The Manacles are a cluster of forbidding rocks jutting from the sea nine miles east-north-east of Lizard Point, the most southerly point of England. Although only a square mile in area, the Manacles have wrecked hundreds of ships and claimed thousands of lives.
The church at St Keverne, a mile away, has more than four hundred shipwreck victims in its graveyard. The sea bed contains many more.
The Manacles get their name from an old and obscure legend concerning a young boy and Satan. The boy hates his brutal father who is always whipping and beating him. Eventually, sick of his father's drunken rages, the boy strikes a bargain with Satan - but Satan's price is high. He wants the boy's soul.
The bargain is sealed and Satan keeps his word. The father is struck insane and hurls himself from a cliff to his death. Stricken with grief, the boy goes to a priest and confesses his sin. The priest forgives and blesses the boy, but cannot stop Satan from claiming his price.
In blind panic the boy steals a boat and rows out to sea, desperately trying to hide from Satan. However, the Devil is not stupid and catches the boy alone at sea. Reaching up with claws the size of hills, Satan claims the young boy's soul.However, the boy is blessed and as Satan's huge claws envelope him, they turn to stone.
The legend has it that Satan is still under the sea, trapped by his stone manacles to that same spot.
The legend is almost entirely forgotten now and in calm weather the Manacles are a popular fishing area.
MYTHS AND LEGENDS IN CORNWALL, G Hall, 1921
That legend cannot be found anywhere else but in this book. The Manacles derive their name from 'maen eglos' which means 'stone church' in Cornish.
Just around from Manacle Point (on the nearby coast) is Porthoustock. The cliffs there are carved into grotesque shapes by extensive blasting.
1 The legend is partially correct and a Great Old One is imprisoned beneath the sea bed. The quarrying and blasting at Porthoustock has been started by a small group of dedicated worshippers that wish to free the Great Old One.
2 The legend is a complete fabrication, but there was evil present at one time. Upon the Manacles an ancient deep one temple, the stone church, can be found. It was abandoned centuries ago and can be found by anyone who explores the Manacles.
3 The stone church is still an active deep one temple, with their hybrids quarrying away at Porthoustock to free a star-spawn of Cthulhu trapped there. They are still a long way from freeing thevast beast.
Copyright (c) 1990 Steve Hatherley.
Steve Hatherley is the creator of Tales of Terror, and has written for both Chaosium and Pagan Publishing. He also has a number of other websites, including www.great-murder-mystery-games.com and www.mylowerbackpain.com.
Steve lives in Yorkshire, England.
Click here to see Steve's other Tales of Terror.