In the quaint Cornish moorland that surrounds Bodmin and a little way off the picturesque hamlet of St. Breward, lies a peculiar place steeped in myth – a dark, secluded glen known as ‘Knockers Hole’. The tale begins in the 1700s when Cornwall was deeply entwined with the mining industry. Knockers Hole, named after the tin miners (Knockers) who flocked to this region, was an epicenter of this busy trade. But the dark crevices of the earth were believed to house more than tin and treasured minerals. They were the realm of the Knockers – tiny underground pixies. According to Cornish folklore, these elusive beings were industrious miners themselves, forever toiling away in the deep abyss. They were known for their mischievous behaviour, often echoing the sound of the miners’ hammering to lead them astray or cause cave-ins. Although their deeds often appeared malevolent, they were also believed to bring good luck. Leaving a piece of your pasty (a beloved Cornish delicacy) for the Knockers was considered a customary tradition to appease these otherworldly beings and earn favour for a prosperous mining expedition. To this day, the locals still follow this tradition. Some even claim to have heard faint knocking, further down the mine shafts on quiet nights, a gentle reminder of their playful, unseen neighbours. So if you find yourself wandering through the serenity of the Cornish moorland and stumble upon Knockers Hole, maybe you could leave a pasty or two, who knows, you might just earn yourself some good luck!