The Paranormal Database

Pavilion Theatre, Bournemouth.

Emily

Location: Bournemouth - Pavilion Theatre
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 2000s
Further Comments: The phantom named Emily was thought to be an actress who died in the 1930s. She was blamed for the disembodied footsteps which could be heard on the empty stage, and the occasional poltergeist-like outburst which involved items being thrown around. One member of staff was even said to have been chased along a corridor by the entity. A newspaper article written in 2007 and just prior to the theatre being renovated claimed that the building work may silence Emily, the implication that she was little more than squeaky floorboards and vivid imagination.

Pokesdown's railway station.

Puck

Location: Bournemouth - Pokesdown area
Type: Fairy
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: The name of this Bournemouth suburb is a corruption of Puck's Down, or Fairy Down, although the reason for this name is forgotten.

Don't Move the Painting

Location: Bournemouth - Private house, Talbot Woods area
Type: Poltergeist
Date / Time: Circa 1988
Further Comments: Poltergeist activities were said to occur if a painting of an older woman was removed from the wall. Whether the painting or spirit are still there is not known.

Cabinet Toppler

Location: Bournemouth - Private residence, Abbott Road, Winton
Type: Poltergeist
Date / Time: 1981
Further Comments: A family fled their home after a poltergeist outbreak caused chaos. The entity was said to have toppled a kitchen cabinet in front of visiting police, and a priest had his holy water thrown back at him.

People

Location: Bournemouth - Shelley Theatre (currently closed (2025))
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: The haunting here appears to be restricted to stories of ghostly people walking down corridors.

St Andrews Church, Bournemouth.

Smugglers in the Tunnels

Location: Bournemouth - St Andrews Church, Millhams Lane
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: The graveyard here is said to contain blocked off tunnels once used by the smuggling community to move their contraband away from the coast. The ghosts of these men are still reported to flit around the area.

Shadows

Location: Bournemouth - Talbot Woods
Type: Shuck
Date / Time: 2000s
Further Comments: A shadowy hound, said to be slightly larger than a Saint Bernard dog, was reported to haunt this area. The creature has never ben seen directly, but only from the corner of the eye. Scraping sounds resembling claws on concrete can also be heard, always behind the witness.

The Acorn pub, Bournemouth.

Smuggler

Location: Bournemouth - The Acorn public house (was The Dolphin and then Gullivers), Kinson
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 1980, and 2008
Further Comments: When this public house was known as The Dolphin, one witness reported waking during the night to the sounds of clinking. Leaving their room to investigate further, they came across the apparition of a man perched on a chest, counting gold coins. After the pub became Gullivers Tavern, mild poltergeist activity was reported, including glasses and pool cues being thrown around, and footsteps heard in empty parts of the building.

Heavyset Man

Location: Bournemouth - Two Counties Radio station, Southcote Road (now Heart Dorset)
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Late twentieth century
Further Comments: A presenter working alone in the building reported seeing a man of compact build reflected in the window of the studio he was in. The presenter turned to have a better look at the figure but realised that he was still alone.

Sheet Tucker

Location: Bournemouth - Unidentified flat, Boscombe
Type: Poltergeist
Date / Time: March - November 1964
Further Comments: A woman living alone would awake at night and feel her bed sheets being tucked in around her. A particular book would also move itself on to the bed.

Upper Gardens, Bournemouth.

Four Figures

Location: Bournemouth - Upper Gardens
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Likely 2000s
Further Comments: On a couple of occasions, four men wearing long black coats with brimmed hats have been seen standing in a row.

Alum Chime, off West Cliff Road, Bournemouth.

Puma

Location: Bournemouth - West Cliff Road
Type: ABC
Date / Time: August 2005, November 2018
Further Comments: In 2005, salesman Kevin Hamersley from Wiltshire said he spotted a puma along this road, just one of many sightings in the region. Thirteen years later, a panther was spotted on the patio of another West Cliff resident. It is speculated (and highly unlikely) that the creature lives in the nearby Alum Chime.

Western Avenue, Branksome, Bournemouth.

Tasmanian Wolf

Location: Bournemouth - Western Avenue, Branksome
Type: Cryptozoology
Date / Time: 07 April 1974
Further Comments: A strange cat-like creature spotted by a female driver was later identified by her as a Tasmanian wolf, though the creature is thought extinct.

Herman the German

Location: Bovington - Bovington Camp - Tank Museum
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 1970s
Further Comments: The area around the Tiger tank on display is reportedly haunted by the German commander of the vehicle, who has been seen by staff at the museum.

Thomas Lawrence

Location: Bovington - Clouds Hill cottage
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 1935 onwards
Further Comments: Best known as Lawrence of Arabia, Thomas was said to often express his love of home, which would explain why his shade now resides there. His motorbike is also reportedly heard travelling the local roads.

Coach

Location: Bradford Peverell - Road west of village, near River Frome, leading towards Muckleford
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Summer months at midnight (reoccurring)
Further Comments: A coach that crashed into the river, killing the horse and driver, is said to periodically repeat the accident. Another report says that the coach overturned into a boggy area.

Single Headlight

Location: Briantspuddle - Rogers Hill
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 1983
Further Comments: A police officer driving their patrol car at night approached a bend in the road and spotted a single headlight coming from the other direction. The officer dipped their headlights, but when turning the bend, the other light could not be seen. The officer was later told that some years earlier there had been a fatal accident at that spot and several people had reported the vanishing single headlight.

Nick's Hole

Location: Briantspuddle Heath - Culpepper's Dish
Type: Legend - Old Nick
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: A local legend said that this deep (naturally occurring) pit was dug out by the devil.

Lane passing by Culpepper's Dish, Briantspuddle Heath.

Funeral

Location: Briantspuddle Heath - Lane passing by Culpepper's Dish
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: Four ghostly figures carrying a coffin have been spotted walking along this country lane.

Young Man

Location: Briantspuddle Heath - Rimsmoor Pond
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Summer months (reoccurring)
Further Comments: This lone figure on horseback slowly heads towards the pond where he vanishes. He may have been a local man thought to have drowned in the pond's waters, though his body was never found.

Squire Lighte

Location: Bridport - Bagley (or Baglake) House
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: This building was once believed to be haunted by the spirit of a squire who took his own life on the property. His ghost is also seen riding a horse towards the nearby river.

A ghostly drinker returning to his pub.

Sickness Indicator

Location: Bridport - Boot Inn (no longer open)
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: One story says that the inn was haunted by a phantom which would only manifest when a guest was unwell. A soldier and a man in old fashioned clothing were also said to haunt the site.

Albert Codd

Location: Bridport - Bridport Museum
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 2006
Further Comments: The otherworldly gentleman observed in a yellow smoking jacket is said to be Captain Albert Codd, a former owner of the building. Staff also named another entity Gladys, and thought she was associated with a Victorian dress in a case on the upper floor.

Mr Golding

Location: Bridport - Broomhill (sometimes called Broomhills) Farmhouse
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 1990s
Further Comments: Dressed in a sweeping cloak, the former owner of the building was spotted briefly by a party of tourists. Other reports say that the figure is that of a woman rather than a man.

Lonely Child

Location: Bridport - Bull Hotel
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 2000s
Further Comments: Sometimes heard in the ladies' toilets, the faint sounds of a child are investigated by members of the public and staff, but no toddler is ever found. A ghostly woman in tweed is also said to sit in the reception area.