KENTSTAYCATION
CHISLEHURST CAVES
THE BLACK HORSE
THE OSSUARY
Another charming seaside town with a somewhat spookier past is Hythe . With its quaint highstreet and independent shops you ’ re sure to bewitched , but delve deeper into its strange past and you will spot the entrance to The Ossuary . Home to the largest and best-preserved collection of ancient human skulls and bones in Britain , this is a place full of mystery and unanswered questions . Consisting of shelves in four arched bays that contain 1,000 skulls in total , plus thousands of bones , there are estimated to be around 2,000 individuals here . The sheer scale is one that is sure to stun visitors when they investigate the crypt , but what remains the most curious fact about this unique place , is that we are still unsure exactly as to who these people were when they lived . Visit St Leonards and read all about imaginative previous interpretations of the collection and who they might have been , including men who fell in the Battle of Hastings and Black Death victims . Although most of these theories have been disproved , one thing remains for certain , visitors will have a fascinating time down in The Ossuary .
Another subterranean surreality that Kent is home to is Chislehurst Caves . So chilling are these , 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 today and you may not see a ghostly presence , 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 , and the last 100 years have added shelter from the Blitz and even held several rock star concerts .
We could not write a Halloween guide to Kent without mentioning the village of Pluckley . Reputed to be the most haunted place in the UK , Pluckley is featured in the Guiness Book of World Records for being home to the most ghosts and sightings of ghosts . With characterful spirits of all kinds , from a Gypsy woman who drowned in the stream at The Pinnock to a highwayman that haunts the woods waiting to startle passers by , a trip to Pluckley this October is sure to be an exciting one for lovers of the supernatural . After a country stroll brimming with intrigue and incredible stories , visit The Black Horse , a traditional inn for over 300 years with parts of the current building dating back to the 15th century . The Black Horse boasts beamed ceilings and inglenook fireplaces , which at this time of year are always lit and dressed with pumpkins . The Black Horse offers a fine dining experience using the freshest locally sourced ingredients to create outstanding dishes that are as easy on the eye as they are sensational on the tongue .
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