In brief
With at least a dozen spirits reported to inhabit its grounds, Pluckley, located 50 miles from London, draws an influx of ghost hunters and curious visitors every October. Local establishments are adapting to the seasonal thrills and chills amidst rising tensions.
The picturesque village of Pluckley, home to around 1,000 residents, is famous for its spooky legends and reported supernatural sightings. Among the tales are the phantom coach, a flaming "watercress lady," and the infamous highwayman of “fright corner.” The local St. Nicholas Church and its graveyard are believed to be church to multiple spirits, while the “screaming woods” stir up terrifying sounds at night.Despite the bustling ghost tourism business thriving around Halloween, some villagers express concern over the disruption these crowds cause. James Buss, owner of the Dering Arms, a pub rumored to be haunted, revealed that more than 2,000 visitors flood the village during this season, resulting in littered public spaces and vandalism, particularly in the churchyard.To protect his establishment from rowdy crowds, Mr. Buss sometimes resorts to dimming the lights and locking the doors, creating an illusion of being closed until the hoard disperses. Meanwhile, the allure of Pluckley continues to captivate many, with signs urging drivers to slow down to avoid disturbing the resident ghosts—untouched legends of a village where the line between reality and the supernatural is often blurred.
