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‘Arripay’ - Poole’s Most Feared Pirate

Harry Page, also known as Harry Paye, was a notorious pirate, smuggler and adventurer from Poole. Scourge of the Spaniards and the French, they nicknamed him ‘Arripay’. Operating in the late 14th and early 15th centuries, he would attack Spanish and French vessels and bring their cargoes of gold, wine and exotic goods back to Poole. It has been claimed that he liberated so much alcohol on one occasion that it kept the whole of Poole drunk for a month. Harry was given permission by King Henry IV to inflict as much damage as he could to the King’s enemies.

Harry led raids on the French and Spanish coasts from Normandy right down to the Bay of Biscay. To the people of Poole, he was an adventurer and a hero but to the Spaniards and French he was a criminal. In his home town, Harry was regarded as a maritime Robin Hood. In 1398, he sacked the town of Gijon in Northern Spain and stole a famous cross from a church in Finisterre. Six centuries later, Poole sent a replacement wooden cross over to Spain to say sorry for Harry’s exploits. On another occasion, he sailed up the River Seine flying the French flag plundering as he went until he turned around and sailed back home. 

To pay Harry back, the two countries came together in 1406 deciding to attack his home port of Poole. Every man aboard the five vessel fleet knew they were going to attack the home of ‘Arripay’. This added the spice of reveange to their mission. They believed the town of Poole belonged to Harry. There was fierce fighting in the streets and many were killed including Harry’s brother. 

‘Arrows fell so thick upon the ground that no man could walk without treading on arrows.’

Eventually, the continental invaders withdrew. This action failed to discourage Harry from retiring from his buccaneering ways and his assaults on Spanish and French targets continued. Old Harry Rocks, the chalk sea stacks close to Studland Bay are reckoned to be named after Harry Paye. It is said he hid behind the rocks waiting to pounce on passing merchant vessels.

Harry Paye died in 1419 but he is still remembered in Poole each year with Harry Paye Day and throughout the year in the town’s Harry Paye pub. Little is known of Harry outside of Poole but in Spain he is regarded as the most infamous pirate of these times.




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Comments

  1. Anonymous19 July 2024 at 20:20

    Interesting article, but being from the Poole area, I don’t recall a harry paye pub!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous20 July 2024 at 06:58

      It’s on the High Street. It used to be called The Globe, I think, and before that The Old Harry.

      Delete
  2. Paula Allcroft20 July 2024 at 08:46

    Some of The Pirates of Poole are off to Finisterre in a few weeks to join in their pirate festival. :-)

    ReplyDelete

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