Folklore

Sightings of very large black dogs have been reported across Guernsey over the years.

The Black Dog is also known as Tchico or Bęte. Many of them are said to trail chains.

One of the most famous is said to live in Tower Hill. The creature is known as "la Bęte de la Tour" (the Tower Beast) and is never actually seen, but only heard.

The beast is said to pull chains behind it as it moves and is particularly active during the Christmas period.

A huge headless dog has also beenseen the Ville-au-Roi on moonless nights.

People are said to have tried to hit the dog with sticks, only for the sticks to go right through it.

Some people believe it's the spirit of the former Bailiff, Gaultier de la Salle, who was said to be wicked and hanged in 1320.

But St Peter Port isn't the only place to have encounters with the black dogs.

In St Martins a large black dog has been seen in a road by Sausmerez Manor.

It also has a name, "La Bęte de la Devise de Sausmerez ŕ St Martin".

Many of the dogs are said to have very large fiery eyes and some say the dog is a sign of death.

In Le Bourg in the Forest a large black dog is said to have a followed a man all the way to his home along Forest Road.

The man is said to have died the next day.

In Le Lorier in St Peter's a man is said to have come across a black beast shaped like a calf but the size of a cow.

Other hauntings by the same animal were reported but all between Christmas and Easter.

Also in St Peter's there is a small lane called "La Rue de la Bęte" or the beast's road. A beast is said to have haunted people walking alone.

The beast is said to be black, the size of a calf and the shape of a dog. The dog is also reported to follow people and yelp and cringe away from them, but still walk beside them.

Again, people who see the beast are said to die shortly afterwads.

Another beast is also said to live by Fort Sausmarez. It is said to be so horrible that people stare at the animal, rooted to the spot.

In Buttes Road in the Vale, a large black dog has been said to follow lone walkers closely. If they try and hit it, it disappears into thin air.

In Sark it's said a black dog as big as a calf pursues those who are about to die along the Coupée.

It is said to have flaming red eyes and fiery breath and it drags a heavy chain.

In old sightings the dog is said to terrify people their deaths, as beacuse of the narrowness of the Coupée people couldn't run to get away from it.

They had to survive the terrible howling made by the dogs until they reached the other side.

It has been said the sound of chains and the stories were made up by smugglers in both islands to keep islanders away from their hiding places.