Flambards Victorian Village

Helston
Cornwall TR13 0QA

History

Flambards Victorian exhibition started off as just three rooms back in 1979 but has now grown to over 50 shops and cottages together with all the attendant trades necessary for Victorian village life. The buildings are real buildings and not staged, built from traditional materials and the streets are cobbled with granite setts, salvaged from the old streets of Bath in the 1960s. The schoolroom floor is also salvaged from the demolition of a Victorian school complete with tread and scuffs of clogs and hob nailed boots.

Paranormal Activity

Friendly spirits have been reported here at the Victorian exhibition with staff often reporting unexplained activity. Some have heard mysterious music playing after closing time; others have smelt a strong scent of roses. It is believed that seven spirits, four of them children, haunt the exhibition who are believed to be attached to objects displayed at the attraction. Flambards managing director James Kingsford-Hale said: “ … one member of staff has heard the piano playing.”

One of the ghosts is said to be that of David Edwards, who died in 1968 at the age of 46, another is said to be Caroline Hollsworthy who died in 1907 aged 66. She is said to be attached to a pair of brown shoes in the shoe shop, which were hers and is responsible for the strong scent of roses. Two of the child spirits are said to be that of Cynthia who died in 1923 aged eight and Frankie, a shy spirit who died of influenza in 1909 aged 10.

The Lost Gardens of Heligan

Heligan
Pentewan
St Austell
Cornwall PL26 6EN

History

These gardens have belonged to the Tremayne family for over 400 years and are considered to be one of England’s most mysterious estates.

Decades of neglect and the devastating hurricane of 1990 should have spelled the end for these gardens but the discovery of a hidden room, buried under fallen masonry for years in the corner of one of the walled gardens, led to the resurrection of these once beautiful gardens. A motto etched into the limestone walls in barely legible pencil still reads “Don’t come here to sleep or slumber” with the names of those who worked there signed under the date – August 1914.

Paranormal Activity

Former gardeners have reported feeling uneasy and even downright terrified in certain areas of the garden. The rockery and fruit store are said to be the most active of areas with workers preferring to work in pairs in these areas. Many of the gardeners also refuse to lock up the garden alone at night.

Owner Tim Smit often talks of the seriousness of the ghosts at Heligan with staff deeply disturbed by the enveloping black mood of the place so much so that even an exorcism has been performed at the gardens.

Some believe that the sudden restoration of the place has led to the presence of its garden’s ghosts.

Penfound Manor

Nr Poundstock
Cornwall

History

Penfound Manor was originally a Saxon dwelling owned by William the Conqueror and was given to his half-brother, Robert the Count of Mortain. The Manor is reputed to be the oldest inhabited manor house in England and is still privately owned by the Penfound family who took their name from the manor when they moved in during the 12th Century. Originally built around the core of a medieval hall the house is not currently open to the public.

Paranormal Activity

The Manor is said to be haunted by the spirit of a broken hearted Penfound family member called Kate who died during the Civil War. Kate’s father was a Royalist who hated Parliamentarians but she is said to have fallen in love with the son of a Parliamentarian, John Trebarfoot. Deciding to elope with her love, Kate was caught by her father and a fight broke out. John was killed and both her and her father were fatally wounded. It is said Kate now returns to the house in search of her lost love on the anniversary of their deaths, the 26th April.