Somerset and Bristol Ghosts, Folklore and Forteana
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 were 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.
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.
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.
Lazy Ghost
Location: Stawley - Greenham Barton
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: It was claimed that two ghosts haunted this site, one in an old bathroom, while the other would sit in a chair in the drawing room.
Hanged Soldiers
Location: Stogumber - Heddon oak tree
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: The shades of many soldiers hanged on this tree by James II's men are still reported to float around the area. Sometimes the executions can be heard. Another story says that the ghosts are Monmouth's men.
Wild Hunt
Location: Stogumber - Main street through village
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 1960
Further Comments: Hounds, horses and hunters all pass through the village while chasing the souls of the damned. It is not known for sure whether the hunt last passed through this way in 1960 as no one dared peek out from their windows.
Harriet
Location: Stogursey - The Witch Tree
Type: Shuck
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: The shuck which appears here is believed to contain the spirit of Harriet, once a local witch who remains much feared.
Cake Baking Fairies
Location: Stogursey - Wick Barrow
Type: Fairy
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: The pixies here rewarded a man with a cake after he helped them repair a cooking implement.
Early Morning Rider
Location: Stoke Trister - Field in the village
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 30 June 2007, between 10:00h - 11:00h
Further Comments: While walking his dog, this witness heard horse's hooves walking alongside him for several minutes, never becoming and louder or quieter, or changing pace. The witness thought the sound may have been coming from behind a nearby hedge, though there was nothing visible.
White Light
Location: Street - A39, between Street and Bridgwater
Type: Other
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: A white light is said to follow drivers as they pass through a wooded area of the road. The light vanishes when witnesses turn to try and see the source.
Records 326 - 350 of 426
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