It is famous throughout Britain for being the most haunted village in supposedly the world's most haunted country.
And this year, spooky Pluckley, in Kent, is cancelling Halloween.
The residents of Pluckley have had enough of ghost-hunting revellers causing chaos every 31st October. So this year there will be no barbecues, no beer tent (!!!!!), no hog roast, no fun fair and no ghost hunts.
Pluckley is said to have at least TWELVE ghosts, including a highwayman pinned to a tree by several swords, a phantom monk, a poltergeist in the local pub, and the rather grueseome and terrifying apparition of a schoolmaster's hanging body.
Britain's most haunted village cancels Halloween
25 Oct 2009
The Telegraph
The Black Horse pub in Pluckley is said to be the haunt of a mischievous poltergeist which moves items across the bar and hides people's coats and wallets Photo: Francesca Hoyles
Halloween has been cancelled in Britain's most haunted village.
Pluckley residents are fed up of being invaded by hundreds of ghost-hunting revellers, causing vandalism and traffic chaos.
The village is said to have at least 12 spectres, including a highwayman, a phantom monk, the hanging body of a schoolmaster and a poltergeist in the local pub.
In previous years residents of the sedate Kent hamlet have tried to turn the night of expected disturbance into family fun, set up by the parish council's own Halloween committee.
But although the festivities raised thousands of pounds for good causes the uproar caused by hundreds of revellers flocking to the village has alarmed locals.
Now Halloween has been banned and the parish council has called in police to keep visitors under control.
"There will be no entertainment provided for visitors," said a notice on the Parish Council website.
"There will be no barbecue, no hog roast, no beer tent, no fun fair and there will be no ghost tours. In fact, unless you are coming for a quiet drink, may we suggest you visit one of the many other attractions in Kent for Halloween."
Parish council clerk Jackie Grebby said previous organised events had caused problems.
"When we've tried to lay on something before it has backfired. The whole village has been gridlocked," she said.
"There is in fact very little to do in Pluckley apart from have a quiet drink. People are very welcome if they just want to come for a quiet drink."
Residents have been advised to keep their gates locked and any outside lights turned on until at least 2am in the morning to deter troublemakers.
Some of Pluckley's resident phantoms:
Church of St Nicholas: Sounds of knocking can be heard coming from beneath the church at night, often accompanied by a flickering and fluttering light inside the empty building. Some say the light belongs to Lady Dering, buried within three lead coffins in an attempt to prevent her decay. The churchyard is reputed to be haunted by a red lady, wandering the area in search of her missing baby. Finally, the inside of the church is also said to be haunted by a woman in mid-twentieth century clothing.
Dering Arms public house: This pub is said to be home to a phantom woman in Victorian clothing who lurks by the bar
Dicky Buss's Lane: Taking his own life in the 1800's, the phantom headmaster was observed by an author in the mid twentieth century; the entity wore stripy trousers and an old coat
Elvey Farm Hotel: Blamed for poltergeist activity, a phantom walker is said to frequent the farm house. There is also reports of a haunting smell, that of burning yarn or wool.
Fright Corner: A large spectral tree has been seen here, together with a highwayman pinned to it by several swords. On other occasions, an elderly phantom woman is spotted; thought to be a gypsy woman, she accidentally set herself on fire with her pipe while sleeping.
The Pinnock: This location is haunted by both a miller and a gypsy woman, the latter burning to death there
Station Road, near Greystones House: Victims of the all-too-common love triangle that ends in suicide, this couple and their little dog can be heard walking and chatting down this area of the road. Greystones itself is reputedly home to a phantom monk
The Black Horse public house: This non-alcoholic spirit moves items across the bar, tidies, and sometimes hides coats and wallets.
The main village street: A carriage pulled by two horses has been seen travelling the village's main street. And a taxi driver reported seeing a man on the roadside who flagged the taxi down. The fare climbed into the back of the cab, but when the driver turned round to ask his passenger where he was heading, he found the car empty.
telegraph.co.uk
www.paranormaldatabase.com
And this year, spooky Pluckley, in Kent, is cancelling Halloween.
The residents of Pluckley have had enough of ghost-hunting revellers causing chaos every 31st October. So this year there will be no barbecues, no beer tent (!!!!!), no hog roast, no fun fair and no ghost hunts.
Pluckley is said to have at least TWELVE ghosts, including a highwayman pinned to a tree by several swords, a phantom monk, a poltergeist in the local pub, and the rather grueseome and terrifying apparition of a schoolmaster's hanging body.
Britain's most haunted village cancels Halloween
25 Oct 2009
The Telegraph
The Black Horse pub in Pluckley is said to be the haunt of a mischievous poltergeist which moves items across the bar and hides people's coats and wallets Photo: Francesca Hoyles
Halloween has been cancelled in Britain's most haunted village.
Pluckley residents are fed up of being invaded by hundreds of ghost-hunting revellers, causing vandalism and traffic chaos.
The village is said to have at least 12 spectres, including a highwayman, a phantom monk, the hanging body of a schoolmaster and a poltergeist in the local pub.
In previous years residents of the sedate Kent hamlet have tried to turn the night of expected disturbance into family fun, set up by the parish council's own Halloween committee.
But although the festivities raised thousands of pounds for good causes the uproar caused by hundreds of revellers flocking to the village has alarmed locals.
Now Halloween has been banned and the parish council has called in police to keep visitors under control.
"There will be no entertainment provided for visitors," said a notice on the Parish Council website.
"There will be no barbecue, no hog roast, no beer tent, no fun fair and there will be no ghost tours. In fact, unless you are coming for a quiet drink, may we suggest you visit one of the many other attractions in Kent for Halloween."
Parish council clerk Jackie Grebby said previous organised events had caused problems.
"When we've tried to lay on something before it has backfired. The whole village has been gridlocked," she said.
"There is in fact very little to do in Pluckley apart from have a quiet drink. People are very welcome if they just want to come for a quiet drink."
Residents have been advised to keep their gates locked and any outside lights turned on until at least 2am in the morning to deter troublemakers.
Some of Pluckley's resident phantoms:
Church of St Nicholas: Sounds of knocking can be heard coming from beneath the church at night, often accompanied by a flickering and fluttering light inside the empty building. Some say the light belongs to Lady Dering, buried within three lead coffins in an attempt to prevent her decay. The churchyard is reputed to be haunted by a red lady, wandering the area in search of her missing baby. Finally, the inside of the church is also said to be haunted by a woman in mid-twentieth century clothing.
Dering Arms public house: This pub is said to be home to a phantom woman in Victorian clothing who lurks by the bar
Dicky Buss's Lane: Taking his own life in the 1800's, the phantom headmaster was observed by an author in the mid twentieth century; the entity wore stripy trousers and an old coat
Elvey Farm Hotel: Blamed for poltergeist activity, a phantom walker is said to frequent the farm house. There is also reports of a haunting smell, that of burning yarn or wool.
Fright Corner: A large spectral tree has been seen here, together with a highwayman pinned to it by several swords. On other occasions, an elderly phantom woman is spotted; thought to be a gypsy woman, she accidentally set herself on fire with her pipe while sleeping.
The Pinnock: This location is haunted by both a miller and a gypsy woman, the latter burning to death there
Station Road, near Greystones House: Victims of the all-too-common love triangle that ends in suicide, this couple and their little dog can be heard walking and chatting down this area of the road. Greystones itself is reputedly home to a phantom monk
The Black Horse public house: This non-alcoholic spirit moves items across the bar, tidies, and sometimes hides coats and wallets.
The main village street: A carriage pulled by two horses has been seen travelling the village's main street. And a taxi driver reported seeing a man on the roadside who flagged the taxi down. The fare climbed into the back of the cab, but when the driver turned round to ask his passenger where he was heading, he found the car empty.
telegraph.co.uk
www.paranormaldatabase.com