Halloween in "Perfick" Pluckley - The Most Haunted Village in Britain
We all love a good ghost story, so if you fancy getting away for a rural country escape at Halloween (or at any other time of the year) you could always visit Pluckley in Kent which in 1989 was reputed to be Britains most haunted Village, according to the Guinness Book of World Records.
The village history goes back to the days of the Doomsday Book and it is situated approximately 5 miles (8 km) from the nearest junction of the M20 motorway, and is served by Pluckley railway station, about 1.25 miles (2 km) to the south. I visited on October 31st 2012 and despite it's spooky reputation, I found it to be a very pretty place, with some beautiful old pubs, charming B&Bs, magical guesthouses, and delightful restaurants.
Pluckley also has another "claim to fame" in that it was used as the location for filming the TV series "The Darling Buds of May" with David Jason, Pam Ferris & Catherine Zeta Jones. Many other TV shows have also filmed here, including BBC's Top Gear and Channel 4's Saturday Night Project. An episode of the LWT television series Strange But True?, entitled Pluckley – The most haunted village in England, was broadcast on 13 September 1996.
The surrounding area has been the location for supposed sightings of about 12 to 16 ghosts over the years. They have all drawn various television programs, as well as paranormal investigators, and many visitors, to flock to the place. However, Francesca Hoyles, a visiting Daily Telegraph journalist cast some doubt on the claims in 2008. She explored the area and was told about the stories but wrote: "I take solace from the fact that although there may be truth in a portion of these stories, historical records to prove the existence of the events and characters that inspired many of them are thin on the ground."
Pluckley's ghosts first appeared in print in 1955 when Frederick Sanders wrote Pluckley Was My Playground, Desmond Carrington who once lived in Pluckley has admitted to "concocting a whole string of them" for an article featured in the TV times written by journalist Bill Evans in the 1950's, so perhaps Pluckley's haunted reputation is not as well deserved as many people think. Of all of the ghosts, there has only been a few sightings in recent years and there little evidence to support any of the other tale.
So who are Pluckely's supposed ghosts? What are their stories? Are they just part of local folklore or is there something happening here that we just can't explain or understand? You decide for yourself.....
The screaming man- An accident occurred at the old Brick works and clay pit that supposedly created one of Pluckley's ghosts. A man was killed when either a wall of clay collapsed onto him or he fell into a clay pit, depending upon which version of the story you are listening to. You are supposed to be able to hear his screams to this day, although no record of such an accident has ever been found.
The Highwayman - At Fright Corner (once Frith Corner), a highwayman - possibly called Robert Du Bois -was reputedly ambushed by either the law or other criminals and killed with a sword, pinning him to a hollow oak tree that once stood in this area. In some accounts there was a fight between the highwayman and his attackers and in others he was hiding in the hollow tree and was pierced when a sword was pushed into the hollow. According to local legend, when the ghosts appear a re-enactment of the killing is repeated
The Coach - Maltman's Hill is haunted by the sounds of a horse drawn coach. This ghostly apperition has apparently been seen at various places around the village.
Gypsy Woman / Watercress Woman - At the crossroads bridge, the apparition of gypsy woman has been seen smoking a pipe. Apparently she used to sell watercress which she found in the stream. She is said to have haunted the site since she was somehow accidently burned to death. One theory about her combustion was that she was ignited some alcohol she was drinking with a spark from her pipe. Witnesses have described her as being a misty figure sat on the bridge. This area around Pinnock Bridge is apparently an area where natural mists form on a regular basis.
The Miller - As with many ghost sightings this apparition is said to be a black silhouette that haunts a ruined windmill near a house called The Pinnocks. The mill had been closed by its last miller Richard 'Dicky' Buss in the 1930's and was then destroyed by fire in 1939 when it was struck by lightening during a storm. Stories of the haunting spread whilst the mill was in disuse and could possibly be related to a rumour that Dicky's son used to set bird traps in there with long white sheets attached. It is said that the ghost appears before the arrival of a thunderstorm.
The Schoolmaster - On Dicky Buss's Lane (named after the Miller) is said to appear the hanging body a schoolmaster that is suspected of having committed suicide. The hanging body of the schoolmaster from Smarden was found by Buss a few weeks after he went missing.
The Colonel - Another suicide by hanging. This is said to be the ghost of a Colonel who hung himself in Park Wood and his apparition has be seen walking amongst the trees.
The Red Lady - Lady Dering (circa 1100's) haunts the grounds of the church of St Nicholas. She was supposedly buried in seven lead coffins, within an oak one and placed in the church's crypt. The name may come from the rose reputedly placed in the coffin with her. She is said to wander the churchyard in search of the unmarked grave of her still born child. The lady and the child have never been traced or identified. The part of the story concerning the coffin and rose is also attributed to another ghost - The White Lady - and is probably one of the characters created by Desmond Carrington.
The White Lady - St Nicholas's Church apparently has another ghostly Dering lady that may haunt the inside of the church as well as the Dering family house library in their manor of Surrenden Dering which was destroyed in a fire around 1952. As mentioned above, the coffin with several linings of lead and the rose may belong to the White Lady and not the Red. The white lady was seen whilst Surrenden Dering was the US Embassy between the two world wars. A Mr Walter Winan supposedly held a lonesome vigil one Christmas Eve in the library with his hunting rifle. When the White Lady appeared before him, he reputedly shot her. The shot passed through the apparition. She vanished through a panelled wall which might have led to a tunnel which was supposed to link the house with the Church. The witness may have been Walter Winans (1852-1920), an American born British marksman and sculptor who competed in the 1908 Olympics winning a gold medal for shooting and a silver in 1912. He did live in Kent and as he died in 1920 it would certainly help date the sighting.
The Monk - A house called Greystones is said to have had a monk haunt it's grounds. The house was built around 1863 and was called Rectory Cottage (home of the curate for St Nicholas's Church). Residents of Greystones (renamed in 1924) as far back as 1954 to present day have denied encountering any paranormal activity there. Local legend suggests he is connected to the phantom lady supposedly haunting Rose Court, though how they are connected is unsure.
The Tudor Lady - Rose Court is another haunted Pluckley house which dates back over two hundred and fifty years. This ghost is again the result of another suicide, this time committed by eating poisonous berries. The lady, possibly a mistress of a member of the Dering family can be heard calling for her two dogs. She is said to haunt both house and gardens between 1600 and 1700 hours, which is when she is supposed to have died. This is also the time that the dogs in the nearby hunting kennels were fed and when the kennels moved, the ghost and dogs weren't heard of again.
Two local pubs in Pluckley - and a former public house which is now a private home - are also said to be haunted.
The Black Horse - Items, usually clothing, go missing, only to reappear at a later date when they have been considered truly lost. Whether this is really the work of a ghost or poltergeist, is unclear. The ghost of a small child has also been seen. The building itself is very old and was once reputed to be a moat surrounded farmhouse and home of the local bailiff. The Black Horse was also Pop Larkin’s favourite pub in The Darling Buds of May - and is also a favourite spot with the team from the Most Haunted TV Show. It’s in the centre of the village, and offers a fantastic selection of hot food, a busy bar and a warm welcome - despite the ghosts. I had lunch here during my stay and can highly recommend it.
The Dering Arms - The Dering Arms was once an old hunting lodge is said to be haunted by an old lady in a bonnet. This apparition is said to be so clear that she is mistaken as a customer whilst sitting at a table. The Dering Arms is now the home of an award-winning seafood restaurant and a friendly local pub with four B&B guest rooms.
Blacksmiths Arms - This former pub and Tearooms - which began life as a blacksmiths forge and is now a private residence - is supposedly haunted by a cavalier in one of the upstairs rooms.
Elvey Farm is the lovley place where I stayed for my Pluckley Halloween Visit. There have been numerous ghost sightings at the farmstead over the years. The oldest part of the farm was built in 1406, and there is also a collection of stables and outbuildings dating from the 16th to 18th centuries. One of the ghosts is said to be that of Edward Brett, a resident farmer at Elvey in the 18th century who committed suicide. Before the farmer shot himself in the dairy, his last words to his wife were "I will do it". It is these words that have supposedly been heard repeated in a whisper around the farmstead. Other ghosts at Elvey Farm include that of a man in military uniform who stands on the stairs that lead up to the attic bedrooms above the 16th-century barn that now houses a cosy bar.
Although it was very quiet and it gets very dark here in the evenings with no streetlights and lots of open countryside, I didn't see or hear any ghosts - just some of the local wildlife. If you have a mobile phone, you'll struggle to get a signal here - but that's no bad thing if you want to "get away from it all" and "go off the radar".
Elvey Farm is at the end of a winding country lane, in Kent. It is a beautiful medieval farmstead tastefully converted into a small country guesthouse. These handful of buildings, steeped in history and natural character, are a real hidden treasure waiting to be uncovered.
The eleven elegant guestrooms are all housed in a four period farm buildings. The rooms and suites offer the perfect combination of modern comfort and traditional character. Tastefully refurbished, the rooms in the Stable Block, the sixteenth-century Barn, the Oast House and the Granary are packed with period features and architectural charm. Each room has its own unique character, story and style.
When I visited, there was an outdoor hot tub included when you book The Canterbury Suite in The Granary. It was situated in a "Secret Garden Area" which no other guests knew about, and I spent a very relaxing time looking out over the fields and wondering if I would have any spooky encounters later.
Guests can now enjoy the brand new on-site restaurant at Elvey Farm - Stramacchio Italiano - which is owned and managed by Enrico, Mariantonietta and their family. The restaurant serves traditional authentic homemade Italian food cooked using recipes handed down from three generations.
Other places to visit and stay in and around Pluckley.
The Rose and Crown at Munday Bois Set in a quiet hamlet just outside Pluckley, the Munday Bois has a beer garden with views across the fields, a restaurant serving good quality food - and a local bar with fine wines and ales
Arden B&B Located on the edge of the village, a warm welcome awaits you at Arden; a comfortable family home with spacious rooms, large mature gardens and views of the surrounding countryside.
Bow Cottage A beautiful B&B in a delightful cottage packed with period features - and a lovely lake overlooking the fields
Parsonage Cottage One of the oldest houses in Pluckley, Parsonage Cottage has a wealth of period features and stands in its own three-acre grounds
The Old Stables Holiday cottage in the centre of the village
En suite B&B overlooking beautiful garden. Close to Pluckley Station
Pluckley Farm Shop - A visit to the village isn't complete without calling into the Pluckley Farm Shop. Here you will find a fantastic selection of local produce as well as arts and crafts made by local residents. You can even buy Pluckley Tea and Kentish Roast Coffee so you can enjoy these beautiful flavours back home.
Biddenden Vineyards - Biddenden Vineyard is Kent’s oldest commercial vineyard, having been established by the Barnes family in 1969 to produce wines and ciders. The vineyards are set in 23 acres on a gentle south facing slope in a shallow sheltered valley, 1.2 miles from the lovely Wealden village of Biddenden and not too far from Pluckley. Eleven varieties of grapes are grown to produce White, Red, Rosé and Quality Sparkling wines. Traditional Kentish ciders have also been made here for over 30 years together with farm pressed apple and pear juices. Visitors are welcome throughout the year. The coffee shop is open daily and there is a marked walk around the vineyard for customers. Free admissions and Tastings available.
*If you do visit and stay in Pluckley at Halloween - or at any other time - please be respectful & considerate to the local residents. While tourism may be a welcome bonus to local businesses it also brings it share of problems to the ordinary people who live there - such as traffic problems, drunkeness and Anti-social behaviour. There has been an increased police presence in the village around Halloween in recent years due to the sheer number of visitors, some of whom often fail to control their own high spirits and become a nuisance to others.
