Somerset and Bristol Ghosts, Folklore and Forteana
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.
First added: 2010-04-03 | Last updated: 2010-04-03 | ID #9826
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.
First added: 2003-02-14 | Last updated: 2003-02-14 | ID #3857
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.
First added: 2002-07-18 | Last updated: 2002-07-18 | ID #1812
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.
First added: 2008-10-19 | Last updated: 2008-10-19 | ID #9075
Booted Man
Location: Shepton Mallet - Beech House (no longer standing)
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: A local historian witnessed the door to the kitchen open unaided, followed by the sound of heavy boots moving down a corridor.
First added: 2026-09-13 | Last updated: 2026-09-13 | ID #16825
Lady in Grey
Location: Shepton Mallet - Church near ICI Polymers
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: While working at the ICI site, staff reportedly spotted a ghostly lady in grey at the nearby church.
First added: 2026-09-13 | Last updated: 2026-09-13 | ID #16821
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.
First added: 2003-04-13 | Last updated: 2003-04-13 | ID #4127
Elevating Child
Location: Shepton Mallet - Hillmead estate
Type: Poltergeist
Date / Time: 1990s
Further Comments: A newspaper declared the estate the 'most haunted area in Mendip' after a couple of families who moved into newly built housing reported poltergeist activity. Items would be thrown around, and one witness reported seeing her daughter slowly rise and fall three feet (ninety centimetres) over a bed.
First added: 2026-09-13 | Last updated: 2026-09-13 | ID #16819
White Lady
Location: Shepton Mallet - HMP Shepton Mallet (former prison)
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Mid twentieth century (White Lady), Circa 2008 (American Serviceman)
Further Comments: Believed by staff at the prison to be the ghost of a woman executed there during the seventeenth century, this female presence was blamed for every cold spot and freak gust of wind within the building. More recently, staff have reported the ghost of an American serviceman, thought to be related to the period when the site was used by the US military.
First added: 2003-01-03 | Last updated: 2003-01-03 | ID #3432
Lady with Pistol
Location: Shepton Mallet - Old Bowlish House
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Circa 1940s
Further Comments: Used by naval officers during the war, this building developed the reputation as being haunted after one officer watched a phantom lady in a dress appear in a bedroom doorway before shooting herself with a pistol.
First added: 2026-09-13 | Last updated: 2026-09-13 | ID #16823
Nun
Location: Shepton Mallet - Sales House
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: Nuns are supposed to haunt this site. A former owner watched her niece engaging in conversation with, what she presumed to be, a tall nun.
First added: 2026-09-13 | Last updated: 2026-09-13 | ID #16826
Nancy Camel
Location: Shepton Mallet - Streets and lanes of the town
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Night
Further Comments: This local old hag disappeared without trace many moons ago - she was renowned for walking the streets with her donkey in tow. Now she and her beast can be heard as they search the streets for people to take.
First added: 2002-07-18 | Last updated: 2002-07-18 | ID #1813
Frog Shower
Location: Shepton Mallet - Unnamed country lane
Type: Other
Date / Time: Twentieth century
Further Comments: A young girl walking her dog was caught by a shower of frogs that fell from the sky. She reported nearby cattle went berserk during the frog fall.
First added: 2008-03-24 | Last updated: 2008-03-24 | ID #8350
Treasure Guardian
Location: Shipham - Wimblestone
Type: Legend
Date / Time: Stone still present, said to dance when a full moon falls upon Midsummer Night
Further Comments: This large monolith's treasure could be seen in the hole left as the stone danced around its field.
First added: 2002-11-16 | Last updated: 2002-11-16 | ID #3230
Pixies
Location: Shurton - Wick Barrow, aka Pixies Mound (on the site of Hinkley Point power station, private property)
Type: Fairy
Date / Time: Mid twentieth century
Further Comments: This barrow was the home to pixies, who were said to have caused several accidents during the construction of the power station.
First added: 2008-10-19 | Last updated: 2008-10-19 | ID #9077
Farmer Gammon
Location: Simonsbath - Pinkworthy Pond, a few miles from the village
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: The farmer drowned himself in the pond after having his love spurned by a local lass.
First added: 2003-02-14 | Last updated: 2003-02-14 | ID #3853
Luminous Figure
Location: Somerton - Private residence, Broad Street
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 1980s-2010s
Further Comments: When the building was placed on the market, owner Chris Driver featured in the press after claiming his home was haunted by little blue glowing lights and a larger glowing figure which floated past him and his partner. Mr Driver heard a voice which reassured him that there was nothing to worry about.
First added: 2017-12-08 | Last updated: 2017-12-08 | ID #12652
Giggling Child
Location: Sparkford - Sparkford Inn
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: The ghost of a small boy, giggling even though wearing scorched clothing, runs through the bar and dining room. Other entities are blamed for the whispers emerging from empty rooms and mild poltergeist activities.
First added: 2024-12-07 | Last updated: 2024-12-07 | ID #15718
Black Dog
Location: St Audries - Road between village and Holford
Type: Shuck
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: If it was not bad enough that this stretch of road was haunted by a shuck, some also say the area is also home to a phantom coffin that lies ominously in the middle of the lane and a grey misty shade of indeterminate origin.
First added: 2003-02-13 | Last updated: 2003-02-13 | ID #3826
Rabbit Hunting
Location: St Audries - Unnamed area near the town
Type: Cryptozoology
Date / Time: February 1994
Further Comments: John Corbett reported seeing a wolverine hunting rabbits close to St Audries.
First added: 2011-04-27 | Last updated: 2011-04-27 | ID #10312
Ethelreda Malte
Location: St Catherine - St Catherine's Court
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 1990s
Further Comments: The illegitimate daughter of Henry VIII died here in 1599 and was said to still lurk the site. Thom Yorke claimed to have heard ghosts talk to him whilst on the site recording OK Computer.
First added: 2017-06-04 | Last updated: 2017-06-04 | ID #12512
Footsteps
Location: Stanton Drew - Cottage
Type: Poltergeist
Date / Time: More active around Christmas, pre 1970s?
Further Comments: Although limiting itself to the sound of footsteps, this entity scared away some Christmas bell ringers with a crash on the front door.
First added: 2026-04-05 | Last updated: 2026-04-05 | ID #16513
Wedding Party
Location: Stanton Drew - Standing Stones
Type: Legend - Old Nick
Date / Time: Still present
Further Comments: Dressed as a fiddler, the Devil convinced all the guests from a wedding to dance on a Sunday - for the sin, the entire party turned to stone. Another creation story for the site says a passing giant dropped the contents of his shovel that formed the circle of stones.
First added: 2003-04-14 | Last updated: 2003-04-14 | ID #4128
Devil's Gold
Location: Staple Fitzpaine - Devil's Stone, near the church
Type: Legend - Old Nick
Date / Time: Stone still present
Further Comments: The stone was once thought to have gold concealed underneath, hidden by the Devil. However, when moved to make way for a new road, nothing was found.
First added: 2008-02-28 | Last updated: 2008-02-28 | ID #8255
Woman of the Mist
Location: Staple Fitzpaine - Nearby hills
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Twentieth century
Further Comments: This local ghostly character has been seen carrying a large bundle of twigs, surrounded by white mist.
First added: 2002-07-18 | Last updated: 2002-07-18 | ID #1815
Records 326 - 350 of 436
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