The Paranormal Database

Policeman

Location: Sixpenny Handley - Spots Green, between village and Upwood
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Early 1910s
Further Comments: A phantom policeman was observed walking along the road before vanishing.

Susan Gibbs

Location: Sixpenny Handley - Woodland near Rushmore
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: Susan Gibbs, a maid who worked at Rushmore House, was found hanging from a tree in nearby woodland. Her ghost, minus her legs, is said to haunt the woodland path.

Woman

Location: Southwell, Portland - Eight Kings public house
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: November 2021 - January 2022
Further Comments: After the pub's refurbishment in November 2021, local press claimed a flurry of paranormal activity had broken out, including strange sounds and a woman spotted in the restaurant who would vanish.

Nanny Diamonds

Location: Southwell, Portland - Road between Southwell and Cheyne
Type: Fairy
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: Little folk are still reputed to dance and cause mischief along this piece of road.

Groaning Man

Location: Sparleford - Quaker's Burying Ground (local name for the place where three roads converge)
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: The Quaker, a large man in black clothing, has been seen carrying a spade and jumping over a nearby hedge. After disappearing, loud groans can be heard.

Husband, Please.

Location: St Alban's Head - St Aldhelm's Chapel, aka Devil's Chapel
Type: Legend
Date / Time: Chapel still present
Further Comments: By dropping a pin through a hole in the single pillar supporting the roof, girls are said to be able to find a husband. Wishes are also said to be granted by leaving a pin stuck in the wall.

Stained Christ

Location: St Ives - Billsdown Poultry Farm
Type: Other
Date / Time: 1976
Further Comments: The head and shoulders of Christ on a cross became visible in the grey stains on an asbestos hen house wall.

Burning Woman

Location: Stalbridge - Stalbridge Manor (no longer standing)
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Early nineteenth century
Further Comments: A serving girl due to be married to the son of the manor owner was pushed into the fireplace to prevent the union. It is not clear whether the burning figure that haunted the building was that of the girl or the murdering mother who was determined to ensure her son did not marry below his status.

Stone Lions

Location: Stalbridge - Stalbridge Park
Type: Legend
Date / Time: Midnight
Further Comments: The pair of lions that stand on the gateposts to the park leave their positions and drink from a nearby pond when they hear the church bells ring.

Thomas Hardy's Grandfather?

Location: Stinsford - Churchyard
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 24 December 1919
Further Comments: After Hardy placed a sprig of holly on his grandfather's grave, a figure in eighteenth century clothing appeared and said, 'A green Christmas'. Hardy replied, 'I like a green Christmas', and watched the figure enter the church. Hardy followed but found the church to be empty.

Coach

Location: Stoke Abbott - Between Stoke Abbott and Beaminster
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: Driving a phantom coach over road and field, an angry ghost of a former squire is doomed to relive his journey over and over.

Soft Ringing

Location: Stourpaine - Church
Type: Fairy
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: The little people ring the church bells after covering them with dew, ensuring the soft ringing is seldom heard by mortals.

Dog That Still isn't There

Location: Stourpaine - Village square, heading out towards the hills
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 1960s
Further Comments: Heard dragging chains as it ran, this phantom hound is never seen. It is thought the dog died while escaping from a master who mistreated it. A similar story is told in Pimperne, Dorset.

The Agglestone.

Missed

Location: Studland - Agglestone (aka Devil's Anvil, aka Devil's Nightcap)
Type: Legend - Old Nick
Date / Time: Rock still present
Further Comments: The Agglestone came into being when the Devil, angered by Corfe Castle obstructing his view from Needles Rock (in the Isle of Wight), removed his nightcap and threw it in an attempt to knock over the towers. He failed.

Old Nick's Ground, Studland.

Harry

Location: Studland - Cliffs
Type: Legend - Old Nick
Date / Time: Still present
Further Comments: The cliffs around this area are known as Old Nick's Ground, while the sea stack made from chalk is called Old Harry (Harry being another name for the Devil). Another rock stack that stood here was said to be the Devil's Wife (or Daughter), but it collapsed during a storm in the 1890s; the remains of the stack is just visible during low spring tides. The caves in the cliff are said to still be warm as Harry likes to spend time there.

Little Sea - another contender for Excalibur's final home.

Excalibur

Location: Studland - Little Sea
Type: Legend
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: This body of water has been named as one of the places that Arthur may have disposed of his legendary sword.

Pale Donkey

Location: Studland - Newton Heath
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Around Christmas (reoccurring)
Further Comments: A small white donkey haunts the area where its master was robbed and murdered while travelling across the heathland. While the owner's body was found, the donkey vanished without trace, now only appearing briefly before Christmas once a year.

Pathway at Studland, Dorset.

Woman in White Coat

Location: Studland - Pathway from Studland beach to road near The Banks Arms pub
Type: Unknown Ghost Type
Date / Time: 12 August 2004, and August 2008
Further Comments: A woman wearing a white coat and white trousers, with hair down to her shoulders, walked past a group of four friends, telling them, 'I have just been for a swim' before disappearing from view. Four years later, one of the group spoke to a couple who had experienced the exact same encounter in the same area.

Maiden

Location: Studland - Woodhouse Hill
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: This area, formally a Roman camp, is said to be haunted by a British maiden and her Roman lover.

Slipping Bells

Location: Sturminster Marshall - White Mill Hole, aka Bell Hole
Type: Legend
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: After stealing a bell from the Knowlton church tower, the thieves hid it in the River Stour at White Mill after becoming fearful their crime had been discovered. Local legend says that there have been three attempts to pull the bell from the river, but each time the rope has mysteriously snapped, leading to the belief that 'all the devils in hell, could never pull up the Knowlton bell'.

Cat or Dog?

Location: Sturminster Newton - Castle ruins and Newton Hill
Type: Shuck
Date / Time: Early twentieth century
Further Comments: Reports vary on whether the creature that haunts this area is a large dog or very large cat. Either way, the entity was said to have large, saucer shaped eyes, and people went out of their way to avoid the area.

False Alarm

Location: Sturminster Newton - Farm in the area
Type: Other
Date / Time: Likely late nineteenth century
Further Comments: The farm became quickly known as being haunted, although it was later claimed that the flickering lights spotted around the grounds were created by some phosphorescent in the soil.

Running Man

Location: Sturminster Newton - Plumber Manor (currently a hotel)
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: A former lord of the manor is said to have been killed and eaten by his hunting hounds. His ghost is said to run out of the building, his pack of hounds with a hungry look in their eyes, close behind.

Knocking

Location: Sturminster Newton - Private residence close to the (former) Red Lion
Type: Unknown Ghost Type
Date / Time: Circa 1880s
Further Comments: Mr Hutchings, the owner of the house, died and bequeathed some money to charity. His daughter was not impressed and did not hand the money over. An unseen hand began rapping on the front door at night, with crowds of people turning up to spectate. After the daughter relented and donated the money to charity, the rapping ceased.

Coach & Horses

Location: Sturminster Newton - Stock Gaylard House
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: A local legend says a phantom coach haunts this area.