Black Coach of Bocaddon
Bocaddon Moor in Cornwall has long been associated with a rather eerie sighting - a black carriage, pulled by two black headless mares. This haunting manifestation was said to have occurred back in 1731. The very idea of a headless horse is quite unsettling, and it's little wonder that locals were both frightened and intrigued by the spectacle. The moorland itself is a vast and open space, providing an ideal setting for such a ghostly apparition to appear. It's said that the Reverend Doidge eventually put a stop to these sightings with an exorcism, and the entity was never seen again.
Historical records suggest that the Black Coach of Bocaddon was a relatively short-lived but intense haunting. The fact that it was exorcised by Reverend Doidge lends credibility to the account, and implies that the phenomenon was taken seriously by the local community at the time. While we don't have detailed witness accounts, the persistence of the story over the years indicates that it had a significant impact on local folklore. The use of a black carriage and headless horses as a ghostly entity is also interesting, as it suggests a possible connection to funeral rites or other historical events.
18th Century Cornwall
Location
Location Details
Nearby Haunted Places
Lanreath Funeral Coach Haunting
General area, Lanreath
Deep in the Cornish countryside, on the windswept Blackadown Moor near Lanreath, a spine-tingling spectacle was said to have terrified locals back in the 1750s. A funeral coach, pulled by headless horses, was reportedly seen careening across the moor, leaving a trail of fear in its wake. The apparition was so unsettling that the community called upon Rev Richard Dodge to intervene and banish the entity. Dodge tracked the coach to the moor, where he found it parked, accompanied by a phantom coachman and, remarkably, the local vicar lying unconscious at the coachman's feet.
The Black Cockerel Haunting
Punch Bowl Inn Inn, Lanreath
Deep in the Cornish countryside, the Punch Bowl Inn stands as a testament to the region's rich history and paranormal activity. This ancient public house is said to be home to a most unusual and terrifying entity - the Black Cockerel. Legend has it that the spirit of a local rector, who met a tragic end after falling or being pushed down a flight of stairs, now roams the inn's halls in the form of a malevolent cockerel. The story goes that this vengeful spirit attacked anyone who crossed its path, spreading fear and chaos throughout the inn.
Lyonesse Haunted Sea Bells
Between Cornwall and Scilly Isles, Land's End
Out in the waters between Cornwall and the Scilly Isles lies the lost land of Lyonesse, a place steeped in myth and legend. This fabled landmass was said to have connected the two areas, with some claiming to have seen flooded woodland as recently as the early twentieth century. The story of Lyonesse is one of tragedy and divine judgement, with some tales blaming Merlin for sinking the land as a punishment for Mordred's men, while others claim it was Heaven's wrath that sent it beneath the waves.
Polperro Inn Phantom Woman
Crumplehorn Inn Inn, Polperro
The Crumplehorn Inn in Polperro is home to a mysterious young woman, said to be a phantom. This ghostly apparition is often accompanied by an elderly gentleman, although some accounts describe the male phantom as a young soldier who was the woman's lover. The inn's long history and picturesque location in this Cornish fishing village have led to numerous reports of paranormal activity.
Phantom Horse Hoof Haunting
Braddock Down, Lostwithiel
Braddock Down, a windswept hillside in Cornwall, is home to a most unusual and intriguing haunting. Every year on January 19th, a ghostly procession of horses is said to make its presence known. The site, steeped in history, was the location of a significant defeat for Oliver Cromwell's forces during the English Civil War. It's here that the phantom hoof falls are reported, a spectral echo of the battles that once raged across this very ground.
Poltgeist at Trout Hotel
Trout Hotel, Lostwithiel
The Trout Hotel in Lostwithiel has a reputation for being one of Cornwall's most haunted hotels. In 1987, guests and staff reported a series of bizarre occurrences that would become known as the Pesky Polt haunting. Although details are patchy, it's said that objects moved on their own and strange noises were heard throughout the hotel. The exact nature of the disturbances is unclear, but they were apparently significant enough to gain attention from paranormal enthusiasts.
Stay Nearby
Haunted hotels and accommodation near Bocaddon Moor

