DAYSOUT
The Garden of Eerie cont...
ROCHESTER CASTLE Where Charles Dickens’ Spirit is Said to Roam
Rochester Castle is famed for being the tallest surviving great tower of its type in Europe, and for its siege and capture by King John in 1215. But, it’ s also known for its ghostly goings on, including from a very famous resident …
Writer Charles Dickens was well known for his connections to Kent – he grew up in Chatham, lived near to Rochester in later life and died in the county, too. Several of his works also include references to Kent, such as The Pickwick Papers and Great Expectations.
To this day, visitors to Rochester Castle are said to catch a glimpse of the famed author amongst the hallowed grounds, as his spirit is said to roam around the moat and nearby graveyard. It’ s believed that Dickens, who died in 1870, wanted to be buried at Rochester Castle, but was instead interred in Westminster Abbey’ s Poets’ Corner.
The ghost of Lady Blanche de Warenne is also said to haunt the castle. During a siege, she was killed by an arrow to the chest, and those who’ ve seen her ghost say she can be seen‘ staggering’ with the arrow protruding from her.
CHISLEHURST CAVES Underground Tunnels and Haunted Pool Said to House Many Ghosts
They may be called caves, but Chislehurst Caves are actually man-made underground tunnels covering more than 22 miles. Dating as far back as Saxon times, they were also used during World War II as the largest deep air-raid shelter outside London, protecting over 15,000 people every night during The Blitz.
Now a tourist attraction, the caves are said to be haunted by a number of ghosts. One of the most prolific is the‘ White Lady’ – believed to be a bride betrayed or drowned, she’ s said to manifest near an underground pool, sometimes accompanied by splashes or a sudden coldness. Her remains were reportedly discovered in the 1940s close to the pool she’ s sighted at.
Another common ghostly sighting is that of a young girl believed to have been killed during a partial collapse of a cave in 1939, with visitors reporting hearing laughter, crying or playful sounds in the tunnels.
Halloween Event: Lamp-lit guided tours are available every Wednesday to Sunday, and they’ re suitable for adults and children, although under 3s may find the caves intimidating.
HEVER CASTLE The Childhood Home of Anne Boleyn, Said to be Haunted by the Former Queen
Hever Castle has a rich royal history, but it’ s perhaps most notably the childhood home of Anne Boleyn, Henry VIII’ s second wife who was beheaded in 1536.
The ghost of the former queen is said to wander the castle grounds and has been spotted in various locations including near to the ancient yew tree and crossing the bridge across the River Eden.
Anne Boleyn isn’ t the only ghostly being believed to haunt the castle – her father, Thomas Boleyn, has also been sighted riding in a spectral carriage.
BLUE BELL HILL Where a Phantom Hitchhiker Treads
Another of Kent’ s most notorious haunted locations is Blue Bell Hill – the stretch of road that links Maidstone and Rochester.
In 1965, there was a tragic collision between two cars, which resulted in three out of four women being killed. One of those was Suzanne Browne, a 22-year-old who was returning from her hen do and was due to wed the following day. Suzanne, along with her two friends, died – one
ROCHESTER CASTLE CHISLEHURST CAVES
60 • www. insidekent. co. uk