Pretty village in England with 12 ghosts – and ‘UK’s most haunted’ pub

Whether you’re a paranormal enthusiast or a sceptic, there’s no denying the chilling delight of a good ghost tale – and if that interests you, well, there’s one village in Kent that’s a must-visit. Nestled about five miles west of Ashford, Pluckley is a picturesque and tranquil hamlet with just over 1,000 residents. It gained notoriety in the 1989 Guinness Book of Records as the ‘most haunted’ village in England.

With 12 “official ghosts” and spine-chilling stories at every turn, Pluckley is a treasure trove for those intrigued by the supernatural. From the phantom highwayman at Fright Corner to the perpetually screaming man, Pluckley boasts an array of eerie tales that make it a must-see for any ghost story fans. Given its reputation as a paranormal hotspot, it’s unsurprising that the village has been featured in numerous TV programmes, including Most Haunted and Ghostly Legends.

But it’s not just the spectral inhabitants that put Pluckley on the map. The village served as the filming location for ITV’s The Darling Buds of May series in the early 90s, featuring Kent’s own Pam Ferris, reports Kent Live.

Additionally, the village is home to a highly-rated pub with its own ghostly tale to tell.

The Black Horse, a 15th-century establishment, bills itself as ‘the UK’s most haunted’ destination pub – and there are eerie apparitions you could encounter whilst exploring the village of Pluckley, according to many. 

First on the roster of Pluckley’s notorious supernatural encounters is the phantom of the fittingly christened Fright Corner. Legend has it that an 18th-century highwayman met his demise here following a confrontation with the village’s law enforcers.

Allegedly impaled against a tree with a sword, witnesses claim this fatal encounter replays itself. Regrettably for the spectral bandit, the outcome remains unchanged each time.

Despite appearing ideal for a peaceful autumnal ramble, the stories emerging from Dicky Buss’s Lane might give you pause. Named after a local miller, visitors have reportedly glimpsed the remains of a schoolmaster who ended his own life.

Following the Great War, he allegedly took this tragic step. His remains were subsequently discovered by Dicky, the miller who lent his name to the pathway.

Few demises could be more dreadful than being buried alive beneath collapsing clay, yet this was the fate of one unfortunate brickworker in Pluckley. Locals insist his tormented cries can still be heard emanating from the former brickworks location.

From spine-chilling shrieks to the echoing sound of phantom hooves, Pluckley offers no shortage of unsettling auditory experiences for visitors. According to residents, spectral visions of a horse-drawn carriage, accompanied by the distinctive clip-clop of horses’ hooves, are said to haunt Maltman’s Hill.

One childminder even claimed to have witnessed the coach as though it were tangible, with illumination streaming from its windows whilst horses drew it down the street. In 1997, a motorist nearly had an accident after hearing the distinct clatter of hooves upon cobblestones on what was actually a tarmac surface.

Among Pluckley’s most notorious supernatural occurrences is one centred in an especially chilling location – the churchyard. In the 1100s, Lady Dering was laid to rest in St Nicholas Church’s graveyard within a lead coffin, adorned with a single red rose atop her burial site.

Sightings of her spirit have been documented. Now referred to as The Red Lady, named after her rose, she’s reportedly seen drifting between the gravestones, lamenting as she seeks her stillborn child’s grave.

A property called Greystones was destined to feel foreboding and ominous – and this particular dwelling boasts its own spectral monk to boot. Originally constructed in 1863 and christened Rectory Cottage, it served as the residence for the rector of the neighbouring St Nicholas Church.

Today, its most celebrated occupant is purportedly the spirit of a monk. Yet, following its rechristening as Greystones, the monk appears to have retreated into obscurity, with no recent accounts of paranormal phenomena.

Among the village’s prominent features stands Pinock Bridge, an ideal location to pause and admire the stunning landscape – and potentially witness something from the other side. Legend has it that a gypsy woman, who earned her keep selling watercress gathered from the stream beneath, haunts this spot.

Sightings describe her perched on the bridge, puffing away on a pipe. This is reportedly where she met her tragic end, accidentally perishing in flames.

She manifests as a hazy apparition, remaining silent – merely sitting there with her pipe.

Even Pluckley’s drinking establishments aren’t immune to supernatural residents, as demonstrated by The Blacksmith’s Arms. Three ghostly presences are rumoured to inhabit this pub – and we’re certainly not referring to alcoholic beverages.

Having previously been known as both The Spectre’s Arms and The Ghost’s Arms due to numerous paranormal occurrences, peculiar phenomena continue within its walls today. The spectral inhabitants reported at the premises include a Tudor maid, a coachman who stares wistfully into the public bar’s fireplace, and a Cavalier roaming the upper floor chambers.

Richard ‘Dicky’ Buss, whose namesake lane (itself reputedly haunted) made him a recognisable character in the village during the previous century, worked as a miller. His spirit is believed to now occupy the village’s derelict and crumbling windmill, The Pinnocks.

Dicky shuttered his mill in 1930, and tragedy struck nine years later when a violent storm brought lightning that demolished the structure. Yet it appears Dicky’s work remains incomplete, as locals claim his ghostly presence continues to linger around the windmill ruins, reportedly manifesting shortly before thunderstorms roll in.

As previously noted, The Black Horse has earned its reputation as the ‘most haunted pub in the UK’, boasting numerous supernatural encounters. Unlike some of the village’s more brazen spectral inhabitants, these particular spirits appear rather reserved, preferring to cause unseen havoc.

Originally a bailiff’s moat-encircled farmhouse, the establishment has become notorious for objects mysteriously vanishing before witnesses’ eyes. Curiously, these ethereal pranksters seem to possess a moral compass, as the missing items typically resurface several days later.

St Nicholas features for a third time with tales of a woman dressed in white who is said to haunt both the church and the library within her former ancestral residence, Surrenden Dering. Though the magnificent estate was consumed by flames in 1952, American Embassy personnel who occupied the building between the two World Wars claimed to have witnessed her apparition.

During one Christmas Eve, a determined staff member maintained an overnight watch, and when the lady in white materialised before him, he discharged his rifle at the phantom.

The second individual who tragically ended his life in Pluckley was a colonel who hanged himself in Park Wood. His apparition has been witnessed drifting amongst the trees, and despite significant clearance of the woodland, his presence appears to linger.

Rose Court presents itself as an idyllic English village dwelling, yet this 250 year old property harbours a sinister history. Legend tells of the lady of the house who consumed poisonous berries in anguish over a romantic entanglement, taking her own life.

Haunt at the hunting lodge

Two haunted public houses might seem sufficient for any village, but Pluckley proves otherwise. The Derring Arms, formerly a hunting lodge, is reportedly inhabited by the spectre of a bonneted woman.

Numerous patrons have witnessed her remarkably distinct form, with some even confusing her for a living customer.

Finally, there are the spine-chilling tales surrounding the aptly named Screaming Woods. This location has attracted aspiring ghost hunters courageous enough to spend the night within its depths.

Countless accounts describe piercing screams of men and women echoing through the darkness, believed to be the cries of those who perished whilst wandering lost through the foggy woodland. The woods even featured in a classic Top Gear episode, where presenters James May and Richard Hammond ventured to spend an evening in these unsettling surroundings.