DAYSOUT
Towns with a Twist cont...
CHISLEHURST CAVES
The Black Horse, Pluckley theblackhorseatpluckley. co. uk
A historic pub dating back to the 15th century, The Black Horse originated as a coaching inn that served travellers along the old London to Dover road. With a plethora of well-preserved and characterful features like its timber-framed structure, beamed ceilings and inglenook fireplaces, the pub is a clear glimpse into local history. Over the centuries, The Black Horse has gained a reputation for paranormal activity, with one of the most renowned spirits that inhabits the pub being a young girl who is believed to have died in a fire during the 17th century. Visitors recall seeing her ghost on the upper floors, as well as smelling tobacco smoke from the former landlord who passed away in the 19th century. Reports have been made of objects moving on their own and unusual sounds echoing through the rooms, which only adds to the ghostly tales of Pluckley.
Named the most haunted village in Britain by the Guinness Book of World Records, Pluckley is a lovely place to visit for both sceptics and paranormal enthusiasts, with a wealth of walking trails through the countryside and a handful of quaint shops and cosy cafes to explore.
Chislehurst Caves, Chislehurst chislehurst-caves. co. uk
A labyrinth of man-made tunnels carved out over hundreds of years, the Chiselhurst Caves form a six-hectare maze below the woodlands of Chislehurst. Once dug for chalk used in lime burning and brickmaking for the building of London, the Chislehurst Caves first opened to the public in 1900 as a showplace. In the present day, visitors can take a 45-minute lamplit tour to learn about the fascinating history of the caves, with tales of their haunted passages and use as the largest deep air-raid shelter outside London during World War II to be told. Once a music venue for dances and concerts between the 50s and 70s, the Chislehurst Caves have a surprising history, and those who aren’ t afraid of the dark can venture through them to discover the full story.
Above the caves, there is a Visitor Centre with a cafe open from 9am- 4pm that serves a variety of hot and cold drinks, ice creams and homemade cakes. With plenty of picnic area seating outside, groups of friends and families can enjoy a light lunch after their adventure, and perhaps find a souvenir to commemorate the day at the on-site gift shop.
Folkestone Creative Quarter, Folkestone creativefolkestone. org. uk
Folkestone’ s Creative Quarter is an urban village of designers, musicians, filmmakers and artists that occupies a hive of 115 studios and offices as well as over 50 shops in the vibrant coastal town. A place to watch artists paint in their galleries, sign up to crafting classes or see bars transform into micro-performances spaces, the Creative Quarter is a playground for creative and digital businesses.
This year until 19 October, the Folkestone Triennial returns to the town’ s cobbled streets with the theme How Lies the Land?. One of the UK’ s leading exhibitions of contemporary art in public space, the triennial invites artists from across the world to make new pieces that respond to the town’ s deep histories and coastal landscapes. Featuring the work of 18 artists from 15 different countries, each has been invited to explore themes of migration, community, climate change and ancestral memories in their work, creating everything from large-scale installations to immersive soundscapes.
66 • www. insidekent. co. uk