The Paranormal Database

Scraping and Bumping

Location: St Buryan - Moorcroft semi-detached bungalow, exact location unknown
Type: Poltergeist
Date / Time: 1968
Further Comments: Sounds of something large being moved plagued this family of three for several months. The source was never discovered.

Petrified Maidens

Location: St Buryan - Stone Circle
Type: Legend
Date / Time: Stones still there
Further Comments: This stone circle and the surrounding monoliths were once maidens, two pipers and a fiddler (so the legends say) who were turned into stone.

Jogger

Location: St Cleer - Footpath to Golitha Falls, Bodmin Moor
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: July 2003
Further Comments: A couple walking back from the falls spotted a jogger behind them. The woman was wearing modern fitness clothing and swinging her arms, but never closed the distance between herself and the couple, which remained at around thirty metres. The final time the couple turned to look at her, she had vanished, with no discernible place to go.

Nine Maidens

Location: St Columb Major - Standing Stones
Type: Legend
Date / Time: Still present
Further Comments: These ten stones are said to be nine maidens and a fiddler who were turned to stone for making merry on the Sabbath.

Figure at the Window

Location: St Day - Old church
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: December 2021
Further Comments: Local press carried the story that a paranormal group released video purporting to show a figure standing in an elevated window of this empty church.

Raining Blood

Location: St Dennis - General area
Type: Legend
Date / Time: Prior to disaster
Further Comments: The rain of blood is said to have first fallen here when St Dionysus was murdered in France. It now falls at times of national disaster.

Dando

Location: St Germans - Erth Hill, near the rivers of Tiddy and Lynher
Type: Legend - Old Nick
Date / Time: Circa fourteenth century?
Further Comments: Dando was a monk and a bit of a rogue - he enjoyed hunting on a Sunday. One Sabbath he was out hunting for hare when the Devil appeared and grabbed all the game Dando had hanging from his horse. Old Nick ran, Dando in hot pursuit - unfortunately, the monk lost his balance on the bank of the Tiddy and fell in. The waters turned to steam, and Dando was taken to hell.

Monk

Location: St Germans - Port Eliot Manor House
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 1980s
Further Comments: A phantom monk is said to have appeared in this building while a party was underway - he was seen by many of the attendees, which led to the celebration ending prematurely. The ghost is said to be seen mainly by children and is described as a harmless, sad-looking figure.

Ianto Ffranc

Location: St Hilary - Bush Inn
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: Highwayman (or pirate) Ianto Ffranc was discovered hiding in a cave close to the inn - he was caught and executed. Ffranc's ghost now haunts the bar.

John Penneck

Location: St Hilary - Exact location unknown
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: This former preacher is blamed if the area is hit by large storms, on account of his fiery temper (during life).

St Ives Beach, Cornwall.

Lady with the Lantern

Location: St Ives - Beach
Type: Crisis Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: This phantom is said to be that of a shipwrecked woman who lost her child in the accident - she now patrols the beach looking for the youngster and spotting her is considered an ill-omen. Another local story tells of a sinking ship that was once seen off the shore. When rescuers closed in to help survivors, the ship suddenly vanished into thin air.

Reginald Bottrell

Location: St Ives - Carn Glaze
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Circa 1832
Further Comments: Bottrell was a local pirate and rogue, and after he died, took to haunting his former home. A twelve year old child watched the entity for about a minute before it vanished, describing the ghost as short, plump and bald, wearing a long velvet coat and shoes tied with a bow.

Hugh Edwards

Location: St Ives - Globe Inn (aka Tap House), no longer operational
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Nineteenth century
Further Comments: Once the residence of the Edwards family, the inn was said to be haunted by Hugh, who accidently rode his horse down an open mine shaft at night. The ghost would be heard walking loudly up the staircase and using his riding crop to strike thrice on a bedroom door.

Well Dressed Lady

Location: St Ives - John Knill's House, Fore Street
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Nineteenth century
Further Comments: A room in this building was sealed off to prevent the inhabitants disturbing the ghost of a wealthy lady that lurked within.

Jack Harry's Lights

Location: St Ives - Off coast
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Weather Dependent: Prior to a storm
Further Comments: Reputedly named after the first person to mistake the lights for a real ship, the lights appear and attempt to lure other vessels out to sea to be caught up in an impending storm.

Howlers

Location: St Ives - Old Market House (demolished 1830s, rebuilt on same spot)
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Pre-1830s
Further Comments: Once used to hold prisoners, the Market House became known for their ghosts which would howl when the sun descended. The ghosts were banished by a local ghost layer who, armed with bell, book and candle, performed his exorcism through a window.

Drowned Sailor

Location: St Ives - Outside the White Hart public house
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Early nineteenth century, between midnight and 01:00h
Further Comments: On his way to a boat, a local man spotted a sailor standing by a post close to the pub. The man at first greeted the sailor, but being ignored, threw an insult at him. The sailor turned to face the man, who then realised that the sailor's beard was caked in seaweed and sticks, and his face and hands swollen. The man quickly walked away, but the sailor followed, only vanishing when the man reached his destination. The following day, the man fell ill, and was bedridden for six months.

Plethora of Pilchards

Location: St Ives - Pressing stones (one currently outside Museum) around the town
Type: Other
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: Large pressing stones, like the one outside the museum, were once a common feature around the town, and used to press oil from pilchards. If seen or heard to move unaided while being stored, it was considered an omen good fishing was ahead.

Young Man

Location: St Ives - Private residence opposite parish church (no longer standing)
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Likely nineteenth century
Further Comments: The haunting in the ancient house which once stood here began after the owner's son died in a mining accident - the young man manifested by his father's bedside. After the owner moved away, bangs and laughter continued to be heard from the house. The ghost disappeared after the building was renovated.

Young White Girl

Location: St Ives - Smeaton's Nook Cottage
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Twentieth century
Further Comments: Dressed in a Victorian smock, this phantom girl was seen to emerge from a wall and drift down the staircase.

St Ives Head, Cornwall.

Neptune

Location: St Ives - St Ives Head
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: This old ship has been reported off the coast many times. It is also believed that before the Neptune sunk here, the area was haunted by another unnamed ghost ship. Phantom bells have also been reported coming from the deep waters.

Former Resident

Location: St Ives - Woolworths (no longer open)
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: This store was said to be haunted by a former resident of the building.

Dancing People

Location: St Just - Carn Gluze barrow
Type: Fairy
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: Traditionally the homes of fairies, this barrow is one of many in the area and the little people have been seen dancing around it.

Galloping

Location: St Just - Road between St Just & Tregeseal
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Weather Dependent: Stormy weather
Further Comments: The sounds of horses pulling a carriage have been reported coming from this stretch of road during stormy nights.

Sky Ships

Location: St Just - Skies over town
Type: Unknown Ghost Type
Date / Time: October 1754
Further Comments: Witnesses watched a fleet of ships in the sky above the area - soon after, this vision vanished and was replaced by two armies engaged in action. The whole scene lasted for around fifteen minutes.