Castle Horneck Manor - Cornwall

A first for our Haunted-Devon with our new members Paul and Tracy from Plymouth.  Castle Horneck is an imposing building that holds many secrets. Despite the friendly working exterior of the Penzance Youth Hostel - the building has been very active. Our thanks to our friends Ian and Ron from Haunted Cornwall for making the visit so memorable.
Areas of investigation included:

Room 2
Room 3
Lounge
Kitchen
Games Room
Stairs
Bicycle Shed

Report

Place: Castle Horneck Manor, Cornwall.

Date: 17th December 2005.

Time: 2000 hrs - 0100 hrs.

Key incidents:

Several contacts made using dousing divination in the kitchen including Charles, Elizabeth and Edna. Later throughout a dark vigil 5 of the team experienced movement at the table where they we seated and hopefully video footage will be available later.

Former House keepers Room (Laundry room) temperature reading from the bricked up fireplace at 28 degrees C - the radiator in the room read 27 degrees and ambient temperature at 17.5.  There can be no explanation as to the fireplace emanating heat - as it was cold to touch.

Room 3 - Wild fluctuation in temperature recorded on a temperature logger left in the room. The logger was left above the fireplace readings were taken every 10 seconds from 2216 - 0041 - readings ranged from 20.3 degrees and began a steady fall to 8 degrees from 2300 hrs until the units removal. Ambient temperature in the room was recorded at between 18 degrees.  Our group was not present in that room however another group were working in that area. It may be interesting to find out if they experienced the change.
One member claimed to smell horse manure in the courtyard.  This being the first time that the member had visited the Manor it was interesting to learn that the had previously been recorded by others.

Door to the boiler room in the Games room was "pushed" as though someone was attempting to come in.  The majority of the group heard this sound which included the sound of the handle being rattled. One of the more sensitive members of the group felt that someone had indeed joined the group.

Janine clear orbs on the left arm and to her right.  This area is normally related to the sighting of Lady Margaret Borlases.

Conclusion:

A very interesting location that deserves more investigation.  The team hope to revisit Castle Horneck sometime in 2006.

History

This early Georgian manor stands in landscaped gardens and commands sweeping views of Mounts Bay. The building stands on the ruins of a Norman castle that had occupied high ground overlooking Penzance which may have been occupied by the Tyes family. The new building is connected with the Levelis family and was also in the hands of the Borlases family.
It was purchased by the Borlases of the corporation of Penzance, who are supposed to have purchased from the Flemings.

Nearby

Penzance. Castle Horneck Well  (SW 463 302)
On the outskirts of Penzance where a lane that runs to the hamlet of Castle Horneck meets the A30 is the site of a well of considerable repute. Nothing now remains of the well, but during the last century an irregular little building covered a chalybeate spring by the roadside here, and the water was used for sore eyes.NEWLYN cnw Castle Horneck
Borlase - Stephens 1720+

Owned by John Stephens in 1820. C.S. Gilbert, An Historical Survey of ... Cornwall, Plymouth-Dock, 1820. Vol. II. P.A.S. Pool, The History of ... Penzance - X.809/40712. P.A.S. Pool, William Borlase - YC1989.a.10526.