The author Coxe in his book, 'Haunted Britain', refers to a bloody incident that took place at Bloody Shard Gate in times past, although does not give a date. A skirmish between poachers and gamekeepers resulted in a man losing a hand. The hand was buried in Pimperne churchyard, and the man's body in London – although it is not clear if the loser of the hand died as a result of his injury or later on in life. The ghostly hand has been seen as it attempts to be returned to the rest of the body.