There was a man called Joseph Ball, who lived at Porthcothan Mill House, quite a few days ago! Probably around 1900. He was obviously rather an unhappy man because he hanged himself from the beams in the upstairs landing. My friend, Lisa used to live there when I was a kid. Her brother had the bedroom at the end of the landing, down a dark and creepy corridor. Whenever we went past the place where Joseph hanged himself we felt really sad and cold. I didn't know then that it was him, or that he'd killed himself there. In the lounge, it felt very sad too. I didn't like going in there on my own, and would always turn around to see who was there, no-one ever was! I remember being told that when people died, they would have been brought home for a few days before the funeral, and left in state in their coffin in the best room, usually the drawing room, or lounge, so that's probably why it always felt so strongly in there of a presence. There were many times when Wendy, Lisa's mum, would lose things, ie; she'd put the tea-towel on the rayburn rail over night to dry through, and in the morning it would be gone. It would turn up later in her bed, or on top of the kitchen units, or under the wellies in the hallway. If she put anything on the table to remember in the morning, like stuff for school, or work, or whatever, it would be gone the next day. We'd have to search for whatever it was and usually find it odd places, like in the airing cupboard, or fridge or somewhere. It was never a malicious feeling, just a bit of mischief, but always so sad. I didn't find out until fairly recently who it might be, or what happened, but I was talking to Beau one day, about connections with St Merryn and she told me about her uncle (probably Great uncle or something} who'd lived there and hanged himself. She said he was known for his mischief and practical jokes, so I reckon it must be him.