Traditions and Hearthside Stories of West Cornwall, Vol. 2

Traditions and Hearthside Stories of West Cornwall, Vol. 2 is a book by William Bottrell, first published in 1873. It is the second instalment in his celebrated series of West Cornwall folklore, collecting episodic legends, ghostly tales, folk beliefs, and rural narratives rooted in Cornish oral tradition.

In this volume Bottrell explores haunted houses, ancient monuments, community myths, and moral‐tales, often set in the wild landscape of Penwith, with references to devils, saints, and supernatural beings tied deeply to local places.

This work remains significant for its role in preserving Cornwall’s folk memory: tales such as Duffy and the Devil, the Celtic monuments of Boleigh and Rosemodrass, the saga of Tom of Chyannor, and other stories of “the small people”, witches, and haunted paths are vivid illustrations of its cultural importance.

It appeals to those interested in folklore, local history, Cornish myths & legends, supernatural stories, and heritage studies. Bottrell’s compassionate recording of dialect, belief, landscape, and community colour makes this not only a scholarly resource but a compelling read for anyone drawn to atmospheric myth, rural superstition, or heritage storytelling from West Cornwall.