Spectral sounds, ghostly goings on and haunted houses abound across the Romney Marshes, with many of the ancient villages and their lost churches and historic buildings ripe with accounts of ghostly visions with several pubs in the area laying claim to some of the most haunted in England.

Turkeycock Lane, Rye

One the site of an Augustinian Friary, Turkeycock Lane is said to be haunted by the ghost of a monk killed as punishment for planning to elope with a local girl. The monk was said to have been bricked-up alive in a wall and before finally dying went insane and was heard “gobbling like a turkey” – giving rise to the name of the street. During World War II the gardens of the Friary were converted to air-raid shelters and during their construction several skeletons were discovered – all said to be in a kneeling posture – adding weight to the story. Tales of monks seen walking towards walls where the Friary once stood and of strange gobbling noises are well known although there have not been any sightings for many years.

Union Inn, Rye

The Union Inn features many tales of ghostly apparitions and strange noises. Sounds of someone walking along empty corridors are thought to be those of an unmarried mother who died after falling down the cellar steps and the ghost of a young girl and man in uniform have also been reported.

Mermaid Inn, Rye

One of the most charming pubs in the country, dating back to the 12th Century, and reputedly the most haunted (appeared on the first ever series of the TV paranormal show, ‘Most Haunted’) the Mermaid Inn, Rye, has too many ghost tales to recount. Amongst the more well known stories are of ghosts regularly seen to appear and walk through walls, guests waking at night to find a man sitting on the end of their bed, a Grey lady drifting through corridors and a vicious dual ending with one protagonist stabbing his opponent with a rapier before dragging the body to a trapdoor and dropping it into the space below.

New Inn, New Romney

The spectre of a lady sitting in front of the fireplace and walking through corridors and rooms of the New Inn, New Romney, of is believed to be the ghost of a young woman found hanging from the staircase in the 18th century. Little is known of the woman other than her name, Elizabeth.

Warren Inn, New Romney

One of the more recent Inns in the area – dating back to 1860 – the Warren Inn on the road to Dymchurch is said to be a haunted by a man known as ‘Old Sid’ who committed suicide in an upstairs room.

George Hotel, Lydd

Lydd is an ancient town and rich with tales of smuggling and murder, with the George Inn – and complete with secret tunnels - featuring in many documented tales perhaps not surprisingly therefore this historic public house is well known locally for ghostly sightings. Amongst the more common tales are those of phantom cats, taps turning themselves on, ghosts walking the stairs and strange noises at mid-night.

New Gate, Winchelsea

The ghost of Seaborn Sarah is said to haunt New Gate in Winchelsea, appearing when the town is in danger. Sarah was apparently a smuggler who owned her own boat and killed in a melee with customs men.

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Last update: 09-11-2008 04:04