Folklore and Legends - Dorset

The Veasta is a large sea creature, part seahorse, part fish. This has been spotted swimming off Chesil Beach near Portland. The first documented report was in 1457, it was seen again by the historian Rev John Hutchens in 1757,and was seen again in Church Ope Cove on Portland in 1965.

It is believed that it is not the same creature that has appeared over the last 500 years as the remains of one was washed up on Burton Bradstock beach just a few miles down the coast, and it was believed to be by the locals at the time to be the Veasta.