The Royal Duchy of Cornwall in the South West of England is a rugged county full of dramatic scenery and equally dramatic stories in its fascinating history. Peter Underwood’s research has focused on paranormal activity in the context of the history of Cornwall. Social history is, after all, the history of the ordinary people and their everyday lives and it is those everyday lives that gave rise to the strange stories that sprang up in this county.
Tin Mining in Cornwall
Until the last century, the tin mining industry was vital to the economy of this remote peninsula. Stories of strange hammering noises and ghostly visions of miners abound but of particular interest is the story of a miner and his family who settled in Wendron, near the town of Helston, Southern Cornwall. Undaunted by rumours that their new dwelling place was haunted, the family moved in. After some unexplained noises and voices prompted a thorough search of the property, the miner was involved in a horrific accident and eventually died.
A Haunted Mine?
The story continues years later when a descendent of the family, intrigued by the story sought permission to excavate the land where the old house had stood. It had been pulled down and rebuilt due to a frightening experience encountered by the previous owners.
They had unwittingly discovered the entrance to an old mineshaft beneath the fireplace and discovered a room filled with armour, swords and bronze artifacts. Overcome with fear when there lantern was extinguished they covered the entrance and had the house demolished.Later attempts to explore the hidden mineshaft were thwarted by the owner who feared a disaster if the house should collapse.
An Eccentric Cornish Vicar
Perhaps one of the most moving accounts in the book is that of the Reverend Frederick William Densham who was the Vicar of Warleggan, near Bodmin, from 1931 to 1953. He rendered himself an outcast from his own parishioners through his own eccentric actions which included erecting a barbed-wire fence around the perimeter of the rectory garden, conducting church services at inconvenient times and allowing his dogs to run amok in the sheep fields.
The Vicar Haunts Warleggan
Eventually his parishioners deserted his services, leaving the Reverend Densham to write time and time again, ‘No fog, no wind, no rain, no congregation.’ It is impossible not to feel some pity for this man who was then driven by despair to place figures cut from wood and cardboard in the pews to listen to his preachings.
This unfortunate vicar met his death when he fell down the stairs to his cellar and was unable to alert his only servant who lived in the stable block. The reclusive man of God is still said to haunt the house and the grounds of the former rectory.
Underwood's fascinating book is full of anecdotal accounts and personal stories of many well-known places in Cornwall. Cornwall enthusiasts will enjoy reading the histories of ghosts that are said to haunt Boscastle, Bolventor (home of The Jamaica Inn), Padstow, St Ives and Newquay as well as some less well-known places.
Ghosts of Cornwall by Peter Underwood ISBN 1 899383 10 7
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