as a ‘hollow voice’ saying “So Hoe, So Hoe, So Hoe”. Listening hard, he quickly realised the voice was coming from the next room. He quickly departed and walked along the landing into the adjacent chamber to investigate the unusual disturbance, and he once again heard the same voice, this time coming from the direction of the window. He rapidly walked across the room and looked outside but could see nothing. The last thing he recalled, before his senses faded into oblivion was holding onto a metal bar in front of the window. Early the next morning, Jacob’s roommate was somewhat concerned when he couldn’t find Jacob. On searching the grounds, he found a metal bar on the ground below a first-floor window. However, there was no sign of Jacob.

Meanwhile, Jacob was found lying unconscious in a narrow country lane close to the North Cornwall town of Stratton, by a group of travellers who were on their way to the local fair.  As he regained consciousness, he became bewildered and confused. He was also in completely unfamiliar surroundings. He staggered to his feet and enquired as to where on earth he was. Jacob struggled to believe what the travellers told him. 

The group of travellers explained that they were on their way to Stratton Fair and took the poor dazed Jacob along with them. After regaining his composure and a meal at the fair, they set him on the road to Camelford. The following morning, he continued to walk home, arriving back at Park later the same day. Once home, Jacob was found to be unharmed, but gradually his demeanour began to change from a cheerful young fellow to one of a subdued, depressed and melancholic disposition. Although he had only vague recollections of his disappearance, he remembered that ‘a tall man’ had taken him over ‘hedges and brakes, without weariness or hurt’ however, no matter how hard he tried to recall the strange events, he could not remember what became of his strange tall companion, or how he was able to fly over the land. 

Jacob Mutton's route, between Washaway and Stratton

So, what happened to poor old Jacob? Was he seized by a giant, spirited away by the piskies or maybe abducted by aliens. The account is very matter of fact, with no mention of any sorcery or supernatural beings. Moreover, can we find any other tales from the Cornish folklore archive that compare to this?

Piskies in the cellar

The tale of the Piskies in the Cellar, collected by Thomas Quiller Couch from the mining communities of Mid Cornwall, springs to mind, because of the phrasing of the piskies cry, the perceived teleportation, and a similar sounding place name.

The story begins with John Sturtridge, from Luxulyan, who was walking home one evening after visiting the local hostelry. Walking along the narrow lanes, he soon reached Tregarden Down without too much bother. However, here he came across an unnatural sight. Lit by the moonlight, upon the rough grass between the track and the moor, he stumbled upon a party of the little people. Assailed by shouts of derisive laughter, he increased his pace, but the rough downs, became bewitched. He was puzzled and confused, when a chorus of tiny voices shouted: "Ho, I and away for Par Beach!" John repeated the chant and was in an instant transported to the sands of Par. After a brief dance, the cry was given: "Ho! and away for Squire Tremain's cellar!" A repetition of the Piskie cry found John with his elfish companions in the beer cellars at Heligan. This delighted John, and he partook of an ale or two. In the morning John was found by the butler and was subsequently arrested and charged with theft. He was convicted and sentenced to death. The morning of his execution arrived; and John was standing under the gallows, when a commotion was heard within the crowd, and a little lady dressed in green made her way through the throng to the scaffold. In an enchanted voice, which John recognised, she cried: "Ho! I and away for France!" which being replied to, he was teleported away from the officers of justice, leaving them and the crowd wondering where John Sturtridge had gone.

So, here we have two tales of teleportation. One matter-of-fact and one overtly supernatural. The only hint we get from Jacob Mutton, is that he vaguely remembered being carried by a tall man, possibly travelling a distance of 27 miles, between Washaway and Stratton. We get no real sense of timescales involved.  In the tale of the piskies in the cellar, John Sturtridge is mazed by piskies, and the supernatural elements of pisky-enchantment is fully realised as the mechanism behind the teleportation.

NOTES

* A pamphlet entitled "Strange and wonderful news from Cornwall: being a miraculous accident that lately happn’d near the town of Bodmyn, at a place called Park".  Printed by J. Wallis 1687. (Bodleian Library archives). This story was later reprinted in the Western Morning News on February 8, 1926. It was first exposed to the internet by author Brian Langston in 2015.

Parts of this article was first published in my regular Cornish folklore column in Meyn Mamvro Vol. 2. No. 13 Spring/Summer 2026

Park Farmhouse is now a privately owned B&B, open from April to October. 

Map  © Paul Atlas-Saunders, with slight amendment by me.

For more strange tales and eerie folklore across north and east Cornwall, click book cover below to find out more.