As Halloween approaches, it’s the perfect opportunity to explore West Cornwall’s most haunted places, and what better way to do it, than on a Super73. Here’s our top 5 places to visit in and around Penzance for spooky activity!
The Dolphin Tavern
To explore the first of our haunted places, you don’t even need to get on a Super73, because right opposite our yard, you’ll find the Dolphin Tavern a 16th Century pub with a rather interesting and sometimes, dark history. Some notable events that are said to have taken place here are:
- Apparently, sailor Sir John Hawkins used the inn as a base for recruiting a Cornish crew to fight the Spanish Armada in the late 1500s.
- It’s said that Sir Walter Raleigh smoked the first tobacco pipe in England within the walls of the Dolphin Tavern.
- Legend has it that Judge Jeffery’s turned the Dolphin Tavern’s dining room into a courtroom, and the cellar into a jail!
- Mr Patch, the landlord during the late 1860s found himself in trouble with the authorities for accommodating lewd and loud women at the premises. His predecessor, William Pascoe on the other hand was fined for not offering up the Tavern as a billet (to soldiers).
So who are the ghosts inhabiting The Dolphin Tavern?
There are said to be three spirits that reside on site! The most prominent is that of an old sea captain, dressed as you’d imagine for that era: lace ruffles, an eye-catching jacket with shiny brass buttons, finished off with a tri-corn hat! Known as George, landlords past and present are happy for him to wander about the upstairs rooms and corridors.
A woman in Victorian dress has also been seen in the main bar, much to the shock of staff and customers and a fair-haired young man has been seen by various landlords and ladies over the years, sitting by or on the bottom of the bed in the middle of the night!
Chapel Street
Adjoining Quay Street, is Chapel Street, one of Penzance’s most interesting streets! It offers a wonderful mix of shops and houses that range from medieval to Victorian and in the old days was home to many of the town’s merchants.
One of the residents of these high-end housed was Mrs Baines who was accidently shot by her servant who fell asleep on duty one night, when he was should have been looking over the orchard for scrumping children! In a bid to teach him a lesson, Mrs Baines sneaked out of bed in the dead of night, into the orchard and shook the apple trees. The noise woke the servant who was sleeping in the hedge, and in his sleepy daze he fired a shot which found it’s mark on Mrs Baines, killing her! Her ghost, dressed in lacy bonnet and nightgown has been seen roaming the orchard.
Other resident ghosts of Chapel Street include an old lady who has been seen in different places on Chapel Street over the years, most frequently in the Turk’s Head pub and a funeral procession, making it’s way to the St Mary’s church and a phantom stage coach drawn by headless horses!
Pengersick Castle
About 6 miles outside of Penzance is Praa Sands, a small coastal village with a white sand beach. It’s an easy, flat ride on a Super73 to get there! As you head into the village, on the right stands the ominous looking Pengersick Castle, named after the family that once owned it. Engrina Pengersick, wife of Henry Pengersick is said to have been seen wandering the master bedroom, staring at guests through the window at midnight. On occasions she has also been spotted grasping her stomach as she crawls on the four-poster bed, before vanishing into thin air!
Other spirits residing at the castle are Egrina’s maid, seen walking through walls and standing at the end of beds and a black-hooded monk who paces the corridors during the night.
Godolphin House
Godolphin House is a National Trust property and is situated at Godolphin Cross, between Penzance and Helston. Getting there on a Super73 is a fairly flat ride, and will take you through some villages and hamlets. The house is home to the White Lady, a ghostly figure who, legend has it, walks along the path that leads from the house to the chapel. It is thought to be the wife of the first Earl, Lady Margaret Godolphin who sadly died in childbirth.
The First and Last Inn, Sennen
Apparently, this old Inn is haunted by ex-landlady Annie George who once ran the pub in the 1800s. Annie committed crimes against the queen and for her sins, was left to drown on the beach by the incoming tide! She has been seen visiting her old bedroom in the middle of the night!
So there you have it! Our top picks for a spooky Halloween tour on two wheels! The question is….are you brave enough to visit any of them?
To hire a Super73 you can book online or give us a call on 01736 888777.
Sleep Well!
The Ride On Team!
Thanks to the following for the ghostly info:
https://www.haunted-britain.com/