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Nine of the scariest places in Kent this Halloween

Ghosts wanting a lift, books flying off shelves and a lady holding her own head - all of these can only mean one thing, it is almost Halloween.

We all know the story of the Blue Bell Hill Ghost, but to get into the spirit of the spooky season we have decided to dive deeper into some of the county's lesser known ghost stories.

The crash in 1965. Picture: S.B Publications
The crash in 1965. Picture: S.B Publications

Haunted Pluckley

Beginning our exploration in Ashford is fitting as it is home to the most haunted village in the country.

Pluckley is known for its paranormal activities and even has a Guinness World Record from 1989 to prove it.

Between 12 and 16 ghosts haunt the village, including a screaming man, a highwayman who appears at Fright Corner, a schoolmaster found hanged by a group of children and an old woman who used to sit on a bridge smoking.

The old Oast House at Elvey Farm Country Hotel even featured on UKTV's Celebrity Haunted Hotel Live.

Pluckley is said to be Britain's most haunted village
Pluckley is said to be Britain's most haunted village

Dartford Library

In Dartford there have been some ghostly going-ons in the town centre's library, in Market Street.

Appearing on Most Haunted back in 2007, paranormal investigators swarmed the centre and discovered it was being inhabited by the ghost of Kathleen Woods, the daughter of the first ever librarian who died in the 1960s.

In the episode, eerie knocks could be heard, books flew off shelves and a hand slid up the leg of the show's host Yvette Fielding.

Other strange poltergeist activity included a ghostly presence on the stairs, and sightings of an old lady accompanied by a lavender smell, and staff spoke of searching for a particular book which would fall from a shelf.

Dartford Library in Market Street, Dartford Picture: Jamie Gray
Dartford Library in Market Street, Dartford Picture: Jamie Gray

Famous medium David Wells appeared on the show and said he could hear the clunking of machinery, and the distant crying of a woman as well as the smell of burning metal and sweat.

A tin works originally occupied the site but it opened as a library in 1916.

The first people to browse the book shelves were First World War soldiers, who were recovering from wounds in nearby military hospitals.

Deal's Grey Lady

Down in Deal folklore tells the tale of the Grey Lady who wonders through the woods.

Could this be the physical form of the legendary Grey Lady of Oxney Bottom?
Could this be the physical form of the legendary Grey Lady of Oxney Bottom?

Tradition has it that the Grey Lady was a woman killed in an accident by a horse and cart either on the main road or the road approaching Oxney Court while fetching water.

There have even been accounts of the mysterious woman boarding a double decker bus and climbing the stairs to the upper deck, but when a member of staff went to collect her fare there was nobody there.

Last year 17-year-old Ellise Begg managed to capture a picture of the spirit while walking through the woodland.

At the time former Pfizer scientist Wendy Sartain of Deal Spiritualist Church Centre agreed dust, fluff or reflections can be responsible for such pictures.

But she does think cameras can pick up the energy of a spirit.

Dover Castle
Dover Castle

Dover Castle

A place with a lot of history behind its hauntings is Dover Castle.

The 11th Century building has been subject to many ghost stories including sightings of the lower half of a man's body walking through a doorway into the King's bedroom, a crying woman in a red dress and a headless drummer boy.

Visitors and staff have heard the sound of drumming coming from the battlements and some even say they have seen the headless figure walking along very late at night.

The story goes that Sean Flynn, a 15-year-old boy had been sent to the town of Dover late one night on an errand, with just his drum to keep him company.

Bysing Wood Road in Faversham
Bysing Wood Road in Faversham

Two soldiers had heard that he carried a lot of money and ambushed him and instead of just handing over the money to the robbers Sean tried to fight them off.

But his efforts were stopped with one mighty blow from one of their swords which took off his head.

TV show Most Haunted filmed a live Christmas special from the site in 2002 where the medium, Derek Acorah, managed to contact Sean and help guide him to the light to be reunited with his mother.

Spooky Faversham

A tale as old as time haunts Faversham, which was once recognised as one of the most haunted towns in the country.

Legend has it that there is a headless woman who wanders through Bysing Wood.

Gravesend Hospital in 1980
Gravesend Hospital in 1980

Diana was the daughter of the land owner of Syndale Manor, which is now known as Judd's Folly.

One evening she was walking home with her husband when they were attacked. Her lover was only slightly injured but Diana was decapitated.

Now her restless soul is believed to wander the route looking for her partner, her head tucked under her arm.

It's known by some as Diana's Walk.

Gravesend's abandoned hospital

An abandoned hospital and a flat are two places in Gravesend that have been associated with ghosts and ghouls.

Urban explorers entered Gravesend Hospital back in 2017. A video posted on Ryan Green's YouTube account shows him and his friend George wandering around when they hear voices and quickly run and hide in a dark ward.

The groans eerily follow them around as they explore the building.

In 2004 a family living in a flat in St Patrick's Gardens asked the borough council to provide them with a vicar to bless their home after candles started turning black, patterns appeared under bed sheets and ghostly apparitions turned rooms cold.

Larkfield Priory Hotel
Larkfield Priory Hotel

Larkfield's 'creepy' hotel

A sobbing ghoul at one old hotel has scared a few guests away.

The Larkfield Priory Hotel, in London Road, is thought to be occupied by the spirit of a young woman called Charlotte.

She was a servant who fell in love with the groundskeeper.

After becoming pregnant the tale claims she either killed herself after she lost their baby, or died following a botched abortion - no one is quite sure.

Guests have reported hearing her crying in the corridors and even throwing glasses off tables.

A review from a customer on Trip Advisor described hearing 'strange loud noises of dragging furniture across a wooden floor' and described their stay as 'incredibly creepy'.

Slough Fort Farm, Allhallows

In Medway, it is not a hotel, a hospital, or woods that are known to be haunted, but a farm.

Slough Fort Farm in Allhallows was the subject of a paranormal investigation back in 2013 after bright glowing lights were caught on CCTV.

The odd white objects popped up, floated around and darted across the sky.

The tunnels of the fort, which was designed to guard against invasion by Napoleon, were dug up and cleared last year after being filled for more than 50 years.

Tunbridge Wells' haunted shopping street

Last of all is The Pantiles in Tunbridge Wells.

The outdoor shopping centre is said to be home to many ghouls.

Rumour has it that restaurant La Casa Vecchia plays host to a ghost woman, also known as the Grey Lady.

The Pantiles, Tunbridge Wells
The Pantiles, Tunbridge Wells

There are many different theories as to who the spirit is. One claims back in the 1700s the restaurant was a brothel and she was the madam of the house.

One of the girls working there is said to have gone missing - the old woman looking out of the window and terrifying passersby is simply waiting for her to return.

Also in the area is The Tunbridge Wells Hotel, which is said to be haunted by the spirit of a young woman.

The story goes that she lept to her death after being refused access to her lover.

She is said to haunt Room 16, where bedroom furniture mysteriously moves around and sheets have been thrown across the room.

Read more: all the latest news from Kent

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