Location: Perranuthnoe, Penzance, Cornwall Map
Acton Castle is a protected small walled mansion
near Perranasnow, Cornwall. It is Grade II* listed and was built c.
1775, c. 1790, by John Stackhouse of Pendarves. He was a brilliant
botanist with an interest in seaweed and the plants mentioned by
Theophrastus. Stackhouse built the castle primarily for the study of
seaweed. The main material of construction is granite, with the
facade and chimney made of dressed granite. The roof is covered with
grout and the walls have embattled parapets; when it was converted
into a country hotel in the early 20th century, a two-story wing
with triple-hung windows was added.
Acton castle takes its
name from Susana Stackhouse (née Acton), wife of John Stackhouse and
heir to Edward Acton of Acton Scott. Shortly before his death, John
Stackhouse sold the castle to Berkeley Mackworth Pred, son of
William Mackworth Pred. Pred died at the castle on October 6, 1852.
The castle passed to his sister, who sold it to Thomas Field, who
took up residence in the castle and stayed here for some years; in
1861 he sold the castle to Richard Runyon. After Runyon's death, his
widow continued to live in the castle until her death in 1899.
Below the castle, in what is now known as Stackhouse Cove,
Stackhouse studied here. Today, the ruins of several large tanks
used to hold seaweed for Stackhouse's studies still remain on the
property; in 1797, he published his illustrated book, Nereids
Britannica, which was published in 1899.
When Stackhouse and
his wife were owners of the castle, a local tenant named John
Carter, who rented the adjacent farm, took advantage of their
infrequent residence at the castle and used the castle and nearby
cove as a den for smugglers. Carter was a prolific smuggler known by
the nickname "King of Prussia," hence the name of the Prussian cove.
On one occasion, he even hid his brother Harry, who had escaped from
prison, in this castle. According to local legend, he once built a
tunnel leading from the castle grounds to the underground Stackhouse
Cove. The castle was converted into a country hotel in the mid-20th
century, but closed in the 1980s due to poor management. It was then
developed as the luxury apartments it is today.
Acton Castle is a small mansion in Perranuthnoe, Cornwall region of United Kingdom. It was constructed in 1775 by Mr. John Stackhouse of Pendarves. He became famous as a distinguished botanist by publishing illustrated work known as Nereis Britannica in 1797. His studied in Stackhouse Cove underneath Acton Castle. In the 20th century Acton Castle was increased with addition of two storey wings. Acton Castle is allegedly haunted by a former lady of the castle. During her life time she had installed an electric buzzer in the early 20th century. After she died the buzzer was removed. However many visitors of Acton Castle claimed to have heard the sound of the electric buzzer. Among these visitors was a priest who spent a night in the former bedroom of the lady of the castle. He claimed that he couldn't sleep hearing buzzer go on and off during the night. Eventually he was forced to leave the room.