A272 Sussex Phantom Cavalier
A Royalist cavalier on horseback gallops along the A272 in Sussex, pursued by invisible enemies, believed to be fleeing from a Civil War battle or skirmish.
The A272 running through Sussex is haunted by the dramatic apparition of a Cavalier horseman in full Royalist regalia, galloping at tremendous speed as though fleeing for his life. Witnesses describe a man on a dark horse, wearing the distinctive plumed hat, long hair, and ornate clothing of a Royalist officer during the English Civil War (1642-1651). The rider appears panicked and desperate, frequently looking back over his shoulder as if pursued, though no pursuers are ever visible. The phantom has been sighted at various points along the A272, but most frequently on the section between Billingshurst and Petworth.
The apparition typically appears suddenly, galloping across the road or along the verge parallel to modern traffic before vanishing. The sound of hooves thundering on hard ground often accompanies or precedes the visual sighting, creating an auditory experience even when the horseman is not seen. Witnesses report that the rider appears terrified, urging his horse onward with desperate energy. The horse itself sometimes appears injured or exhausted, foam flying from its mouth, suggesting a desperate flight after battle or a long pursuit. The entire encounter usually lasts only seconds before horse and rider fade from view or disappear around a bend that, when followed, reveals no trace of them.
Sussex saw significant Civil War activity, with Royalist and Parliamentarian forces controlling different areas at different times. The region’s wealth and strategic position meant it was contested territory, and numerous skirmishes and pursuits occurred along the roads. Local historians have speculated that the phantom Cavalier may be connected to specific historical figures who fled through the area after defeats, or represent a composite of multiple fleeing soldiers whose desperate rides left a psychic imprint. The A272’s route through the Sussex countryside follows ancient trackways that would have been the escape routes for defeated forces. The phantom Cavalier continues to ride his eternal flight, forever pursued by enemies lost to history but still driving him forward in death as they did in life.