Poole Harbour

A local legend says that, when Poole is threatened, Harry Paye's galleon, "The Mary" guards the harbour entrance. Paye was a privateer who lived in Poole. As a pirate, he had enraged he Spanish because of his raids on their country. In retribution, they attacked Poole, setting it alight and killing Paye's brother. Paye then went to France and, to thank his townsmen for their defence of Poole and acting in vengeance for his brother, stole 100 ships laden with valuable cargoes.