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Chislehurst Caves www . chislehurst-caves . co . uk
Running a staggering 22 linear miles , the Chislehurst Caves are entirely manmade , and for over 800 years they were excavated for chalk used in the buildings of London and flint for tinderboxes and flintlock guns of years gone by . Sitting 30 metres below the villages and woodlands above , this labyrinth of winding tunnels is steeped in a weird history which is sure to set your curious mind racing .
With a chilling atmosphere that you can now witness for yourself , there was once a challenge set by a 1950 ’ s landowner who promised to award £ 5 to any brave soul that could spend one night alone in the caves – of course nobody could see the challenge through , except one man who swore he would never return and could sense heavy breathing behind him for the entire night ! Persuaded that there were malevolent forces lurking within the maze , subsequent landowners have since banned anyone from spending the night down there . Other stories of sinister spectres such as the pacing White Woman said to have been killed by her spouse , the paranormal presence which glows over the pool in the haunted chamber and the laughter of the ‘ lost children ’ are also said to have been witnessed by explorers .
Visit the caves and you may or may not see a ghostly presence for yourself , but you are sure to be enthralled by their history . First open to the public in 1900 as a showplace , the guides told the Victorians history of Romans , Druids and Saxons , smuggling and murder . The last 100 years has added munitions storage for the Woolwich Arsenal in the 1914-18 war , mushroom growing in the 1920 and 1930 ’ s , and becoming an underground town as the largest deep air-raid shelter outside London , protecting over 15,000 people every night during the Blitz . In the 1950 ’ s , 1960 ’ s and 1970 ’ s the caves were used as a venue for dances and concerts , presenting the foundations of jazz , skiffle and folk music as well as some of the most famous names in pop and rock including David Bowie , Jimi Hendrix , The Rolling Stones , and Pink Floyd .
Canterbury Ghost Tour www . thecanterburytours . com / the-ghost-tour
With perhaps the bloodiest and most gruesome history that has also been the most well-documented and true-to-fact ghoulish tale , the murder of Archbishop Thomas Becket at Canterbury Cathedral sets a precedent for all things dark and ghostly in this city . However , it is not the only infamous grisly event that has happened in Canterbury . This historic city comes dripping in other ghost stories , myths , legends and murders , and the best way to learn about them is from the historical experts at The Canterbury Ghost Tour .
Celebrating 25 years of ghostly tours this year , guests can join the infamous Canterbury Ghost Hunter on a 90- minute tour of the city ’ s dark side with an entertaining blend of history , humour and haunting . Follow the awardwinning ghost hunter , author and local historian , John Hippisley , as he leads you through the streets on a unique tour that is sure to remain with you forever . Find out about the horrifying tragedy that befell a mother and her children at a local tearoom , why Ouija boards should never be tampered with and what spectres Canterbury Cathedral guards encounter on their nightly checks .
© Chislehurst Caves
CHISLEHURST CAVES
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