The Drowned Sailor of St Ives
Outside The White Hart Public House in St Ives, a strange encounter has been reported that has left locals and visitors alike scratching their heads. A sailor, drenched and covered in seaweed, was spotted by a local man on his way to a boat one night between midnight and 01:00. The man initially greeted the sailor but was met with silence. After throwing an insult at him, the sailor turned to face the man, revealing a grotesque appearance with a beard caked in seaweed and sticks, and a swollen face and hands. The man quickly walked away, but to his surprise, the sailor followed him until he reached his destination, where he vanished into thin air.
This eerie encounter took place in the early nineteenth century, a time when St Ives was a bustling port town. The White Hart Public House, where the sighting occurred, has a long history dating back to the 16th century. The following day, the man who encountered the sailor fell ill and was bedridden for six months. While the cause of his illness remains unknown, the encounter with the drowned sailor has become a famous local legend. The incident is a classic example of a haunting manifestation, characterised by a visual apparition and unexplained behaviour.
St Ives was a major port town in the 19th century, with a rich maritime history.
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Nearby Haunted Places
The Howling Market House Ghosts
Old Market House, St Ives
In the quaint town of St Ives, Cornwall, lies the site of the Old Market House, a place notorious for its restless spirits. Before its demolition in the 1830s, this building served not only as a marketplace but also as a prison. It was during the evening hours, as the sun dipped below the horizon, that the ghosts of former prisoners would let out blood-curdling howls. These unsettling cries became a familiar, albeit eerie, occurrence for the locals. The haunting was eventually brought to an end by a local ghost layer, who, armed with the traditional tools of his trade - a bell, book, and candle - performed an exorcism through a window, effectively banishing the spirits.
Lady with the Lantern Ghost
Beach, St Ives
St Ives Beach in Cornwall is home to a heartbreaking ghost story. The phantom known as the Lady with the Lantern is said to be a shipwrecked woman who lost her child in a tragic accident. Now, she patrols the beach, searching for her youngster, and spotting her is considered an ill-omen. Locals believe that her spirit is doomed to roam the beach, forever seeking what she lost. The Lady with the Lantern is a Crisis Manifestation, a type of ghostly apparition that is said to be the spirit of someone who died in a state of great emotional distress.
St Ives Woolworths Ghost
Woolworths, St Ives
The old Woolworths building in St Ives, Cornwall, is said to be haunted by a former resident. This store, which unfortunately no longer exists, was once a popular destination for shoppers in the town. Its closure has left behind a legacy of paranormal activity, with reports of ghostly apparitions and unexplained occurrences. The identity of the former resident remains a mystery, but their presence is still felt by those who have visited the site.
Mysterious Jack Harry's Lights
Off coast, St Ives
Off the rugged coast of St Ives in Cornwall, a peculiar phenomenon has been observed for years, known as Jack Harry's Lights. These enigmatic lights appear under specific weather conditions, typically before a storm, and are said to mimic the appearance of a ship at sea. The story goes that they were named after the first person to mistake them for a real vessel, highlighting the potential danger they pose to mariners. It's thought that these lights could be a form of maritime deception, luring unsuspecting ships out to sea where they would be caught off guard by impending bad weather.
The Pilchard Pressing Stone Omen
Pressing stones, St Ives
In the quaint town of St Ives, Cornwall, stands a historic pressing stone, once a common feature around the town, used to extract oil from pilchards. This large stone, now situated outside the local museum, is said to possess a unique paranormal trait. If seen or heard to move unaided while being stored, it was considered an omen that good fishing was ahead. The townspeople would take note of this unusual occurrence, interpreting it as a favourable sign for the local fishing industry.
The Carn Glaze Ghost
Carn Glaze, St Ives
Carn Glaze, a rugged coastal area near St Ives in Cornwall, is said to be haunted by the ghost of Reginald Bottrell, a local pirate and rogue. Bottrell's spirit was reportedly seen by a twelve year old child in around 1832, shortly after his death. The young witness described the ghost as short, plump and bald, wearing a long velvet coat and shoes tied with a bow. The apparition was observed for about a minute before it vanished into thin air.
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