The Peregrine Legend
October 1st,1789 (St.Dogmaels church records)
"A most melancholy catastrophe happened on Cardigan river between 4 and 5 o'clock this morning
. The fishermen having taken up their nets with a great quantity of herrings, were lying under shelter between little quay (old lifeboat house) and Allt y Goed farm, waiting the turn of the tide to carry them in. The wind, being then south west, blowing an easy gale. It suddenly changed to north west and blew a sort of hurricane. A most tremendous storm ensued, the sea running mountains high and carrying everthing before it and making the most terrific ravages. The fishing boats were dispersed and some thrown on the beach, some thrown on the rocks. Three more unfortunate than the rest overset and every man on board (except for four, who providentially saved themselves by swimming) were swallowed up by the savage elements to the number of 27.The same morning two boats with 15 men were lost at Newquay."
From this true story the following legend arose. A fisherman named Peregrine lived in a terraced cottage at Cwmmins, St. Dogmaels. He was able to forecast the weather quite accurately. One day he was fishing for herring near Cemaes Head with his nets and caught a mermaid as well as his fish. The mermaid begged to be put back in the sea but Peregrine would have none of it and tied her up then headed back for St. Dogmaels. As he neared the bar at the estuary mouth he took pity on the mermaid and released her into the sea. Before swimming away she promised to tell Peregrine whenever there would be a storm approaching.
Peregrine was one of the fishermen who set out on the 30th September 1789 and when his boat reached the bar, the mermaid appeared alongside and warned him of the coming storm. Peregrine heeded the mermaid's warning and tried to persuade the other fishermen to return to St. Dogmaels with him - they laughed and carried on out to sea and to disaster. Peregrine and his boat and crew returned safely to St Dogmaels Netpool.( from a story told by T.Bowen)
The Peregrine Legend is commemorated at The Moorings, on the western edge of the village, by a statue of the mermaid looking wistfully out to the bar at the mouth of the River Teifi. (see photo above)
