Kent has famously been known throughout history as 'the garden of England', yet underneath the peaceful exterior lies a whole world of mystery. From ghosts to UFO sightings and famous murders, Kent has had its fair share of unexplained events.

Reculver
Reculver is a popular summer resort located in the north of Kent. Two of its main attractions are the remains of a Roman fort as well as a famous ruined medieval church. There have been many strange experiences around the ruined church, including the sounds of whimpering children.

After the sounds were reported, the skeletons of babies were found under the foundations of the Roman fort at a dig in 1966. It is thought they may have been used as sacrifices for the church around 200 AD.

The Ghosts of Dover Castle
Whilst many castles are said to be haunted, Dover castle is quite unique in the number of reports from its visitors that back up this claim. A whole host of ghosts are said to haunt the tunnels and rooms at the castle, and visitors come from afar in the hope of catching one of them on film.

Around the west stairwell of the castle a woman has frequently been seen wearing a long red dress and wandering the halls accompanied by the distinct sound of sobbing. The lower half of a man has also been spotted around the King's bedroom, as well as crossing the doorway. Though this figure has been seen on numerous occasions, it is not known who he could be and why only his lower half is visible.

Perhaps most famous of all the ghosts of Dover castle is the headless drummer. This drummer is thought to be a fifteen-year-old named Sean who was ambushed whilst carrying a large amount of money, where his head taken off by a sword in the process.

Medium Derek Acorah from the television program Most Haunted supposedly got in contact with Sean and helped him find peace. The drumming has not been heard at all since then.

Pluckley village- Even though some say that the number of Pluckley ghosts is not quite as many as has been reported in some places, the 'Guinness Book of Records' is happy to credit the place as being 'the most haunted village in England'. And who am I to argue with them!

The Screaming Man
This is the most famous of all Pluckley ghosts. The terrible screams that are heard in the area of the Brickworks belong to a man working there who was smothered to death when a wall of clay collapsed on him.

Fright Corner Ghosts
The area now known as Fright Corner at Pinnock Crossroads, is the site of two Pluckley hauntings.
The Highwayman
The method favoured by highwayman Robert du Bois for ambushing his victims was to hide in a dead hollow tree and jump out as they came past, presumably with the highwayman's cry of, 'Your money or your life'.
Unfortunately, du Bois didn't know when to stop and his hiding place became local knowledge. Villages decided to take matters into their own hands and ambushed the ambusher. He was killed and the phantom form of the long since vanished tree is seen and pinned to it by several swords is the image of du Bois lifeless body.
Watercress Woman
The other ghost here is to be found near the Pinnock stream. She is an elderly gypsy watercress woman who is thought to have burned to death when her clothing caught alight when she fell asleep while smoking her clay pipe.

Phantom Coach and Horses
This spectral vehicle has been seen by several people at various places around the village including at Pinnock Crossroads. The coach is pulled by either two or four horses and seems to have last been reported as being seen in the mid 1990's

Pluckley's Haunted Church
The Church of St. Nicholas, is the centre for several hauntings. Bangs are heard from beneath the church and, at the same time, flickering lights are seen inside the church. It has been speculated that this is caused by the unquiet soul of Lady Dering, who was buried within seven coffins in what would have been a futile attempt to preserve her body from decomposition. Maybe she is not happy that her mortal remains have, 'gone the way of all flesh'.
Lady Dering, if it is indeed her, also appears in the churchyard as either the Red Lady or the White Lady.
Another ghost to be found within the church is a woman who, from the clothes she is wearing, appears to be from the mid 20th century.

Pluckley's Haunted Pub
As can be imagined, any place with the title of the most haunted village in England is very popular with 'ghost hunters'. And one place that they often can be found is the haunted 'Block Horse' pub which was built in 1430. One spectre enjoys moving and hiding things and has even locked the landlady out of the pub several times.
Ther is also a room upstairs which dogs refuse to enter and where a young girl saw someone she described as being, 'a nice lady in a red dress'.

Phantom Schoolmaster
The unusually named, "Dick Buss's Lane" recalls the miller who once worked in the area. And it was here in the 1800's that the body of a schoolmaster was found hanging from a tree. He had committed suicide by hanging himself. The ghost of the man hanging from a phantom tree, was seen in 1965 by an author. He said that the ghost was wearing trousers that had stripes and an old coat.

Well, these are the main Pluckley hauntings. If you are in the area, it may be worth a quick visit. Even if it is only to have a drink in the Black Horse pub

Biddenden Maids
The Biddenden Maids, named due to the fact they were from the village of Biddenden near Staplehurst, are one of the most famous cases of conjoined twins in the Middle Ages. Born in 1100 to a wealthy family, they soon gained a reputation for their philanthropy.

Today, every year Biddenden is home to the traditional custom of the Biddenden Maids' Charity held on Easter Monday each year. Tea, cheese and bread are given out to local widows, along with famous Biddenden cakes – many of which have been said to bear a strange effigy of the twins as an image of two figures joined at the hips and shoulders.

The Black Dog of Leeds Castle
A phantom dog has regularly been spotted at Leeds Castle in Kent. This black dog was first seen after the execution of King Henry VI's aunt, who was accused of treason, heresy and witchcraft. The Black Dog was given a description before WWI as 'a curly-haired retriever' who would appear and disappear within moments.

One member of the family who owned the castle at the time of these sightings claimed the dog had saved her life, by rousing her curiosity and causing her to leave an area of the room which collapsed moments after she moved. Perhaps this is why the Black Dog is famously known as an omen of death and disaster.

The Ship in the Sky
A strange event was recorded in Clorea, Ireland in the year 1211 AD. Gervase of Tilbury noted that during the Sunday Mass, a mysterious anchor suddenly dropped from the sky, hooking itself to the door of the church. A man swam down the anchor to release it, and subsequently swam back up.

Whilst this event took place in Ireland, the story has also been told of many other locations including Gravesend in Kent – all in the same year.

Bayham Old Abbey
Bayham abbey was created in 1207, as a union of two monastic sites at Otham and Brockley. Since it lay on the border of Kent and Sussex, it had a gate in each county. However, it suffered after Henry VIII's dissolution of the monasteries and was sold by Elizabeth I after her ascension to the throne.

Today Bayham abbey is owned by English Heritage, though it is still haunted by a group of white monks. They chant and ring the bells from time to time, and many have smelled the fragrance of incense around the area.

Haunted Canterbury Cathedral
The history of Canterbury cathedral is rich and famous around the world. Not only is this cathedral haunted by ghosts, but it has been home to many great events of history. It is famously known as the site where Thomas Becket was killed by knights sent by Henry II in 1170. It is still possible to see the very spot of his murder.

However, the ghosts that haunt Canterbury cathedral are unrelated to Becket's bloody murder. The ghost of another Archbishop, Simon Sudbury, is said to roam the Cathedral. He too was murdered in 1381, and his body and head were buried separately though his ghost has both a head and body.

One of the most well-known ghosts of the cathedral is Nell Cook, who was once a servant there. She poisoned her employer upon discovery that he was having an affair, which killed both the man and his lover. This act led to Nell being buried alive under the passage known as the Dark Entry.

It is now thought that Nell's ghost haunts that passageway, and she is often spotted after darkness on Friday evenings. Those who are unfortunate enough to spot the ghost are said to perish not long after.

The Legends of Canterbury Cathedral
As well as its haunting, Canterbury cathedral has had its share of legends too. The most famous of these is perhaps the first Archbishop of Canterbury, Saint Augustine. Several other famous national figures became saints at Canterbury, including Thomas, Oda and Alphege.