The Paranormal Database

Smelly Corpse

Location: Over Stowey - Walford's Gibbet, and Dead Woman's Ditch
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Smell unknown, swearing in 2022
Further Comments: The smell of rotting flesh that hangs around this area is blamed on John Walford, a local man who murdered his wife - his executed body was placed in a gibbet here. The ghost of his wife haunts the ditch where she died, and may have been the entity spotted by a ghosthunter in 2022; the spook told the ghosthunter to 'f**k off'!

White Lady

Location: Pawlett - A370 road towards Weston Super Mere
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Circa 1988, between 23:00h - 02:00h
Further Comments: A driver had to bring his vehicle to a stop after hitting a white female figure on the road - the figure had disappeared without trace.

Coach

Location: Pawlett - Roads in the village
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: The ghostly team of horses pulling a coach travel aimlessly in the neighbourhood.

Tall Man

Location: Peasdown St John - Waggon & Horse public house
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: A tall man wearing strange black headwear was spotted in the bar area. The pub is also home to 'typical' poltergeist activity.

Fairy Fair

Location: Pitminster - Blackdown Hill, between Pitminster and Churchinford (once known as Chestonford)
Type: Fairy
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: A villager riding home spotted a large fair taking place on the hill, with many people dressed in colourful clothing. He decided to investigate further, but as he rode up to the site, the fair vanished. After riding through the area, the villager turned, and was once again able to see the event behind him.

A phantom in a box at the bottom of the sea.

Lucott

Location: Porlock - Church area
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: Local pirate Lucott returned as a ghost soon after his burial. Twelve priests failed to banish him, but the priest from Watchet was made of sterner stuff - the holy man engaged the pirate in a game of wit, and after winning, forced the ghost into an iron box which was cast out to sea.

Woman in Silk

Location: Porlock - Red Post Steep, road heading towards West Luccombe
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: Dressed in white silk with a dark spotted pattern, this woman is said to have been seen many times. She is said to vanish where a house once stood.

Runaway Horses

Location: Porlock - Road leading downhill to the town
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: These horses were all killed when they broke away from their coach on the hill and lost control on a tight bend. They are heard re-enacting their final moments.

Old Lady

Location: Porlock - Ship Inn
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: This phantom lady is said to be benign.

Dr Foster

Location: Porlock - Whitstones (aka Whit Stones), northeast of common
Type: Legend - Old Nick
Date / Time: Stones still present
Further Comments: These stones where thrown into position when Dr Foster and the Devil had a hurling contest. Another story says it was the Devil and Saint Dubricius, while a third says it was a giant and Old Nick.

Naked Pixies

Location: Porlock Vale - Meadows around area
Type: Fairy
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: Pixies in this neck of the woods would sit around their fires naked, and if seen by a human, the voyeur would be 'fairy led' - forced to dance and run in frenzy through woodland until sunrise.

Three Seamen

Location: Porlock Weir - Marsh Field, past the dock
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: Marsh Field contains the graves of three seamen who were washed up nearby during the 1700's. Though the graves are now run down, three waterlogged figures have been seen walking near the area.

Lighthouse Keepers

Location: Portishead - Battery Point
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: The ghostly forms which wander the shoreline are thought to be former keepers of the lighthouse.

Gold

Location: Priddy - Nine Barrows
Type: Legend
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: One of the barrows in this region is said to contain a fantastic golden coffin.

Camlann

Location: Queen Camel - General area
Type: Legend
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: Queen Camel is another named contender where Arthur's final battle occurred.

Bleeding Elm

Location: Radstock - Round Hill Tump (aka Woodborough)
Type: Legend
Date / Time: Pre-1937
Further Comments: An elm (or possibly an oak) tree that grew upon the barrow was reported to bleed if cut.

Grave

Location: Redhill - Hurdlestone Wood
Type: Legend - Old Nick
Date / Time: Still present
Further Comments: Folklore places a giant's grave within this woods. The area is said to take its name from a rock that sits on the edge of a nearby cliff, thrown there by the Devil during a competition.

Hidden Gold

Location: Robin Hood's Butts - Exact location unknown
Type: Other
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: Under these manmade hills is a fortune in gold - alas, it is impossible to recover, as any hole dug quickly refills itself by supernatural means.

A horned devil (public domain).

Croydon Hill Devil

Location: Rodhuish - The nearby Croydon Hill
Type: Legend - Old Nick
Date / Time: Weather Dependent: Stormy nights
Further Comments: An old lane on this hill was once reportedly home to a creature with horns. A local lad, who once dressed up as the creature to play a joke on strangers who used the lane, disappeared without trace; it is known thought his ghostly screams can be heard on stormy nights, as the real Devil takes him.

Guarded Hoard

Location: Ruborough Camp - Exact location unknown
Type: Legend
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: Magically concealed, the treasure hidden here only stands a chance of discovery when the moon is full. However, if anyone comes to close to discovering the hoard, a phantom horse appears and charges the treasure hunter.

Large Black Cat

Location: Saltford - Near Bristol and Bath Railway Path
Type: ABC
Date / Time: August 2001
Further Comments: A family walking along the path encountered a large black cat poking around a hedge. The creature looked up at the family before walking into a field and vanishing from view.

Suicide Shuck

Location: Selworthy - Road leading to Tivington
Type: Shuck
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: This shuck is thought to contain the soul of a local man who committed suicide.

Giles Cannard

Location: Shepton Mallet - Area of Cannard's Grave public house
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: Giles took his own life to escape arrest for sheep stealing (or forgery or robbery, depending on the story); as many suicides in this day, he was buried at a crossroads with a stake through his heart to prevent his return. This preventive measure failed, and now his ghost reportedly walks the area.

Coffin

Location: Shepton Mallet - Barrow on Beacon Hill
Type: Legend
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: This barrow is another that was rumoured to contain a golden coffin.

Child's Footsteps

Location: Shepton Mallet - Former grammar school, Peter Street
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 1960s
Further Comments: Heard in various parts of the building, the sounds of footfalls crossing empty areas were reported many times.