The Paranormal Database

Examining folkloric, paranormal & cryptozoological locations in the UK and beyond

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Cornish Ghosts, Folklore and Forteana


An old woodcut of a muscular bull.

Bull

Location: Godolphin Cross - Jew's Lane
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: This lane is said to be haunted by a bull, containing the soul of the Jew who hanged himself on a tree along the road.

Friend Finder

Location: Gulval - Well at 'Fosses Moor'
Type: Legend
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: This well could be used to check the condition of missing people. If the water remained calm when asked about the person, it implied they were dead. If the water bubbled, the person was ill. If the water gushed, then the missing person was fit and healthy.

Moved

Location: Gunwalloe - Church
Type: Legend - Old Nick
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: During construction, the Devil moved the stones each night to where the church now stands.

Avery's Treasure

Location: Gunwalloe - Within the sandbanks (or Kennack cove)
Type: Legend
Date / Time: Pre-1770
Further Comments: A buccaneer named Avery was said to have buried several chests of treasure in this area before sailing away, never to return. A Mr John Knill failed to find any treasure after searching the area in 1770.

Locked Room

Location: Gwinear - Lanyon House
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: A room in this building was once permanently locked up, after a ghost was laid to rest in it.

Clare

Location: Gwinear - Royal Standard public house
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 2006
Further Comments: The ghostly Clare may also be responsible for the disembodied footsteps and other strange noises reported in this pub.


The Hell's Mouth, Gwithian.

Suicidal Screams

Location: Gwithian - Hell's Mouth
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Weather Dependent: Prior to a storm
Further Comments: A man once killed himself by leaping off the cliffs at Gwithian after he found his home burnt to the ground and his sister missing. As stormy weather approaches, the man's screams can once more be heard as they bounce off the steep cliff sides at the area known as Hell's Mouth.

Puma

Location: Hayle - St Ives Bay Holiday Park
Type: ABC
Date / Time: 1990s
Further Comments: This cat was videoed by one witness, while other people saw the creature with a rabbit in its mouth. A zookeeper on holiday spotted the creature and identified it as a large cat.

Hell Stone

Location: Helston - Angel Hotel, Coinagehall Street
Type: Legend
Date / Time: 08 May (reoccurring)
Further Comments: The Devil dropped his stone while fighting with St Michael here, and is said to return once a year to view it (the rock now forms part of the building). The hotel also has a resident ghost named Nelly.

Contemporary Person

Location: Helston - Beehive Inn, Market Place
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Twentieth century
Further Comments: This entity, normally seen only briefly out of the corner of one's eye, appears to be normal in every respect. Another ghost reportedly haunts the upper part of the pub; an old lady who rocks gently in her chair.

Dropper of Fire

Location: Helston - General area
Type: Dragon
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: A large rock on the outskirts of this town is said to have been dropped by a huge dragon as it passed overhead.

Drowning Curse

Location: Helston - Loe Pool
Type: Curse
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: It is said that the body of water will take a life every seven years. There are also reports that a phantom ship is occasionally seen here.

Foul Language

Location: Helston - Poldark Mine
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 2005
Further Comments: Mostghosts, a Helston based team of paranormal investigators, claimed to have recorded a phantom voice which curses while telling people to leave the mine.

Grey Van

Location: Helston - Road between St Teath and town
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 2001
Further Comments: The roads in the area may be haunted by a phantom grey van which drives around in broad daylight.

Tall, Dark Figure

Location: Helston - Trevarno Station
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 2005 / 2006
Further Comments: A couple of workers were reported to have seen a tall dark figure, resembling a monk, standing close to the track. Small, coloured lights are also said to have been observed close to a cutting.

Tom

Location: Higher Brea - Brea Inn
Type: Poltergeist
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: The poltergeist here has been nicknamed Tom and is blamed for hiding and moving small items.

Sea Monster

Location: Isles of Scilly - 30 miles NNW of islands
Type: Cryptozoology
Date / Time: 11 August 1976
Further Comments: Travelling to Kinsale (Co Cork) in his sloop, Patrick Dolan spotted a worm-like creature, some twelve metres long, with a two metre neck lifted above the water. The creature remained visible for 20 minutes.

Storms

Location: Kelsey Head - Barrow, Cubert Common
Type: Legend
Date / Time: Barrow still present
Further Comments: Anyone who tries to dig at this site will summon a large storm.

Harris

Location: Kenegie - Old mansion house
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Circa nineteenth century
Further Comments: The ghost known as Harris would return home once a year, although the date remained a secret from those outside the family, and failure to leave the front door open to him would result in misfortune for the Harris family. When the family moved away the ghost gave up its annual visit. The Harris family also endured a phantom servant, who caused poltergeist-like antics in the kitchen before being bound in a hidden room, and 'Wild Harris' who rode around the neighbourhood on horseback until laid by a Parson from St Ives.

Red Witch

Location: Kenidzhek - Local well
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: This figure has been reported standing by the well. She is believed to have terrorised the village many years previous, though it is unknown why she now only loiters by the pool.

Dead Horse

Location: Kerris - Kerris Roundago (Iron Age hill fort, no longer present)
Type: Curse
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: Several stones from the hill fort were taken to Penzance by horse, to repair the pier. Despite being healthy, the horses all died soon after.

Bell Ringer

Location: Ladock - St Ladoca's Church
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Twentieth century (bell ringer), bird not unknown
Further Comments: This ghostly figure is often spotted out of the corner of one eye, before disappearing. A local legend says that a large, evil bird set up home in the bell tower, interrupting services with its noise - the creature became displaced after the vicar cast a spell with the help of the local community.

Footsteps

Location: Lamorna - Rosemerryn House, Lamorna Valley
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Twentieth century
Further Comments: This building has a history of the owners disappearing or dying mysteriously. The footsteps which have been heard moving around otherwise empty parts of the building are thought to belong to at least one of them.


The beach and cove at Land's End.

Pekinese Puppy

Location: Land's End - Beach and cove
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Mid nineteenth century
Further Comments: The body of a Chinese princess is buried somewhere in this area, protected by the ghost of one of her dogs. If anyone tries to disturb the woman's resting place, the phantom puppy will bite the perpetrator, resulting in death soon after.


The sea between Cornwall and Scilly Isles.

Lyonesse

Location: Land's End - Between Cornwall and Scilly Isles
Type: Other
Date / Time: 25 December (bells) (reoccurring)
Further Comments: This mythical land was once said to connect Cornwall to the Scilly Isles - as recently as the early twentieth century, people claimed to be able to see flooded woodland between the two land masses. Some legends say that Merlin sank Lyonesse as Mordred's men tried to escape across it, while others say it sank after a judgement from Heaven. On Christmas day, 149 submerged bells are said to ring and in days gone by, Cornish fishermen would sail out and listen to the undersea music.

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