Nestled in the lush green countryside, just an hour from London lies the unassuming village of Pluckley. On the surface, it looks like any other sleepy village - but dig a little deeper into the history of this town, and you’ll find spine chilling tales of murder, - and a forest plagued by the screams of those left behind. Pluckley is famed for being one of the most haunted places in Britain, named so by the Guinness Book of World records in 1989.
The history of Pluckley goes back for centuries - the settlement and surrounding woodland is mentioned in the Domesday Book, a 1066 survey of England completed at the behest of King William the Conqueror, and with such a lengthy history, it’s not hard to imagine the violent ends so many must have met over the years. A number of the souls said to wander the town are reportedly connected to the Dering family, who were Lords of the Manor between the 15th century and World War 1. The first location said to be haunted by the is the Church of Saint Nicholas, where visitors have reported seeing strange lights, as well as hearing a knocking noise from below the floor of the chapel where a number of the family are buried.
Another spectre credited with connection to this family is that of the woman who haunts Rose Court. The story goes that Rose Court was built by a member of the family to house his mistress - the ill fated woman. However, she fell in love with a monk who lived nearby and would spend her days gazing over the fields toward.
