GHOST STORIES AND LEGENDS
OF ENGLAND'S SOUTH EAST
The South East of England has borne witness to events that have, quite literally, shaped the course of English history. The region's rolling hills, patchwork fields and gentle valleys are both picturesque and tranquil, and yet some these locations have seen armies of invaders come sweeping across them, intent on pillage and conquest, or have witnessed families pitched against each other in bloody conflicts, the ghosts from which still linger here. History and horror aplenty await you on this leg of your haunted journey.
FROM OXFORDSHIRE TO KENT
Since London, which is widely acknowledged as being the most haunted capital city in the world, is located here, our journey through the south-east counties of England gets off to a dramatic and promising supernatural start.
To the south of England's Capital, the counties of Surrey, Kent, and West and East Sussex offer the intrepid seeker of the paranormal a rich vein of history, ghost stories and legends to mine. The coastal districts have long provided a gateway through which visitors have come into the country, not all of them intent on a leisurely vacation. Indeed, invading Roman, Saxon, Jute and Norman armies have all marched inland from the southern shoreline, and many of them have left in their wake a plethora of phantom activity.
Heading north and west from London, and the counties of Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Hampshire are equally steeped in history, legend and ghostly lore. Satan and his devilish cohorts appear to have been extremely active in these parts in days of yore, and several peculiarities dotted across their landscapes have long been attributed to demonic interference.
All in all, the South Eastern region of England offers an enchanting landscape against which all manner of haunting tales have evolved.
THE HAUNTED COUNTIES
OF THE SOUTH EAST
LONDON
London is the most haunted capital city in the world, with a history that stretches back through 2,000 eventful years, and where ghostly residents can be encountered at every turn. Streets, theatres, pubs, houses, shops, lakes, churches and palaces all boast lots of spectral activity.
SURREY
As a county, Surrey has more than its fair share of haunted properties. Mighty castles, wayside inns, grand stately homes picturesque churches and mysterious dark pools are all the haunts of an otherworldly populace that frequently grace mere mortals with their presences.
KENT
Kent is a county that is so picturesque that it is often referred to as the "Garden of England." And yet, this image belies the fact that its history is entwined with that of England, and a legion of ghosts, from Roman soldiers to Royal revenants, emerge from its past to stride across its ethereal landscape.
SUSSEX
It has been claimed that Sussex has more ghosts per acre than any other county, and it's not difficult to see why. It has, after all, been the gateway through which waves of invaders, Romans, Saxons, Jutes and Normans have passed, and many of them still walk its pastures as phantoms.
BUCKINGHAMSHIRE
Given its proximity to London, many of the great, the good and the bad of English history have, over the centuries, established their country retreats here, and many of them have found the allure of their former homes so compelling that they cannot resist the urge to return to them in spirit form.
OXFORDSHIRE
Oxfordshire is at the fringe of history and many ghosts are known to frequent its towns and villages. Walled-up aristocrats, poisoned spouses, ignoble noblemen and beheaded Bishops are just some of the phantoms that await curious investigators as they explore an eventful past.
BERKSHIRE
Berkshire is a lovely and historic county of rolling beechwoods, gentle hills and sleepy villages. It also yields up some marvellous spectral surprises, several of which are connected with the history of the World's largest castle at Windsor, and all of which can instill feelings of fear and trepidation.
HAMPSHIRE
The ghosts that haunt Hampshire are as varied as the locations they inhabit. Kings and Queens, the noble and the ignoble, the famous and the forgotten, all of these have left their marks on the castles, houses and taverns that they frequented in life and to which many of them often return as phantoms.