HAUNTEDKENT
HAUNTED TALES CONT .
RECULVER TOWERS
FORT AMHERST
Fort Amherst Chatham www . fortamherst . com
Kent is also home to Britain ’ s biggest Napoleonic fortress , which was originally built to defend important Medway from a land-based attack . With nearly two miles of ramparts , barracks , gun positions and underground works it was a formidable obstacle to any threatening invaders . Standing the test of time with the help of some restoration work , visitors can discover the gripping history of the fort that is free to visit .
One of the most riveting features of Fort Amherst are the tunnels that sit maze-like underneath Chatham . Originally chalk pit caves , these were extended between 1776 and 1805 , creating an underground labyrinth of defences , which would have been well protected in the event of a siege , allowing the enemy to be fired on without being seen . Equipped with a well , privies , musket galleries and defendable gateways , which can still be seen today , this is a place prickling with ghostly atmosphere and lots of stories to go with it .
With thousands of feet walking its grounds for over 300 years , ‘ birth , death and the dread of war ; love , laughter and health ; illness , fear and sorrow : all have left their imprint through the ages .’ For fascinated individuals wanting to discover more about those souls for whom Fort Amherst was once home , or hear about strange or unexplained events , a ‘ Spooky Fort ’ tour can be booked which comes complete with experienced guides and ghost hunting equipment .
Reculver Towers www . english-heritage . org . uk / visit / places / reculvertowers-and-roman-fort
A major coastal landmark in Kent which will never fail to capture the eye and imagination of those nearby , Reculver Towers dominates the skyline of Herne Bay and still today acts as a navigation marker for ships at sea . Once the site of one of the earliest Roman forts built to protect against Saxon raids , it later became the site of an Anglo-Saxon monastery before becoming the parish church of Reculver . With so much history that seeps through its various rebirths over time , there are of course many haunting tales that are whispered by locals about the towers . The most famous being that of the wailing baby , whose cries are said to be heard by visitors on stormy nights when the wind whips round the towers and the waves crash against the rocks . During excavation work , the remains of around ten Roman infants were found buried on site , and sadly due to the nature of the burials , it is widely assumed that they were used as ritual sacrifices to the Roman Gods . This dark reputation has turned the towers into a favourite for ghost hunters , some claiming to have seen two hooded spectral figures pacing the ruins in the moonlight .
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