The Paranormal Database

Examining folkloric, paranormal & cryptozoological locations in the UK and beyond

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Hampshire Ghosts, Folklore and Forteana

Richard Fitzgeorge

Location: Lyndhurst - Glasshayes Mansion (scheduled for demolition in 2016)
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 07 July (reoccurring)
Further Comments: The first Duc de Stacpoole is said to throw a party for the dead in July, the music from which can be heard. At other times of the year, people have reported faces at the windows of empty parts of the building or experiencing the sensation of being watched.

Tall Man

Location: Lyndhurst - Swan Inn
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: A local legend says that the inn is haunted by the ghost of a tall man, thought to be a former landlord who killed himself.

Dog Hater

Location: Meonstoke - Meonstoke House
Type: Poltergeist
Date / Time: 1975-1976
Further Comments: The family troubled by a noisy spirit in this house first reported their dog becoming extraordinarily excited, to such an extent their pet had to be rehoused. Soon after a certain door in the building would never remain closed, and the doorbell would ring on its own accord.

Invisible Carriage

Location: Michelmersh - Between Manor Farm & Dower House
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: Heard but not seen, a horse drawn carriage moves between these two buildings, driven by Lord Ogle.

Woman in Green

Location: Milton - Copnor Road
Type: Other
Date / Time: A Sunday in June 1980
Further Comments: A man was stopped in the street by an older woman wearing a long green coat who asked him a series of yes/no questions which were all based around human relationships. The man recalled that the woman was so frail that she had to hold on to railings to support herself, and her eyes blinked in an unnaturally slow manner. After the questions had finished, she thanked him for his time. As the man walked away, he became concerned about her frailty and turned to ask if she required help in any way, but she had vanished.

Cat People

Location: Minstead - New Forest
Type: Fairy
Date / Time: 1920s
Further Comments: It was said around this time that several little people climbed the trees of the forest, possessing catlike attributes for better balance.

King William II

Location: Minstead - New Forest, the Rufus Stone
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 02 August (reoccurring)
Further Comments: Murdered (allegedly) on this spot by a close friend, William II is now doomed to rise on the anniversary of his death and walk to Winchester.

Tapping

Location: Mottisfont - Abbey
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: February 2021
Further Comments: After Romsey fire station responded to a false alarm at the abbey, they took to twitter to say that some of the crew believed the abbey to be haunted. At a previous call out a firefighter had felt a tap on their shoulder when no one was nearby.


Old postcard showing Netley Abbey in Hampshire.

Blind Peter

Location: Netley - Netley Abbey ruins
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 31 October (reoccurring) Grey Ladies seen
Further Comments: On Halloween three misty women appear and walk along the ruin's walls. The sounds of bells can also be heard on this night. Another presence is Blind Peter. He is less choosey on the date on which he appears and just wanders around the ruins of the abbey. Finally, there is a legend that a secret underground passage was sealed after the last man to enter it emerged shortly after, screaming 'block it up!' before dropping dead - the passage may be connected to the tales of treasure buried on site.


The phantom blue nurse of Netley.

Blue Nurse

Location: Netley - Victoria Military Hospital (no longer standing)
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Pre-1966
Further Comments: One story associated with this ghost stated that she fell in love with a patient but murdered him and killed herself once she discovered that he was seeing another woman. The ghost has not been reported since demolition of the building. In addition to this spook, a ghostly grey lady would appear to patients who would die a few hours later.

Colt Pixie

Location: New Forest - Cold Pixie's Cave, Beaulieu Heath
Type: Fairy
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: A horse-like pixie, this fairy entity would play mild pranks and call out to horses, the distraction causing the creatures to became lost.

Mary Dore

Location: New Forest - Mark Ash Wood
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: A famous local witch, the ghost of Mary Dore was said to linger in the woods long after her death. On occasion it would take the form of a hare-like animal, and on others the form of a beautiful woman which flirted with male witnesses before vanishing. Another phantom, this time with a skull as a face, was also reported in the woodland.

Cyclist

Location: North Baddesley - Rownhams Lane
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: November 2010
Further Comments: A cyclist reported hearing another person on a bike chasing them, even though no one else could be seen.

Searching Woman

Location: Oakley - Sheardown Lane
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: This ghost, no longer seen as much as she once was, runs up to horse riders and carefully stares at them before turning and vanishing.

Boar

Location: Odiham - General area
Type: Cryptozoology
Date / Time: 1972
Further Comments: Odiham and the surrounding area appeared to be home to one or more wild boars during the autumn of this year.

Song

Location: Odiham - Oliham Castle, also known as St John's Castle
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: A phantom voice accompanied by a stringed instrument is sometimes heard to sing away in the ruins. Balls of light and wispy figures have also been reported drifting around the site.

Footsteps

Location: Odiham - RAF Odiham, Airman's Mess
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 1991, around 03:00h, and circa 1995/7
Further Comments: Working in the building when it was locked up, one witness heard footsteps near the back of the building. Rushing to investigate, nothing was found, and all doors were secure. Footsteps were also heard coming from the kitchen on a different occasion - people investigating approached from the two exits to ensure the intruder could not escape, but no one was there. A few years later, another witness was awoken by mechanical whining and grinding, and heard what sounded like the emergency shut off lever to the electrical power supply box being moved up and down numerous times, although most of the visible electrical systems were not being affected.


Oliver Cromwell at Madame Tussauds.

Could be Cromwell

Location: Old Basing - Basing House ruins
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: The jury is out to whether this shade is that of Oliver Cromwell, who is responsible for destroying the building, or that of a former family member looking for lost treasure (in the form of a golden calf). In addition, the ruins are also home to several phantom monks and a Puritan on horseback that gallops up the driveway only to vanish near the church.

Floating Lights

Location: Old Chilworth - Walnut Cottage
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Early twentieth century
Further Comments: Paranormal occurrences have happened here, including lights that have appeared and floated around the house, sounds of horses trotting up to the back door (no such creature being found on investigation), and the roof glowing so violently, witnesses outside thought the building was on fire.

Farm Animals

Location: Old Milton - Myrtle Cottage, currently occupied by Rayment & Butler estate agency
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 2000s
Further Comments: Small, ghostly farm animals have been reported running around this building, and there are also reports of a 'country bumpkin' type lurking on the lower floors. The upstairs is haunted by a young girl.

Voices

Location: Otterbourne - Old Forge (now a public house) and road outside
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 1978-1979
Further Comments: One of the homes which was eventually converted into the pub was said to be haunted by a woman killed by a horse and coach on the road outside. A witness recalled hearing raised voices in an empty part of the building, and when a baby came into the home, crying would be heard in other parts of the site. Motorists would occasionally see a ghostly woman run across the road outside.

Coach

Location: Ower - Paulton's Estate
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Pre-1935
Further Comments: The sound of trotting horses pulling a coach could be either heard in this area or spotted headless. Strange and beautiful music would emerge from woodland in the area, the source of which could never be found.


A portrait of Anne Boleyn, also thought to haunt this site.

Jane Seymour

Location: Owslebury - Marwell Hall
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: The Seymour family once owned this property, and Jane is thought to haunt the surrounding grounds. The shade of Anne Boleyn has also been reported loitering near a row of nearby yew trees. Finally, the hall is reputedly the location where the Mistletoe Bough bride story originated, with the chest still (?) being present today.

Running Child

Location: Paulsgrove - Private flat in Cotswold House, Cheltenham Road
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 1990
Further Comments: A couple sharing the flat heard a child running down the stairs. Believing it to be one of their own children, they investigated to find both of their youngsters asleep. Shortly after the incident, they discovered that a former owner of the building had thrown his child from the balcony.

Figure Flagging Down Traffic

Location: Petersfield - A3 heading towards the town, near the Sheet Service Station
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: December 1991
Further Comments: A lorry driver reported running down a figure which stood in the middle of the road, looking as if he was trying to signal for help. The upset driver phoned the police who searched the area but were unable to find a body or any evidence that the driver had hit anything.

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