Pendennis Castle: The Cornish Fortress of Phantoms

Standing guard over Falmouth harbour, Pendennis Castle was built by Henry VIII in 1540 as part of his chain of coastal defenses. Together with its sister fort, St Mawes, it protected the vital Carrick Roads anchorage. The castle’s most dramatic moment came during the English Civil War, when it endured a five-month siege that reduced its garrison to eating their horses and shoe leather.

The History

The Great Siege

In 1646, Pendennis Castle was one of the last Royalist strongholds in England. Under the command of Colonel John Arundell, the garrison of 900 men held out against Parliamentary forces from March to August.

Conditions during the siege were horrific:

• Food ran out within weeks
• Soldiers ate horses, dogs, and leather
• Disease swept through the starving garrison
• Only 80 soldiers were still capable of fighting at the end

Arundell finally surrendered on honorable terms, marching out with flags flying and drums beating. But hundreds had died within the walls.

The Hauntings

The Starving Soldiers

The most commonly reported phenomena involve ghostly soldiers from the siege:

• Thin, gaunt figures in 17th-century military dress
• The smell of decay and death
• Sounds of coughing and moaning
• Soldiers appearing to search for food

Visitors have reported feeling intense hunger pangs when entering certain areas of the castle, sensations that vanish upon leaving.

The Executed Spy

During World War II, Pendennis served as a military installation. According to local legend, at least one German spy was executed within its walls. His ghost has been reported:

• Walking near the guardhouse
• Appearing with hands bound
• Making sounds of distress in German

The Grey Lady

A female figure in grey has been seen in the grounds, believed to be connected to one of the castle’s commanders. She appears sorrowful and is often seen gazing out to sea.

The Phantom Cannon Fire

Perhaps most dramatic are reports of phantom cannon fire:

• The sound of artillery without visible source
• Flashes of light on the battlements
• Smoke appearing from nowhere

These phenomena are most common around the anniversary of the siege’s end in August.

Modern Investigations

Paranormal teams have documented:

• Significant temperature fluctuations in the keep
• Audio recordings of period English
• Photographic anomalies in the siege-era areas
• Reports of physical touch from unseen sources

Visiting

Pendennis Castle is managed by English Heritage. It offers extensive exhibits on its military history from Henry VIII through World War II, and the views over Falmouth harbour are spectacular—if occasionally occupied by spectral sentries.

---

Pendennis Castle stands eternal watch over the Cornish coast. Those who died defending it, starving and disease-ridden, maintain their posts centuries after the siege ended.