The Most Haunted Village in England

Pluckley, a small village in Kent, has earned the reputation as England’s most haunted village. The Guinness Book of Records once recognized it as such, citing at least twelve documented ghosts. The concentration of supernatural activity in this picturesque settlement remains unexplained.

The Location

Pluckley is an unremarkable village of about a thousand residents, nestled in the Kent countryside. Its medieval church, old houses, and surrounding woodland provide an atmospheric setting for its numerous hauntings. The village has attracted paranormal investigators from around the world.

The Red Lady

The ghost of a Lady Dering has been seen in the church of St. Nicholas. She appears in a red dress, searching for the baby she lost in childbirth. Her tomb in the Dering chapel is said to be the center of her manifestation.

The White Lady

Another Lady Dering, this one in white, haunts the grounds of Surrenden Dering House (now demolished). She is said to have committed suicide after discovering her husband’s infidelity. Her sorrowful form drifts through the grounds where the house once stood.

The Screaming Man

Near the old brickworks, a ghostly figure is heard screaming. Local legend says a worker fell into the clay pit and was smothered. His screams echo across the fields, though the brickworks have been closed for over a century.

The Highwayman

A highwayman who was ambushed and killed at Fright Corner (locally named for this reason) has been seen on the road. He appears pinned to a tree by a sword, as he was in life when villagers ended his career.

Other Spirits

The village’s other documented ghosts include a schoolmaster who hanged himself, a gypsy woman who died in a fire, a soldier from an unknown war, a coaching-era coachman, and several other unidentified figures seen in various locations.

Assessment

The concentration of reported ghosts in Pluckley is remarkable. Whether the village sits on some form of spiritual focal point or its reputation simply attracts reports, the sheer number and variety of documented apparitions makes it unique in England.