HUMAN remains have been found at Pentillie Castle near St Mellion, believed to be that of Sir James Pentillie, who built the structure in 1698.

The last known resting place of Sir James, who died in 1713, exactly 300 years ago, has always been shrouded in mystery but it now appears it was in the mausoleum.

The discovery was made as work began to renovate the historic mausoleum in the castle grounds — believed to be one of the earliest known garden mausolea in the country.

Permission was granted by the Ministry of Justice to lift the granite floor slabs in the building and this revealed a previously unknown brick vaulted chamber approximately 2.5m square where the human remains were found.

On his death Sir James left instructions that he should not be buried, but dressed in his best clothes, bound to a stout chair and placed with his books, wine and pipe in his favourite folly to await resurrection. As far as can be established, from historical accounts, the servants carried out these instructions placing Sir James' body in his folly on the Pentillie Estate.

The servants continued to bring him wine and food for two years until they could bear it no longer, had his remains interred and a marble statue built in his place. None of the stories relate exactly what happened to Sir James' body, but it has always been assumed that his remains were moved to one of the local parish churches.

Archaeologist Oliver Jessop, who has been recording the historic fabric of the building, said: 'It's a very exciting find.  The discovery of this body in the vault contradicts local tradition and adds another twist to the eccentric goings on of the Coryton Family.'

Ted Coryton, who along with his family have steadily been restoring Pentillie Castle and its grounds since inheriting the property in 2007, was there when the vault was opened: 'It was an exciting moment, to finally uncover the truth and to know that Sir James was in fact in his mausoleum. 

'Over the past five years we have researched much about him and the castle, so to finally tie up the loose ends was extraordinary. 

'There is no doubt these are very old remains, and all indications are that it is likely to be Sir James Tillie. 

'There was no sign of his pipe, books or wine but there was the remains of a chair that looks typical to the 1700s when he would have been placed there.'

Whilst the public will not have direct access to the mausoleum, the Coryton family have announced a series of Garden Open Days and Invitations to View guided garden tours over the next few months.