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Tarosvan: A celebration of the paranormal in Cornwall's 'haunted capital'
Shadows that creep up the walls under moonlight; a face appearing in the window of an old house on the hill; creaking floorboards overhead. They all create a haunting picture for any ghost story - but they are all indeed phenomena said to have been experienced right here in Launceston, Cornwall’s ancient and ‘most haunted’ capital.
Tarosvan: A celebration of the paranormal in Cornwall's 'haunted capital'
Shadows that creep up the walls under moonlight; a face appearing in the window of an old house on the hill; creaking floorboards overhead. They all create a haunting picture for any ghost story - but they are all indeed phenomena said to have been experienced right here in Launceston, Cornwall’s ancient and ‘most haunted’ capital.
This March, paranormal investigators and enthusiasts will gather for Launceston’s very first festival of ghosts. Aptly named Tarosvan :The Cornish Festival of Ghost Stories - Tarosvan meaning ‘Phantom’ in Cornish - the festival is being led by local ghost tour guide and writer Lawrence McNeela, and owner of Black Cat Books, Emily Partridge.
With ghost tours, stories, talks and mediumship planned across the weekend of Friday-Sunday, 27th-29th March, the festival is set to open up a wider conversation around the paranormal.
Emily, who runs Black Cat Books in Launceston, is looking forward to being apart of the events this spring, with hopes that Tarosvan may just give Launceston that little boost in the run-up to the tourist season.
“From a business point of view, we need something to hang on to, because we’re not coastal,” she said. “I’ve always been interested in the paranormal, and since Lanstefan Arts opened last May, these topics have been brought to the surface. Lawrence is known locally as ‘the ghost man’; it’s a huge part of his identity, and he loves this town.
“We’re not looking to make lots of money from it, but we’d love to show people how great the town is.”
The festival will begin on Friday 27thMarch with an evening ghost tour. On Saturday 28th, there will be author events at Black Cat Books with paranormal author Martin Best, and Lawrence, who is set to launch his own book of Launceston ghost stories; while in the evening, there will be a paranormal investigation and two-course dinner at the White Hart Hotel. On Sunday 29th, there will be some paranormal talks at the Bell Inn, plus an evening of mediumship with Claire Hinks. Events can be booked on Black Cat Books’ website.
“People love to be scared and they love the unknown,” Emily continued. “Many love the idea that it’s not the end; it’s a comfort.”
Launceston was once the gateway to Cornwall, and it’s that history that drives Lawrence to delve into the town’s paranormal stories with each of his ghost tours. Having drawn crowds to the town in the summer and autumn, guests shared their own stories and pointed out potential phenomena spotted on the tours, including ghostly children in the White Hart Hotel and a face peering around a corner in the ancient Southgate Arch.
For more information about Tarosvan and the events taking place over the weekend, see the event page on Facebook. To book onto events, go to https://www.blackcatbooksltd.co.uk/shop-tarosvan or pop in to see Emily at Black Cat Books.
