Sara Bowler

Croft Pasco Pool is located at Goonhilly Downs on the Lizard peninsula in Cornwall. It used to mark the crossing point of tracks from the market town of Helston to the villages of St Keverne, Coverack and Lizard. As with many parts of Cornwall, several folk tales are recorded about the Downs. The Ghostly Lugger recounts extensive sightings of a white vessel seen floating “in a dim twilight”, causing local residents to avoid the place when it was dark. Given the pool is landlocked and marshy, many assumed the sightings were based on seeing a ‘white horse standing in the shallow water: but this was indignantly rejected by the mass of the residents.”

 

The piece was made in the very early hours of the morning over several days in August 2009 using a 5 foot ‘lugger’ made of cane withies and tissue paper, with organza sails.

 

Based on a story from ‘Popular Romances of the West of England: the drolls, traditions and superstitions of old Cornwall’ first published in 1865 by Robert Hunt.