Pluckley - Most Haunted Village in Britain
This small Kent village holds the Guinness record for most ghosts—16 spirits haunt its lanes and buildings. A screaming man burns in the brickworks. A highwayman is pinned to a tree. A coach still runs at midnight.
Pluckley in Kent officially holds the Guinness World Record as Britain’s most haunted village, with at least 12-16 documented ghosts haunting this small community.
The Record
According to documented claims:
The Guinness Book of Records has recognized Pluckley as:
- Britain’s most haunted village
- Home to at least 12 ghosts (some count 16)
- A destination for paranormal researchers worldwide
- A small village with an extraordinary density of hauntings
The Ghosts
The documented spirits include:
The Screaming Man: A brickworks worker who fell to his death. His screams are heard at the old brickworks.
The Highwayman: Pinned to a tree by a sword after being caught. Seen at Fright Corner where he died.
The Red Lady: Lady Dering, who haunts the churchyard. She was buried in seven coffins (lead, within oak, within lead, etc.).
The White Lady: Another Lady Dering, seen inside St. Nicholas Church.
The Watercress Woman: An old woman who died when her pipe ignited her gin-soaked clothes. She burns eternally.
The Colonel: Seen hanging from a tree at Park Wood.
The Miller: Haunts the site of the old mill.
The Phantom Coach: A horse-drawn coach seen on the road at night.
The Schoolmaster: Haunts the old schoolhouse.
The Dering Family
The Dering family owned Pluckley for centuries:
- Multiple family members became ghosts
- Surrenden Dering manor had several spirits
- The manor burned down in 1952
- The site remains haunted
Fright Corner
The most active location:
- Where the highwayman was killed
- Surrounded by woods
- Multiple sightings reported
- Investigators report high activity
Modern Tourism
Pluckley embraces its reputation:
- Ghost walks are offered
- Paranormal teams visit regularly
- Halloween brings hundreds of visitors
- The local economy benefits from ghost tourism
Investigations
The village has been featured on:
- Most Haunted
- Various paranormal documentaries
- Ghost hunting TV shows
- The activity seems consistent
The Density Mystery
Why so many ghosts in one village?
- Historical violence and tragedy
- Ancient community with deep roots
- The Dering family’s troubled history
- Perhaps something about the location itself
Sources
- Pluckley - Wikipedia
- Guinness World Records