Location: Pluckley, Kent.
Haunting Date: Tudor era - present day.
Type of haunting: Apparitions, audible events and folklore.
Sources of research: Personal on-location investigation, published information and own experiences.
My conclusion: A historic folklore hoax, with one or two possibly genuine cases.
Pluckley is a traditional Kentish village with it's recorded history stretching back to at least the 1086 Domesday Book, when the village was recorded as a more significant settlement than that of the now larger town of Ashford. The village sits on the Greensand Way long distance walking route, that stretches from Haslemere in Surrey to Hamstreet in Kent. The parish has a long connection to the Dering Family, that resided at the nearby Surrenden Manor, and many of the hauntings involve historic Dering family members. The village featured as the filming location to the ITV drama series 'The Darling Buds of May'.
I visited the parish, somewhat appropriately on All Hallows' Eve (31 October) 2025, to ring the church bells. Arriving early, I took the opportunity to visit the majority of the locations of the alleged hauntings in the parish, the photographs of which, with associated information with their respective hauntings, will be listed below. Whilst in the village and visiting the church of St Nicholas, I had the chance to speak with local author Ed Adams, who had just published his new book Pluckley: The Making and Faking of a Ghost Story. Mr Adams has spend a great deal of time researching the history and individual stories behind each alleged haunting, and has collated his findings in a very detailed book. The generally regarded 'hotspots' of activity in the village is The Black Horse Pub, which for a long time was closed and used as a residential property but is now back open to the public, and St Nicholas parish church. I am greatful to Mr Luca G. Greenslade for his assistance with photographing the locations during my visit.
The village itself gained 'fame' in the paranormal world in 1955 with the publication of a book by Frederick Sanders called Pluckley Was My Playground. Comprising largely of a collection of memoirs from his memories of growing up in Pluckley, the book is widely regarded to be the first publication that collates the 12 alleged ghosts of the village together in one record. This 1955 publication proved a pivotal moment in the history of the village, in particular to that of it's alleged hauntings.
It is perhaps coincidental and/or fortuitous that at around the same time as the publication of Sanders book in the early 1950's, a former resident of Pluckley by the name of Desmond Carrington admitted to ''concocting a whole string of them'' for use in an article featured in the TV times, written by Bill Evans. The records of the hauntings on this page concern: The Miller, The Schoolmaster, The Red Lady, The White Lady, The Monk and the Lady of Rose Court, The Highway Man, The Phantom Coash and Horse, The Old Gypsy Woman, The Miller, The Colonel, The Screaming Woods and The Screaming Man, as well as some other cases I believe should get a special mention.
The exact identity of 'The Miller' has been up for debate for some time, with evidence and historic sightings suggesting two possible people. The location of the haunting is at the site of the old Pluckley windmill, which was located on the patch of grass in front of the tree photographed below. There are rather unhelpful coincidences when it comes to the signings of The Miller, as there are a number of people who claim the apparition is seen regularly, yet nobody is willing to come forward to identify themselves and give information. There are numerous claims that a 'black like ghost shape' is seen regularly and many believe this to be The Miller.
One claim is that the black figure was sighted by the last resident of Pluckley Mill, Richard 'Dicky' Buss, before the mill was struck by lightning and burnt down.
The other claim is that the apparition is Richard 'Dicky' Buss himself, which would contradict the claim by Mr Buss, that he had seen an apparition.
Further information regarding The Miller is a quite that it is ''a very old ghost of a miller who hung himself from a beam inside the mill and legend has it that whenever something horrible is going to happen in the village, the ghost will make its appearance, hanging from one of the beams inside the mill.'' This sighting would no longer be possible as the mill no longer exists.
The only actual recorded sighting is that by Richard 'Dicky' Buss, who claims to have witnessed the apparition himself. This would, therefore, shed doubt on the claims that the haunting is that of Mr Buss. A third variation of the sighting is that the old mill was haunted by the ghost of a miller, who is witnessed at night, searching for his lost love.
The mill was active until 1916 with the final miller Charles Buss, the son of Richard 'Dicky' Buss, ceasing milling at the site officially in 1919, when he was 74 years old. The mill was in a poor condition of repair, sometimes claimed as 'ruinous' by 1932, and during a storm in April 1939 the mill was struck by lightening and burnt down. The ruins of the stone base of the mill were visible in 1940 but were eventually removed altogether. There are claims that the black figure was sighted around the ruined brick base of the former mill, until it was eventually removed. Aerial imaging showed traces of the footprint of the mill until circa 2025, when all visible aerial traces were lost.
The site of the former Pluckley Mill was on the grassland in front of the tree photographed. The patch of 'greener' grass in the photograph is where the mill stood, taken from the public footpath commonly named 'Dicky Buss's Lane'.
I am of the opinion that the ghost of The Miller is perhaps one of the better evidenced and credible cases in Pluckley. Despite the many contradictory reports and three differing claims of the apparition, I believe that the ghost is not that of the 'Dicky' Buss, but is that of the old miller, that he claims to have witnessed. This narriative would not only corroborate the record of Richard Buss and his sighting of the apparition, but would also support the claims of sightings seen both before and after his death. If the belief that the ghost is that of Richard Buss himself, it would immediately bring into question perhaps the most credible statement that Mr Buss had witnessed a 'black silhouette', and the claims of a figure hanging from the beams of the former mill. Richard Buss did not die in this way, and that would therefore unlikely be his ghost.
Pluckley Windmill during it's operational period. Pre 1919.
Pluckley Windmill in a ruinous state prior to being struck by lightning in April 1939.
The base of Pluckley Windmill prior following the fire of April 1939, and prior to the demolition and removal of the ruined brick base around 1940.
Much like the case of The Miller, there are a number of versions to the story of The Hanging Man, also referred to as the Schoolmaster or The Ghost of Dicky Buss' Lane, the location of this alleged haunting.
The first version of the story is that of the Smarden schoolmaster, who went missing for two weeks before being found by Richard 'Dicky' Buss, having comitted suicide after World War One. This is all the recorded information of this version of events.
The second version of 'The Schoolmaster' involves Henry Turff, the headmaster of Pluckley School. He was very close friends with the headmaster of the school at Smarden, who would travel to Pluckley every Sunday to meet with Henry Turff. One Sunday, the Smarden headmaster went missing, and was later found near to the Mill, having hung himself from a tree over what is now called Dicky Buss' Lane. So upset by the suicide of his friend, Henry Turff decided to take his life a few days later, hanging himself from the same tree that his friend had been found at. In terms of sightings of these individuals, the Smarden headteacher has never been sighted, however it is believed that the ghost of Henry Turff has been seen on the lane/footpath, hanging from the tree where he took his life. It was this ghost that was witnessed by a journalist, who claimed the ghost was dressed in a green blazer and stripy trousers.
The third version of events dates from around the 1920s, specifically at the end of Dicky Buss's Lane, where a group of children on their way to school found the body of their teacher, hanging from a tree. There is no recorded reason for the teacher's suicide, but it is claimed that on nights with a bright full-moon, his body can be seen swinging from the branch of the tree. There is no way of knowing what tree, if it even still exists, this surrounds.
The fourth version somewhat contradicts that of the second, as the records claim that the headmaster of Smarden was Henry Turff, and not the headmaster of Pluckley. Research on various sources claims that Turff was the headmaster of Pluckley, whilst other records claim he was the headmaster of Smarden. In any case, this version of events claims that Turff would travel to Pluckley to visit his friend Richard 'Dicky' Buss, and the rest of the story is the same as that of version two.
All versions of the alleged apparition of The Schoolmaster involve trees. Although no trees are visible now, record show that by the 1920s until after World War Two there was an area of trees at the end of Dicky Buss's Lane on the way to The Windmill.
Looking up Dicky Buss's Lane, which is now a public footpath.
I am of the opinion that the ghost of The Schoolmaster is a hoax. There are a number of contradictory versions, none of which are supported with any strong evidence. Even details of Henry Turff and whether he was the schoolmaster of Pluckley or Smarden are non-conclusive. Additionally there have been no recorded sightings of the ghost whether historical or in 'modern' times.
The spirit of The Colonel is alleged to haunt the former Park Wood at Pluckley. There are no other details as to the indentity of 'The Colonel', but he is said to have travelled to Park Woods and commit suicide. The claim is that he was dressed in military uniform and this is where he gets his name. The man is claimed to have died in the woods, and that reports of a group of similar deaths were reported in local press. There is no record of an unnamed burial in the churchyard at St Nicholas Church.
Park Woods themselves can't be found today. It was recorded present in 1946 and can be seen as gone by 1998's areal photographs of the site. The location of the wood is reported to have been near Elvey Farm. No timeframe was given for the supposed death of 'The Colonel' and sadly there have been no reports of sightings of this apparition.
Looking from Dicky Buss' Lane towards the last surviving trees of the now cleared Park Wood.
I am of the opinion that the ghost of The Colonel is a hoax. There is little to no information as to the indentity of the individual in question, no solid timeframe for the supposed suicide, and no reported sightings. Bringing in the fact that Park Woods are lone gone in any form that once would have been, I believe there is little to no evidence to corroborate this apparition. Unlike others, the story of 'The Colonel' seems to have had none of the influence and embellishment that the other hauntings have had over time. It would not come as a surprise to me that this case could be the product of local fiction.
The haunting of The Red Lady focus largely on St Nicholas Church, with the very strong connections to the Dering Family. The southern chapel at St Nicholas is known as the 'Dering Chapel', and is the resting place of a number of family members. In modern times, the family have continued to be buried at the church, but instead laid to rest in a fenced plot in the churchyard.
The Red Lady is said to get her name from the bright red gown she is seen wearing, while searching the graveyard on misty nights for the unmarked grave of her child. There are differing reports as to how the child came to die, with reports claiming the child died during birth, was stillborn, or died soon after birth. There are also reports that the child was illegitimate and as a result would not have been allowed to be buried in the family vault, and as a result, was buried in an unmarked grave in the churchyard. In any event, a truly heart-breaking story. There are claims that The Red Lady was a 17th century Dering. A very detailed and thorough investigation of The Red Lady by Ghost Connections, has narrowed down the identity of the spirit of that likely to be Mary Dering (nee Fisher) who died 4 months after giving birth to a surviving son.
Whilst sightings of The Red Lady, if she was a 17th century Dering, would likely pre-date that pivotal 1955 article by Frederic Saunders, there is no evidence to support this. In addition to this, there don't seem to be any recorded sightings of this apparition. Whilst The Red Lady's Ghost tends to be one of the more 'high-profile' cases in the village, ghost hunters regularly sit for some hours in the evening of 31st October in the churchyard, hoping to catch a sight of The Red Lady, alas, to no avail. Indeed, during my visit to the village on 31st October 2025, a number of the churchyard benches were occupied well after dark by avid ghost-hunters.
There is a small point I feel is important to be made, as I also stumbled down this slightly confusing strain myself. There is a well known portait of 'Mary Dering' that has been regularly atribited to that of The Red Lady. This is an easy mistake to make, not only because the is wearing a red dress. The portrait is actually that of Mary Finch, who would later become Mary Dering, and was painted some five years after the death of Mary Dering/The Red Lady.
Looking up the churchyard towards St Nicholas church.
I am of the opinion that the ghost of The Red Lady, whilst never publicly reported to have been seen, may have some shreds of truth. There are a number of individuals this apparition could be, but the reports of a member of the Dering family, with a child who died at a young age, and buried at the church, all are evidenced and corroborate each other, unlike that of other claimed hauntings of the village. It is a shame, in my opinion, that there have either been no recent sightings of The Red Lady, or that individuals have not come forward to report sightings. I do believe that she got her name, The Red Lady, out of an easily made mistake, wrongly identifying her as Mary Finch, due to the 'famous' portrait. I feel it would be likely that any sightings of this apparition would not involve a red dress, and could be easily mistaken or mis-reported, should any sightings come out of the woodwork in the future.
Mary Dering (nee Finch), commonly mistaken as The Red Lady. This portrait was created 5 years after Mary Dering/The Red Lady's death.
The haunting of The White Lady, unlike that of The Red Lady, focusses on two locations. The first being that of the Dering Chapel inside St Nicholas Church, and the second location being Surrenden Dering, the old home of the Dering Family.
The White Lady is claimed to be particularly beautiful member of the family who sadly died young. It was believed that ti preserve her remains she was interred in seven lead coffins, and finally an oak coffin, and was laid to rest in the depths of the Dering family vault, below the southeast chapel in St Nicholas church. At the time of her burial, she was laid to rest in a fine white gown and with a single red rose. On misty nights, she is said to have been seen taking the form of mist inside the chapel, as well as also having allegedly been seen kneeling at prayer in the chapel. This is particularly detailed, in terms of the sightings of one of the many Pluckley ghosts, and whilst there are no further details regarding who and when sighted this particular apparition, it certainly does make for interesting reading, at the very least. The church itself sits on a natural 'ledge' of the village, making it appear to be at the highest point, where in fact the hill continues to climb behind it. It's elevated position could open the possibility of low lying cloud, but this would likely form outside the church and unlikely to form inside in a shape that could be mistaken for a ghost.
The second alleged location for the haunting of The White Lady is said to be that of Surrenden Dering, the Dering family home until 1928. The house itself was largely rebuilt in the early 17th century, and was used in the early 20th century as a property for the American Embassy, and later went on to become a school. The house burnt down in 1952 and only a small service wing remains.
It is claimed that in 1920, Walter Winans, who was staying at Surrenden Dering, held a personal vigil on Christmas Eve, in the library of the house. He was on his own, and had his hunting rifle with him for protection. It is claimed that The White Lady appeared, and in defence he raised his rifle and shot her. The shot passed straight through the apparition, which then passed through a panelled wall and vanished. There are unevidenced claims that the particular location where The White Lady passed through the wall was the location of a tunnel which would have linked the church with the house.
It should be stated that this particular account of The White Lady, is the only witness account in any of the supposed Pluckley hauntings, with specific witness details availible.
Some of the Dering family memorials in the Dering Chapel, inside St Nicholas church.
I am of the opinion that the apparition of The White Lady is perhaps one of the most credible reports of hauntings in Pluckley. I do not believe the reports that her apparition is sighted inside St Nicholas Church in the form of a mist, due to the lack of evidence and/or witnesses. I do believe there is more weight behind the reports of The White Lady having been seen in the library of Surrenden Dering by Mr Walter Winans, and the claims of him having taken a shot at the figure, draws parallels with that of a similar case at Raynham Hall in Norfolk, at about the same time.
Surrenden Dering before the fire.
The haunting of The Monk and The Lady of Rose Court are commonly linked together in historic documentation, due to their long reported history together, in life, as well as in death. Firstly, lets look at the two buildings in question.
Rose Court, the alleged residence of The Lady, is a grade two listed traditional Kentish large cottage, built in the early 19th century. It's first known record of existence is on an OS map from 1871, when it is recorded as 'Rose Cottage'. The arch topped windows which are a striking feature of a number of properties in and around Pluckley, have since become known as 'Dering Windows'.
Greystones, the alleged residence of The Monk, was built in 1863. A very 'solid' looking building, distinctly lacking windows on the side visible from the road, it was built as a home for the curate for St Nicholas church, and named 'Rectory Cottage' as a result. A document records the official residence for the rector of Pluckley as a ''low, unhealthy place, a great distance from the church''. In 1924 the property was renamed from Rectory Cottage, to 'Greystones' that is still named as such to this day.
The story goes, that the cleric who resided at Greystones has been seen near and around the property as a dark form. The most recent sighting of which was last seen in either 1971 by a couple, or in 1989 by an American journalist, both of which are not identified any further, and claimed to have glimpsed upon the unmistakable brown-robed figure drifting behind the house. This is perhaps where the name of 'The Monk' was born, rather than just referring to the cleric that used to reside there. Residents of Greystones going back to the middle of the 20th century, have denied any activity there, or any sightings of The Monk.
Linked closely with The Monk of Greystones, is that of The Lady of Rose Court. Rose Court is alleged to be haunted by that of a female spirit of a former resident of the property. The spirit in question is said to be dressed in Tudor clothing, the time in which she lived at the property. The Lady, who has sometimes been referred to as The Tudor Lady, is also said to have been heard calling for her dogs on the road between Greystones and Rose Court. What links these two alleged apparitions is the claim that The Lady and The Monk were either close friends, or lovers, and that The Monk died of a broken heart, and that The Lady died by suicide, having drunk a cocktail of ivy and poisonous berries. There is an additional claim that she died near to a window, looking towards Greystones.
What perhaps stops this entire claim in it's tracks is that there are no evidenced sightings other than the unidentified individuals in the 1970's and 80's, and perhaps most interestingly of all, is that neither of the properties existed at the time that the two alleged individuals would have existed.
'Rose Court', the alleged residence of The Lady.
'Greystones', the alleged residence of The Monk.
I am of the opinion that the apparitions of The Monk and The Lady of Rose Court are, sadly, just a tale. I think the most telling evidence to suggest this is not so much there are no easily identifiable witnesses, but the fact that neither Rose Court not Greystones existed at the time The Monk and the Lady would have been alive. It is a shame as the story on it's own does seem as if it could have been likely.
Thanks to the amazing investigations undertaken by others, there are now a number of generally accepted narratives to that of The Highwayman, otherwise known as The Screaming Man.
Version one surrounds largely that of a man by the name of Robert DuBois, who was a highwayman and operated in the area outside Pluckley. He had a routine routine that he regularly exercised, in that he would hide behind a tree on fright corner and jump out at his intended victims, giving them a fright. Thi sproved successful for him, but as a result, became very predictable. One day he Jimped out at a guard, who killed him with a spear, by pinning him against the tree he always stood by. The tree in question no longer exists, but it is claimed that his ghost can sometimes be seen near the location he regularly hid during life.
Version two is similar to that of version one, in that an unknown highwayman was killed with a sword when a fight broke out, resulting in his death by pinning him to the tree. The claim is that the ghost of this highwayman is seen re-enacting the circumstances of his death, on misty nights.
Version three is that the sighting at Fright Corner is that of a large tree, with a highwayman pinned to it with several swords. No other information regarding this version.
Version four is that a highwayman was pinned to the tree by a sword when his intended victim refused to stand and deliver upon the highwayman's request.
The fifth and final version of this alleged haunting is that the highwayman was ambushed. There are varying claims as to who undertook this ambush, either police or other criminals. The fight that ensued resulted in the death of The Highwayman in question, when a sword was thrust through him and lodged in a tree behind.
It is perhaps a shame, although not surprising, that there have been no evidencable sightings of a ghost, of any form, at Fright Corner. Perhaps most compelling of all is the repeated reference to that of the sword, as the chosen method for the Highwayman's death. At the time this would have been, death would have been likely by a pistol shot. Swords and spears has not been in use for many hundreds of years, other than for ceremonial purposes. It should also be noted that the claim that the identity of The Highwayman being that of Richard DuBois, is totally unfounded by any evidence, and in fact seems to be that of a modern creation stemming from the visit, in June 2007, by the production team for the TV show, 'Most Haunted'. I find it puzzling that in a number of records I have come across, in particular on the internet, seem to just take the identify of The Highwayman as DuBois as gospel, without any evidence to support it.
Fright Corner, the location of The Highwayman, as seen in 2025.
I am of the opinion that the ghost of The Highwayman is a hoax. There are a number of contradictory versions, none of which are supported with any strong evidence. The fact there are five differing versions of accounts just adds to the confusion. There have been no sightings, and the evidence to support each version is distinctly lacking.
The Phantom Coach and Horses is perhaps the best known and most experienced apparition in Pluckley, that is still being experienced to this day. The original story can be traced back to Maltmans Hill (pictured) that the apparition of a coach and horses can be seen and heard galloping up the hill towards the village centre. It is a common mistake that the phantom coach and horses are linked to Fright Corner, but this is not the case.
One of the sightings occurred one October (the year is not known), when a lady was driving home from babysitting her granddaughter just after midnight. At Pinnocks crossroads, a little distance outside the village, and near the location of the alleged 'Gypsy Woman', When she arrived at the crossroads, she could see the unmistakable sight of a coach being pulled by horses, with light coming from the windows of the coach.
Another sighting was by a local resident, who was using the back roads to get back home to the village one night, witnessed the coach and horses pass right in front of him.
The third sighting is perhaps the best recorded. It occurred in early November 1997, around 7:00pm, by someone who was driving through Pluckley. They reported that their car filled with the sound of horses hooves on the cobbles. The road was not cobbled, but likely would have been at the time coach and horses were common. By all reports, this is one of the last reports of the Phantom Coach and Horses.
There are two other reports that I am personally aware of, having come across them during my many hours of research. A former landlord of the village pub told of an experience she was aware of, in a recording by Chris Halton and uploaded to YouTube. As of 2026, the video is still available to watch on the site. Another indidivual reports, similarly to that of the 3rd recorded account above, that whilst travelling throough the village in their car, they were overcome by the sound of the coach and horses. What makes this case different to the one listed above is that I remember an additional detail they have at the time being that there had been other people in the car with them, who had also witnessed the event, and additionally a very bright fluecent blue light was also visible travelling through the car with the sound of the coach and horses. As to wether this case is the same as the third recorded case above, or seperate but very similar, I do not know.
I do find it interesting, and not in any way an argument against this particular case, that the phantom coach and horses have been seen and heard at different locations around the village and not in one particular place each time.
The location of one of the alleged sighting of The Phantom Coach and Horses.
I am of the opinion that the apparitions of The Phantom Coach and Horses is genuine. There have been a number of sightings, all similarly reporting a coach and multiple horses. There are a number of witnesses, and the witness accounts are strikingly specific. The range of witnesses too, just adds to the evidence in my opinion.
Sadly, due to a road closure at the time of my visit in October 2025, I was unable to visit the location of The Old Guypsy Woman.
The alleged haunting is that of Pinnocks Bridge, now a very low brick construction, almost hidden entirely by foliage, where an Old Lady used to sit, selling Watercress. She also gained the name The Watercress Lady'. She is claimed to have used to smoke a pipe, and died when she dropped the pipe onto her clothing and it set her alight. There is no evidenced date for this lady, but the early 1900's were a common time for such sellers in the local area.
Sighting invove misty figures of an evening, and the area around streams and rivers would be prone to this kind of phenomena. There have been alleged sightings since the book by Frederick Saunders in 1955, but no evidence supports this.
Having spoken to another paranormal investigator, who has extensively researched Pluckley, I am of the opinion that the apparitions of The Phantom Coach and Horses is a tale, and nothing more. A shame, perhaps, but the lack of evidence and very thin claims that do exist do not support a genuine apparition.
The Screaming Man is perhaps one of Pluckley's more famous ghosts. It surrounds an accident that occurred at the Old Brickworks at Pluckley, which stood on a site that is now a gated housing estate near Pluckley Station called Otium Lake.
A worker was killed when a wall of clay, or he fell into a clay pit. It is claimed that his screams could be heard in the ruins of the old brickwork buildings. Whilst there are no reports of any visible ghost at the old brickworks there is a story that, whilst not falling exactly into that of a death at the brickworks, does lend a little bit to the story in that William Simmonds was born in 1903 and lived in Pluckley. On a dark evening William often spoke about the sights and sounds he encountered around the narrow lanes of the village. William himself was a bricklayer by trade and would often talk about the death of a young man employed at the brickworks. The man in question lost his arm in machinery, and that his screams could often be heard echoing through the brickworks at sight.
There are no reports of any visible ghost at the brickworks, and is is a shame but perhaps not uncommon, that the site has since been redeveloped and presumably all reports of screams ceased at the site.
The account by William Simmonds cannot be verified, and that screams in that part of the parish could very easily be that of Muntjac Deer and other animals in the woodland nearby.
The location of one of the alleged sighting of The Phantom Coach and Horses.
I am of the opinion that the claims that the apparition of The Screaming Man is not only seen within the former ruins but also heard is, unfortunately, just a legend. Not only that but there is an extremely high likelihood that any screams heard would be that of vixen or muntjac deer. It is this incredibly high possibility that the screams came from wildlife that I conclude that the Screaming Man story is probably one of the most unlikely of all the Pluckley ghost claims.
Dering Woods, which have become known as The Screaming Woods, is a large woodland that sits to the south west of Pluckley village, that has a very sad and disturbing history. The claims in relation to the Pluckley hauntings is that the screams of people that have got lost in the woods can be heard late at night. There are spurious links between the Screaming Woods and the Screaming Man of the Brickworks, however I find this particularly unlikely due to the fact they are nowhere near each other in the parish. Another link exists that links the Highwayman to the Screaming Woods; this is more likely as the location of The Highwayman at Fright Corner is just a few hundred meters down the road from a large entrance to Dering Woods.
The 'legend' surrounding The Screaming Woods still draws thousands of ghost hunters to the forest at night, and during our visit on All Hallows' Eve 2025, parked cars were lining the roads all around the forest. No time frame has been given for any particular haunting at the forest, nor any specific people's identities. I believe this is where the involvement, if ever there was one, in the Pluckley hauntings ends for Dering Woods.
The woods themselves had a history before the publishing of that pivotal Frederick Saunders book 'Pluckley Was My Playground', and the history the woods had was devastating. In early November 1948, twenty bodies were found deceased in the forest. The discovery, at 8:00am on Monday 1st November 1948, revealed the bodies had died just hours before, and would have happened on Halloween night which might just be tragically coincidental but hasn't stopped 'ghost-hunters' linking the two. At the time, local people started linking the murders with reports of lights seen in the forest the night before the murder.
50 years after the discovery of the twenty bodies, four students went missing in the woods in early November 1998, and reportedly were never seen again. Both the claim of twenty dead bodies and the four missing students has been disputed by ghostconnections.com because, as they rightly note, the two news reports at the time do not actually report on the Pluckley woods. If you look closely at each article, the mistakes and clear hoax becomes very clear to see. Notably the picture of the bodies, containing a Soviet Russian officer, and the Four Missing Students article, that doesn't actually talk about the missing students!
The location of one of the alleged sighting of The Phantom Coach and Horses.
I am of the opinion that the claims that the The Screaming Woods are nothing more than a hoax, aldeit a very well constructed one. It is more than likely that the woods gained their 'Screaming' name from wildlife making screaming noises at night, similar to that of my belief regarding the claimed apparition of the Screaming Man of The Brickworks.
Hoax news article about the claim of ''Four Students Missing''. The article does not mention Pluckley nor Dering Woods once, instead discussing a new business in Maidstone!
The more famous of the two news articles, reporting on ''twenty dead bodies found in the woods''. The picture featured in the article actually shows the exhumed bodies of Jews from a woodland grave near Utena, Lithuania. The army officer in the picture is a Soviet. The written material does line up however.
In addition to the widely recorded and reported upon ghosts of Pluckley that I have detailed above, there are a number of other events in the parish that might lend a little more credence to any hauntings in the village than that of any of the 'famous' ghosts. Notably:-
The Dog was the claimed apparition sighted by ghost hunters. Upon hearing of the supposed haunted hotspot at Pluckley, a group of ghost-hunters descended on Pluckley to investigate, They requested that the vicar lock them in St Nicholas church overnight and allow them to sit and see if there are any truth in any of the supposed haunting claims. The vicar obliged and met them in the evening and welcomed them into the church before leaving them and locking the door, agreeing to meet them again in the morning. Morning came and the vicar returned to find a group of very disappointed and tired ghost-hunters who had not experienced anything out of the ordinary. Not only this, but they were very annoyed that they had managed to get little to not sleep, in large part thanks to the vicar... When the vicar enquired why they said that'd have appreciated it if the vicar had taken his dog with him when he left in the evening and not left them with it. To which the vicar responded ''I don't have a dog''. It then came to light that no matter how hard they looked for this animal, they could not find it, but only heard it inside the church!
The Taxi Hitchhiker (coming soon).
Events at The Black Horse Pub (coming soon).
The Little Chart Spitfire (coming soon). Although not in Pluckley itself and instead in nearby Little Chart, this story is too good to miss.