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Things that go bump in the night; tales of tragedies and triumphs. These are just some of the unsettling themes for those who dare to tread Rochester’s famously fiendish Ghost Tours.
For the past five years Peter has been guiding fearless fact finders through the streets of Medway’s Dickensian city stopping in shadowy spots to regale them yarns of the ghosts and ghouls that haunt the area.
Peter, 52, researched the tour himself building up a repertoire of strange happenings encountered or heard by residents of over the years. History books were also dusted off for myths and legends stretching back to the Iron age.
He said:“Rochester is full of history and is home to so many wonderful tales, and I don’t think enough people no about them.
“I couldn’t resist finding out more and passing on the interesting stories and facts. This is a place everyone should no about and the ghost stories it holds are just the icing on the cake.”
Paranormal happenings have even been witnessed on the walks themselves with claims of flying orbs. Suggestions these have more to do with flying glasses at pub closing time are fiercely denied.
One of the spookiest happenings took place outside Rochester castle. Peter was telling one tour the tale of Lady Blanche de Warrene - a tragic love stricken woman from 1264 who threw herself from the top of the castle.
As he recounted the story of the doomed medieval love tryst, a stone was suddenly thrown at him. When he bent down to pick it up it was warm to the touch but no-one in the audience saw the culprit. Was it thrown from the tower? No-one knows. It has never been explained.
Peter’s paranormal passion doesn’t stop with the ghost walks. He’s also putting together a book of his tales to educate followers to Rochester’s paranormal hotspots. The following is an extract from the book:
“A friend of mine heard the sound of voices, which were coming down the spiral staircase of Rochester castle.
“As the voices came nearer she forced herself against the wall of the tower, as if to vainly blend in with the stone, and then found that she was completely unable to move or even utter a sound as the voices passed her by.
“She said that it was if she were an invisible person herself and that the men who passed her by were totally unaware of her presence.
“She said that they were indeed male voices and the men were speaking in a language that she did not recognise.
Peter’s ghost tours start opposite Rochester castle on Boley Hill at 8pm on the first Wednesday of the month. Adults £4 and children £2.50. There is no need to book. For further details call Peter Jobson on 07939 241580 or email pcjobson@yahoo.co.uk.