The Paranormal Database

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

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Suffolk Ghosts, Folklore and Forteana

Ringing Telephone

Location: Rougham - Private residence, Rougham Green area
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 2008-2017
Further Comments: Occupants of this property heard an old fashioned telephone ring, even though there was not one in the house. Horses were heard outside, and on one occasion, one witness was hit three times while in bed.

Source: User Submission
First added: 2017-08-19 | Last updated: 2017-08-19 | ID #12566

Horse and Carriage

Location: Rougham - Road between village and Bradfield St George
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: September 2016
Further Comments: A taxi driver reported seeing a large black shadow that completely blocked out the headlights of the cab. The driver was convinced that the shadow was a carriage.

Source: User Submission
First added: 2017-08-19 | Last updated: 2017-08-19 | ID #12567

Fire Starter

Location: Rougham - Spinney Cottages
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: November 1989
Further Comments: After calling a vicar to rid their building of an 'evil presence', a fire broke out in the family's home, destroying a cupboard and causing smoke damage to the rest of the house. A few days later, one of the family heard a disembodied voice ask, 'that was funny, wasn't it?'.

Source: Published Media
First added: 2005-02-05 | Last updated: 2005-02-05 | ID #5840

Shadows Walking and Monk

Location: Rougham - Triangle formed by Gypsy Lane, Colville's Grove & Balmy Corner
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: Haunted for unknown reasons, this area is said to be a hotbed for sightings of shadowy figures and a hooded monk.

Source: Published Media
First added: 2001-09-06 | Last updated: 2001-09-06 | ID #312

Several Dancers in White Muslin

Location: Saxmundham - Harpers Lane
Type: Fairy
Date / Time: Early twentieth century
Further Comments: Observed by a couple of young children, the dancers only remained visible for a few seconds before disappearing.

Source: Historical Record
First added: 2000-08-17 | Last updated: 2000-08-17 | ID #226

Emu

Location: Saxmundham - Railway Line
Type: Cryptozoology
Date / Time: 09 July 2012, 11:20h
Further Comments: A train driver reported spotting an emu crossing the Ipswich to Lowestoft track.

Source: Published Media
First added: 2012-07-14 | Last updated: 2012-07-14 | ID #10986

Big Cat

Location: Shelley - Exact location not known
Type: ABC
Date / Time: March 1996
Further Comments: This out of place feline stood around 350 metres from observers.

Source: Published Media
First added: 2000-08-27 | Last updated: 2000-08-27 | ID #271

Fawn Coloured Cat

Location: Shingle Street - Unnamed country lane
Type: ABC
Date / Time: 23 March 2008
Further Comments: Prison Officer Heidi Hawley was driving to work when what she mistook for an Alsatian dog ran out in front of her. Believing it to have been an escaped pet, Heidi stopped her car to investigate further; she climbed up an embankment to follow the 'dog', only to realise it was a large fawn coloured cat with green eyes. The cat paused to look at her before running off.

Source: Published Media
First added: 2008-04-01 | Last updated: 2008-04-01 | ID #8383

Black Woman

Location: Shipmeadow - Road leading to lock (known locally as Geldeston lock)
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: December 1908 - January 1909
Further Comments: A small number of men reported seeing this phantom woman several times over two months. She was described as having a black, shadowy appearance, standing around 1.75 metres tall, and moving swiftly. On one occasion the entity brushed against one witness and, on another, disappeared over a gate and into a field.

Source: Historical Record
First added: 2016-03-20 | Last updated: 2016-03-20 | ID #12071

Faces in the Trees

Location: Sibton - Village Green, Nearby trees
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: The location where a fight between two gypsies resulted in both their deaths, the trees are said to have taken on a life of their own; faces will appear in their branches, and the leaves drip blood.

Source: Published Media
First added: 2001-09-06 | Last updated: 2001-09-06 | ID #595

Grey Figure

Location: Snape - Road between Snape and Sternfield
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 22 December 1974, 18:00h
Further Comments: Reported to the BSIG, a couple driving away from Snape encountered a dark grey humanoid shape which moved from the middle of the road and vanished into a hedge.

Source: Published Media
First added: 2015-01-18 | Last updated: 2015-01-18 | ID #11718

Cat Kill

Location: Snape - Tunstall to Snape Road
Type: ABC
Date / Time: 2005
Further Comments: Reported to The Big Cats of Suffolk website, a muntjac carcass found here featured a bite to the neck, with other cat spoor discovered nearby.

Source: Published Media
First added: 2025-05-25 | Last updated: 2025-05-25 | ID #15914

Giant and Bloody Rain

Location: Somerleyton - Exact location not known
Type: Legend
Date / Time: Varies: 17 July & 19 November (Reoccurring)
Further Comments: Somerleyton was once the hunting area of a giant, who is said to briefly appear on the evening of 17 July. The giant once stumbled across a plot to murder him, so struck first and killed the would-be assassin. The assassin's blood is said to rain down from the sky on 19 November.

Source: Historical Record
First added: 2001-09-08 | Last updated: 2001-09-08 | ID #635


Somerleyton Hall, from Country Seats by Francis Orpen Morris.

Samuel

Location: Somerleyton - Somerleyton Hall
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: This site is home to a ghost named Samuel who walks the corridors. Others have reported a small phantom girl and a grey lady.

Source: Published Media, User Submission
First added: 2008-10-14 | Last updated: 2008-10-14 | ID #9020

Dead Zone

Location: Sotterley - Jay's Hill
Type: Legend
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: Along this road is said to be a patch of land, the site of a murder, where nothing grows.

Source: Published Media
First added: 2015-01-19 | Last updated: 2015-01-19 | ID #11736


Southwold beach, Suffolk.

Fisherman Swinging Tilly Lamp

Location: Southwold - Beach
Type: Unknown Ghost Type
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: Carrying a large fish, a phantom fisherman has been seen walking along the beach, swinging a Tilly lamp.

Source: Historical Record
First added: 2000-08-17 | Last updated: 2000-08-17 | ID #229

Woman in Black

Location: Southwold - Cliff Face
Type: Unknown Ghost Type
Date / Time: 1960s
Further Comments: Emerging from the solid cliff face, a woman dressed in black has been reported along the coastline.

Source: Historical Record
First added: 2000-08-17 | Last updated: 2000-08-17 | ID #230

Falling sounds

Location: Southwold - Former vicarage (currently a bus office, wool shop & paint shop)
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: Many sounds seem to have once haunted this building - sighs, creaking of a chair, the rattling of chains, and the sound of someone falling down the stairs.

Source: Historical Record
First added: 2001-09-06 | Last updated: 2001-09-06 | ID #569


Gun Hill, Southwold.

Headless Gunner killed by Exploding Cannon

Location: Southwold - Gun Hill
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: After losing his head when a cannon backfired, the soldier is reported to return occasionally to stand by the old guns that face the sea. There are also reports that fairies once camped in little tents on the hill.

Source: Historical Record, Published Media
First added: 2000-08-17 | Last updated: 2000-08-17 | ID #231

Poking and Tugging

Location: Southwold - Holiday cottage in the area
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: July 2014
Further Comments: A visitor to this cottage reported having their shorts tugged and being poked in the back by an invisible finger. A white mist was also observed to emerge from a kitchen lamp and drift across the room.

Source: User Submission
First added: 2014-10-10 | Last updated: 2014-10-10 | ID #11622


Off the coast of Southwold, Suffolk.

Long Grey Creature

Location: Southwold - Off coast
Type: Cryptozoology
Date / Time: 21 October 1938
Further Comments: While casting their nets, two fishermen watched a long creature around thirty metres away. They stated that the beast was grey in colour, moved at great speed, and estimated the length to be around twenty metres. However, a story later appeared in the local press that the 'creature' was nothing more than several pieces of lumber bound together.

Source: Published Media
First added: 2000-08-17 | Last updated: 2000-08-17 | ID #715


Path from Gun Hill, Southwold.

Beautiful and Elegant Woman

Location: Southwold - Path from Gun Hill, heading towards the sea
Type: Crisis Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: Two local men out for a walk watched a beautiful woman pass them by and disappear behind the Round House. Curious to know the identity of the strange woman, they followed her to the harbour where they found a capsized boat - the quick thinking of the two locals managed to save a sailor from drowning. The woman, however, had totally vanished. The ghost has since been seen at other times, always with a shawl over her head, and is said to emanate peace.

Source: Historical Record, Published Media
First added: 2000-08-30 | Last updated: 2000-08-30 | ID #819

Man in Bath Chair

Location: Southwold - Private House along Child's Opening
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: First half of twentieth century, always around 01:00h, last seen 1948
Further Comments: This spooky figure, sometimes wheeling himself around in a bath chair, other times walking, was watched by occupants of a house several times. The entity would cross their yard and vanish into a bricked up doorway to a former hat shop.

Source: Historical Record
First added: 2004-10-03 | Last updated: 2004-10-03 | ID #5501

Lady with Dog

Location: Southwold - Shuck's Hill
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: Late at night, a phantom woman is alleged to appear walking about the hill with her dog.

Source: Historical Record
First added: 2000-08-17 | Last updated: 2000-08-17 | ID #232


Sutherland House, Southwold.

Redhead

Location: Southwold - Sutherland House
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 28 May (Reoccurring)
Further Comments: This young red haired woman is reported to wait for the return of Lord Sandwich, killed in a naval battle off the coast here. Footsteps and the sound of doors opening have been heard on 28 May, the anniversary of the Lord's death. Geoffrey Munn speculated that the ghost was Ann Cammell, a former resident of the property who was accused of witchcraft in the mid-sixteenth century.

Source: Historical Record, Published Media
First added: 2000-08-17 | Last updated: 2000-08-17 | ID #228

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