Flickering lights and blood curdling shrieks make Pluckley Kent's most haunted village

Terrifying tales of flickering lights and blood-curdling shrieks have helped earn Pluckley its spooky title.

Named the most haunted village in England, the rural village just outside of Ashford, has scary stories to boot.

With 12 apparitions included a dying highwayman, a Victorian lady and a phantom headmaster, it's a well-deserved accolade.

Pluckley was even named by Guinness World Record in 1989 as the most haunted village in the country.

It is said that sounds of knocking can be heard in St Nicholas' church at night, sometimes a flickering light can also be seen.

It has been said that the light belongs to Lady Dering, who was buried in three lead coffins to try and prevent her decay.

A red lady is said to search the graveyard for her stillborn baby, while a white lady has been seen within the church.

Named after the lady, Dering Woods is situated just outside Pluckley and is also said to be haunted. Nicknamed the Screaming Woods, the screams are said to be those of the men and women who came to their end after becoming lost among the trees.

At Rose Court, a Tudor Lady, believed to be the mistress to a member of the Dering family who took her own life after eating poisonous berries is apparently heard calling her for her dogs between 4pm and 5pm.

A ghostly re-enactment of the battle between an unknown Highwayman and lawmen has been spotted at Fright (Frith) Corner. The highwayman was killed, pinned to an oak tree with a sword.

And a watercress lady is said to haunt Pinnock Bridge, where she accidentally set herself on fire. Legend has it that she burned to death having fallen asleep whilst smoking her pipe.

Even the Black Horse pub is said to have more spirits than those in the optics, with an invisible hand which moves items on the bar and sometimes hides purses and tidies mess, and disembodied screaming.

Here, there have been multiple instances of articles (normally clothing) vanishing on a regular basis, only to be replaced in much the same position sometimes years later. The poltergeist responsible is believed to be a woman called Jessie Brooks who has also been seen wandering, looking for a child she had lost.

The Blacksmith's Arms is also a spooky haunt. Previously called The Spectre's Arms and The Ghost's Arms, three ghosts are said to reside here - a Tudor maid, a coachman and a Cavalier.

The Dering Arms was once a hunting lodge, but here at the pub the ghost of an old lady is said to be seen sitting in the bar in Victorian dress, so clear that punters are said to have mistaken her for a real customer.

An accident at The Brickworks resulted in the death of a labourer, crushed by a falling wall of clay. Screams have been frequently heard in the area and are said to those of the deceased labourer.

At the former Mill site the dark, ghostly figure of Miller Richard 'Dicky' Buss has been seen at the site of his windmill, usually prior to a thunderstorm. The windmill was destroyed by fire after being struck by lightning in 1939.

And at Maltman's Hill, sounds and visions of horse drawn coach are said to haunt the area with two apparitions in recent times.

There is also a bush, it is said, which can be used to summon the Devil by dancing round it and saying a spell – although no one knows where it is.

Greystones, which was previously known as Rectory Cottage, is said to host a phantom monk, although no sightings have been reported by residents since the name change.

At Elvey Farm, a phantom walker is said to frequent the farmhouse, now a hotel. There have also been reports of a haunting smell, that of burning yarn or wool.

Little Chart Church in the village has also had its fair share of hauntings. St Mary The Virgin and Holy Rood, as it was originally called, was built by the Normans in the 11th century next to ''the screaming woods.''

Many visitors described a beautiful yet eerie feel to the church, however in August 16 1944 it took on a whole new existence.

This was when a Doodlebug was flying overhead and dropped a bomb on the village, with St Mary's taking the brunt of the damage.

With only the damaged tower and parts of the chancel wall surviving, the bells were removed and stored. In 1955 a new church was built nearer the village. Fortunately no one was killed, but that has not stopped the site from becoming a ghosts hunters paradise.

With thanks to the Paranormal Database for additional material.