A23 Bolney Phantom Monk

The A23 near Bolney in West Sussex has been home to sightings of a phantom monk for over a century. The figure appears as a hooded monk dressed in brown or grey robes, walking purposefully along the roadside or crossing the road itself. Witnesses consistently describe seeing the monk in the early morning hours or at dusk, particularly during autumn and winter months when visibility is reduced. The apparition appears solid and real enough that many drivers have slowed down or stopped, assuming it to be a living person in unusual dress. Upon closer approach, the figure invariably vanishes without trace.

The stretch of the A23 near Bolney passes through an area rich in ecclesiastical history. Medieval monks from nearby abbeys and priories would have traveled these routes on foot, and several monastic buildings once stood within a few miles of the road. Some researchers suggest the phantom may be connected to the dissolved monasteries of the Reformation era, when monks were forced from their homes and left to wander the countryside. Others point to tragic deaths of traveling clergy in the area, though no specific historical incident has been definitively linked to the apparition.

Modern sightings continue to be reported, with motorists describing the unsettling experience of seeing what appears to be a living monk walking the verge of a busy dual carriageway. Some witnesses report that the figure seems aware of traffic but unconcerned, moving at a steady pace regardless of passing vehicles. The phantom monk of the A23 has become part of local folklore, with residents in Bolney and surrounding villages familiar with the legend. Despite numerous sightings over the decades, the identity of the monk and the reason for his perpetual wandering remain unknown.