CANTERBURY DISTRICT
HAUNTED HOSTELRIES
A listing of Public houses, Taverns, Old Coaching Inns, Tap & Beer Houses, Cafes, Tearooms, Restaurants, Hotels & B&Bs in the Canterbury District are reported as being haunted by the visitors of the Past. Some have paranormal events & investigations.
There are places in this District where you can stay for a getaway with some haunted history, while checking out the surrounding haunted areas.
CLICK ON THE PICTURES TO GO TO THE BUSINESS WEBSITE.
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Please note that prices and availability may change, so check this information when booking. You are not guaranteed to see a ghost, so please don't be disappointed if you don't. Just enjoy your night anyway.
GofEPS is not affiliated with these places; it is just sharing the information. If you have any questions regarding bookings, please contact them.
IF YOU HAVE A STORY TO TELL ABOUT A HOSTELRY IN THIS DISTRICT OR YOU KNOW OF ONE THAT IS NOT LISTED, THEN PLEASE GET IN TOUCH
1. THE BISHOPS FINGER
St. Dunstans Street, Canterbury, CT2
Bar & Restaurant
The inn, a fascinating amalgamation of two old cottages, has a history that dates back to the 17th century. It was first mentioned in the 1692 Licensing List as the 'George', and a year later, it offered Billeting for four soldiers, a testament to its historical significance.
In the Canterbury Journal - Friday 25 July 1823 it was reported a young man of respectable appearance wearing a blue coat with gilt buttons, a figured silk waistcoat and a pair of blue pantaloons, boots & hat died at the inn. He was seen by a fellow traveller sharing his room, drinking from a phial of what looked like wine before bed. The doctor who was called found him in a dying state and bled him of three ounces of blood. He searched his pockets and found a pledge ticket for a watch in the name of George Lowe and a Phial which contained Laudanum and subsequently administered three emetics but he died shortly after. The post-mortem found his stomach contained the poison and confirmed that as the reason for death. The Pawnbroker stated the man had said he was from Derbyshire and had come to find work. The Jury returned a verdict of Felo-de-se.( euphemism for suicide.)
In the Maidstone Journal and Kentish Advertiser, Tuesday, June 12, 1849, it was up for auction with other inns:" Lot 2. The "George and Dragon" Westgate was without leasehold under Hind's charity for 17 years, and it was unexpired.
In 1852, Richard Wellard at the George & Dragon had his licence suspended, along with nine others around Canterbury. After receiving intense criticism for their irregularity of conduct, they attended the licensing committee again. They had their licences granted again, but with a decided caution that if complaints were made against them again, they would not have their licences in future. Richard was also brought before the magistrates again for refusing to admit militiamen, and two years later, Geroge Wellard was fined 5s 10s costs for having his house open for the sale of liquors at one o'clock on Sunday morning.
Over the centuries, the inn has been a cornerstone of the local community, welcoming many licensees through its doors and serving as a hub for social interactions and local events. At the rear of the pub you will discover one of the largest beer gardens in Canterbury.
The Inns of Canterbury by Edward Wilmot,1988, mentions a document, dated circa 1945, that describes the pub's clientele as "Artisans, some miners and visitors."
It was changed to the "Bishops Finger" in 1969 to celebrate Shepherd Neame's strong ale.
**HAUNTINGS**
The story goes that one woman, Ellen Blean, housekeeper to a Canon at Canterbury, discovered he was having an affair with a younger woman. She poisoned them both with a meat pie and then disappeared. Her body was found walled up at a house near this pub. She had been buried alive, and it is said in the past that every Friday night, her ghost would wander the street and then manifest in one of the front bars of the inn. She has been described as a plain-faced, fat woman wearing a mop cap and a long, wide skirt.
I have to question this theory, as when you look into The Sun Hotel and The Little Inn further down, which explains the full story of the housekeeper of the Canon, the skeleton found was that of a young girl. At the same time, this ghost is described as a woman. There is also an 8-minute walk between the pubs. The Old Weaver house, however, is only a 5-minute walk, with a grey lady apparition, but no further description is given. It could be a worker from there coming home as it was also converted from two cottages, so it could also have been a resident who died in one of them. It may also be a publican wife who died in the property.
2. THE CHERRY TREE
10 White Horse Lane Canterbury CT1
Bar & Restaurant
In 1858, this building was a humble home, belonging to a Painter and decorator . A year later, in 1859, it underwent a significant transformation, becoming an inn, possibly because it was next door to a stable.
Over the years, this establishment has been known by several names, each change shrouded in mystery. The' (General) Havelock', which had a troubled past with Prostitution, swiftly altered its identity, perhaps in an attempt to shed its unsavory reputation. It then became the 'Fleur de Lis Tap' around 1863, a name that connected it to the Fleur de Lis Hotel on the High Street. In 1959, it assumed the name 'Cherry Tree Inn', adding another layer to its enigmatic history.
It is a large medieval corner Inn that could be one of the oldest buildings in Canterbury. The original building dates from 1372.
In 1863, tragedy struck when a devastating fire engulfed the White Horse Hotel and the Fleur De Lys Hotel in the lane. The inferno claimed the lives of twelve individuals, leaving a somber mark on the history of the area.
**HAUNTINGS**
It is said to have a ghost called Gilbert, a traveller, beaten to death at the Inn, and five men later hanged for his murder.
A phantom cat that rubs itself against customers' legs with faint mewling sounds.
Another ghost is that of a chambermaid who died in the fire of 1863. The roof collapsed, killing her instantly, and her ghostly apparition was seen looking sorrowful outside the pub, or could it be Mary Hooper who hung herself and her inquest held at the pub the following day? There was no proof any quarrel had occurred between her and anyone else, and she was stated to have been a steady, good-tempered girl. After a lengthy consultation, the jury returned a verdict that the deceased destroyed herself while in a fit of temporary insanity.
3. WHITE HART INN
Worthgate Place, Dane John Mews, Canterbury CT1
Bar & Restaurant
Although it is a modern pub, the land has a history of over two centuries.
It stands on the ruins of St Mary's church, and the small car park adjacent to the White Hart was once a graveyard. The tombstones from that period now line up against one wall of the White Hart, casting a haunting shadow. The beer cellar, once a mortuary, had a body chute from the ground level. On another side of the White Hart is an old Roman burial ground, and during the English Civil War, it's said that many bodies were dumped in the cellar, creating an eerie atmosphere that has led to ghostly manifestations.
**HAUNTINGS**
Employees here have heard moaning and odd black shapes appearing as figures. These figures, believed to be the spirits of the deceased, have been seen wandering the premises, particularly in the early hours of the morning.
Other witnesses have reported that the ghosts are men and women wearing Victorian-style clothing, such as suits, dresses, or grey shrouds.
There is a chilling story about a boy working in the cellar. He was tragically killed after being buried alive with bodies that were thrown down the chute. It is said that his restless spirit still haunts the basement of the pub.
4. THE TYLERS KILN
27 Hackington Rd, Tyler Hill, Canterbury CT2
Currently Closed but website is still live, so will keep an eye out on what's happening.
Tyler Hill village is small, consisting of a Public House, a village hall, and a farm. Clay and wood fuel helped make Tyler Hill Kent's most important medieval pottery and tile industry. At its peak (c 1300), it had a virtual monopoly over east Kent, producing everything from bowls to chimney pots.
The Inn was previously called the 'Ivy House,' but its name was changed to The Tylers Kiln in 2009.
Allister Collins bought The Tyler’s Kiln in 2012 before launching it in 2015 following a major refurbishment. it was hit hard during Covid lockdown and remained closed for 18 months, having not reopened when restrictions were lifted.
In 2022, it was announced Kathton House, which previously had a top-rated restaurant in Sturry, would be taking on the pub, however bosses were forced to shut its doors the following year. But soon after new manager Byron Hayter revealed hopes to win back villagerswith “honest pub food” and good beer but keep the cash-free policy brought in by the previous tenants.
But it was not to last as Tyler’s Kiln suffered the same fate as many of its peers in November 2024. It has been a tough time for this seemingly doomed tavern, which has shut three times since 2020
The website is still running, so it may reopen again. I will monitor the situation
**HAUNTINGS**
The Tyler Kiln Staff have long been reporting strange goings-on, such as glasses flying off shelves, lights randomly turning on and off, and shadows moving across doors. In Aug 2017, for 2 months, the Bosses say motion sensors and CCTV cameras set up inside and outside the Pub have captured things moving in the dead of night. In the footage captured outside, a garden umbrella opens unaided, chairs are mysteriously pulled out, and inside, around the bar area, the saloon doors are seen swinging open, and items move on tables. A cushion is also seen falling from a sofa.
A cleaner at the Pub has experienced several strange things while at the venue. She has seen shadows go past the door while she is cleaning the toilets and the saloon swing-gates swinging when she is cleaning the front of the Pub, but no one else is in.
The drinks storage cupboard door was found open, and the lights were on without anyone physically doing it. After checking the CCTV, it just showed weird distortion and the light coming on.
Sometimes, footsteps can be heard upstairs, like someone walking around. These are very heavy footsteps, but nobody is up there.
Leaflet holders disappear from the snug and then reappear downstairs.
There have been a few suggestions as to who could be doing this. One is the ghost of a local mechanic, who has been suggested as one likely suspect. Another could be Gilbert, a former Landlord who liked to make his presence known. Perhaps he is partial to Prawn cocktail crisps, as bags of these seem to disappear regularly.
5. TRAVELODGE CANTERBURY CHAUCER CENTRAL
63 Ivy Lane, Canterbury CT1
Accommodation, Bar Cafe & Restaurant
Previously called Ivy Lane House, it was a private residence owned by the Aris family between 1865 and 1903.
In the 1901 census, it was occupied by G.P. Hopcraft (occ: Head Brewer). He was a member of The Institute of Brewing & Distilling in the 1902 Journal, and on the 1911 Census, George S Morley owned it, who was a retired Civil engineer Indian Public Works Dept and it was named Inglenook, so it didn't become a hotel until the 20th century.
It was named 'Swallow Chaucer Hotel,' presumably a name taken from one of Chaucer's Canterbury Tales.
On the 21st of April 2011, it was opened by Travel Lodge and called Canterbury Chaucer Central.
**HAUNTINGS**
The Mary Tourtel Room is said to be haunted by the spirit of an elderly lady, possibly Mary Tourtel herself, who lived at 63 Ivy Lane (at the back of the Chaucer Hotel) towards the end of her life. She died from a brain tumour in 1948.
Visitors staying at the hotel report being touched and pushed and mysterious illegible writing on a steam-up mirror.
The adjoining building, used as staff accommodation, has also had activity reports. Staff members have heard ghostly footsteps, reported sheets pulled off them when asleep and crying sounds at night.
6. CASTLE HOUSE HOTEL
28 Castle Street Canterbury CT1
Accommodation B&B
The road to Ashford is through Castle Street, so this was the main route for travellers and pilgrims.
The Castle House Hotel was built as a private residence in the 1730s and called 'old Castle House'. It was incorporated into part of the Norman city walls, the Roman Northgate, and the only remaining section of the original city moat.
Between 1950 and 1960, the Castle Inn and Castle Hotel were purchased from the brewery of Truman, Hanbury, Buxton, and Co. Ltd. (Ring Road, Compulsory purchase). They were previously called 'Canterbury Castle House' and used as a Guest House.
It is just a short walk from the whole medieval city with its maze of winding streets, the romantic ruins of the Castle and city walls, and the magnificent Cathedral.
Next to the hotel stood the city gallows once, where the roundabout now lays.
The sunken window is in the older part of the hotel. It was once the Hangman's guardroom window. The city guard would wave to the crowds to inform them that an execution had taken place.
**HAUNTINGS**
Guests have reported waking at night to see a ghostly apparition of a 16th-century city guard looking out the window.
7. THE CATHEDRAL GATE HOTEL
36, Burgate, Canterbury, CT1
Accommodation B&B
The Cathedral Gate Hotel is a grade II listed building located in the heart of Canterbury.
The site of this building dates from the time of Ethelred the Unready (866-871). It is referred to in Anglo-Saxon deeds and has belonged to Canterbury Cathedral for at least 1000 years.
In 1438, the Priory built the Sonne hospice here.
Between 1510 and 1517, the Christchurch Gate (known as the Cathedral Gate) was erected. Some of the buttressing for the Gate utilized the existing back wall of the hotel. The west end of the building was altered.
In 1539, the Priory monks of the Cathedral leased the Sonne hospice to a member of the public, Mr. Thomas Gylham, for 13 4d per annum. The hospice became a resting place for pilgrims visiting the holy site and has remained an accommodation for travellers to Canterbury ever since.
**HAUNTINGS**
On the first and second floors, rooms connected to the ancient Christchurch gateway are reported to have a presence and the feeling of someone standing by their bed at night.
Other witnesses have reported hearing doors slamming, while guests in the next room heard nothing.
A member of staff has previously reported hearing chanting coming from behind the wall of the gateway when in a room on the first floor.
8. THE PARROT
1-9 Church Ln, St Radigunds St, Canterbury CT1
Restaurant & Functions
Tucked away down a picturesque cobbled street, The Parrot is not just the oldest pub in Canterbury but also one of the oldest buildings in the city. It was built on Roman foundations in 1370, just inside the Roman City Wall.
The 1470 Roman staircase frames and Flemish 15th-century bricks line the building on the east side of the terrace, which still exists. Roman bricks were used, and the triangular structures viewed from the terraced garden and at the rear are 15th-century chimneys.
The first floor, with its oak knees, futtocks, and three crown posts, still shows the craftsmanship of the medieval period and remains a fine example of a Wealden Hall House.
Before the 1870s, the building was a row of cottages, used for many things over time, including meeting rooms for the Monks from the St Radgund Church next door, but finally established as Cock Pub, a private dwelling, and then The Parrot Inn.
By 1871, they lay empty and derelict until a city architect decided to convert the pubs into cottages to house the locals.
At some point, they were merged into one and became known as St Radigund's Hall,
It took its name from the Monks of St Radigund's at Bradsole near Dover, who owed properties here in the 13th Century and had established it at the church.
In 1937, St Radigund's Hall was in bad shape and looked set to be demolished when it was condemned as unfit for human habitation.
As demolition started, it was found that the building contained seven tenements, hence the pub's postal address of 3-9 Church Lane. Luckily, one of the demolition crew discovered the old original details. The demolition stopped, and they set to work to restore it.
During the restoration, the building was found to contain many fine architectural details from the 14th Century.
It reopened in 1938 and was the St. Radigund's Girls' Club residence.
From around 1950 and for the next 10 years, it became the St. Radigund's Social Club and St. Andrew's Youth Club.
From around 1960, the building was the Department of Dress & Textiles, part of Canterbury College.
In 1970, it became Radigund's Restaurant, and this eventually closed in the middle of the '80s
In 1987, it was reopened by Mike Patten (owner of several nightclubs in Folkestone and a record label), who wanted to buy a restaurant and rename it Simple Simons. It offered a wide range of Real Ales, had several small, cosy bars, and had a restaurant upstairs.
It became hugely popular with students and young people, and it was packed full on Friday nights.
Young & Co.'s Brewery plc of Wandsworth bought it in 2008. It was their first pub in this area of Kent.
Following refurbishment, the Youngs renamed the pub the Parrot after hearing local rumours that this name had been known in previous centuries.
It was also in the hands of Enterprise Inns until 2016, when Britain's oldest brewer, Faversham-based beer and pub company Shepherd Neame, is set to take over 13 alehouses in two deals worth £13.4 million. Shepherd Neame bought eight drinking holes from rival Enterprise Inns, one of which is The Parrot.
**HAUNTINGS**
During this conversion, there is said to be documented evidence that strange things happened. Workers living on the site during renovations noticed their tools disappearing. A carpenter lost his saw and found it later in the attic area (which is now the kitchen area)
When the conversion was completed, the new residents had their own story. They had been woken by a grey-cloaked ghost tearing down the stairs shouting Latin (possibly one of the monks who attended the meetings).
This was followed several nights later by the residents seeing a nun with no eyes, wearing a white tutu, surrounded by a blue haze, staring silently at the foot of their bed.
A year later, the owner's sister and her husband stayed there on their honeymoon night. The husband woke after feeling a cold wind in the room. He checked all the windows to find them all closed. He then saw what he described as a shadowy figure dressed in a grey robe, like a monk, his head covered in a cowl. The monk entered via a closed window, which had once been a doorway. It then passed directly past the bed, where his wife lay, wide awake and filled with fear, while it continued through to what is now the kitchens.
Some witnesses believe they have seen a female spirit in the void above the kitchen. She has been named the blue lady, possibly the Nun that was seen in years gone by.
9. SUN HOTEL AND THE LITTLE INN
Sun Street Canterbury CT1
Accommodation & licensed Tea rooms
Located just a few steps from Canterbury Cathedral in a cobbled street, it is steeped in history by former guests.
Formally known as 'Little Inn' and made famous by Charles Dickens, who is said to have stayed there in 1841. Once divided into 2, one being the Sun Inn at no 6-7, and next door was the Sun Hotel at no 8.
The 15th-century Tudor building was restored in 1992 by Debenhams and brought back to life after being left empty for 40 years.
It was given another extensive renovation and transformed into a stylish hotel in 2006. It also boasts licensed tea rooms, serving lunch, light bites, and the renowned cream teas in the famous Sun Street.
**HAUNTINGS**
The hotel is said to have a resident spirit dating back to the 17th Century. Even Charles Dickens claimed the spirit of a girl, aged 17, would visit him most evenings. Victorian visitors also reported a girl coming into their rooms, tucking them in and stroking their hair. This spirit is said to be Ellen Bean, who went missing in 1523.
The building was once the unmarried living quarters for staff working at the Cathedral and the adjoining priory of St Saviours.
The story told in The Ingoldsby Legends by an English clergyman named Richard Harris Barham, first published in 1837, is that Ellen was a Cook at St Saviour for the Canon and could have lived there while on duty. He would call her Nelly Cook and always praise her for her excellent cooking, which flattered her and stirred her affection towards him.
The Canons' niece had arrived from France to stay; it was said that her father had left England to seek his fortune elsewhere, but Ellen was surprised at his hospitality towards his niece. She noticed certain glances they gave each other, arousing her suspicions. That evening, Ellen put some fire tongs under the covers of the nieces' bed and, the following morning went to check and found them unmoved. She went to the Canons' room, looked through a crack in the door, and saw them in bed together. She visited a local friend who dabbled in Apothecary; that evening, she fed the friar and his niece each a slice of Game pie laced with the potion.
The following morning, when the Canon didn't turn up for morning prayer, some of the friars went to his home and found him and his niece in the same bed deceased. To avoid scandal, they buried them both in the undercroft, and Ellen disappeared, too.
In 1848, some workers called to repair a loose flagstone in the Dark Entry. There, they found a skeleton underneath of a young girl, believed to be Ellen Bean's body.
So, is the spirit Nelly the cook? Or another cook who lived at the building at some point and found out their little secret.
10. THE OLD WEAVERS HOUSE RESTAURANT
1-3 St Peter's St, Canterbury CT1
Licensed Restaurant
The Old Weavers' house was in nos. 1-3, No. 1 being riverside—the beautiful half-timbered building on the River Stour.
The sign is dated 1500, but the building is said to be older, and the foundations date back to the 12th Century.
Over time, it has undergone many restorations and alterations, one of which is a Weaver centre. Weavers rooms were established in Canterbury in the 16th Century when Flemish and Huguenot Weavers fled from France to escape religious persecution. Elizabeth I welcomed the Flemish refugees and gave them the right to trade in Canterbury. She also offered them a special place of worship in the Cathedral, and a Huguenot chapel is still there today.
In the 1690s, weavers declined due to imports. John Callaway (Master of the City Silk Weavers) then introduced Canterbury Muslin, which restored the business. Then, due to Changes in fashion and the industry dying in the 19th Century, the third part of the building became the Golden Lion Inn.
Eventually, all three buildings were used for separate trades, mainly Laundry, Fruiterers, and a Dairy outlet.
The weaving returned when two ladies established a weaving school for women and young girls needing work. In 1899, they moved into nos 1-2 and named it 'Canterbury Weavers', which continued until 1914.
No 3. has been a restaurant for the past 80 years. Today, all three buildings are used for the Restaurant, keeping the memories of the past within its title.
At the rear of the Old Weavers House is a medieval ducking stool jutting out over the river. The stool was historically used to punish 'scolds'—women accused by their husbands of talking back too much! It may also have been used as a more severe punishment for suspected witches.
Canterbury's Historic River Tour company offers regular punt tours along the river, leaving from a small landing at the back of the Old Weavers Restaurant.
**HAUNTINGS**
The paranormal presence is that of a grey lady observed going up the staircase. Could this be one of the ladies who ran the school or another who worked there when the industry was at its peak?
11. TINY TIM TEAROOMS
34 St Margaret's St, Canterbury CT1
Licensed Restaurant
The tearoom is housed in a historic three-story building built in the 1600s (grouped with 27-36 and the St Margaret's Church) on what was part of the Pilgrims' Way, the roadway used by travellers taking their journey from London to Canterbury and a pilgrims' route to Thomas Beckett.
The building has lots of nooks and crannies and low beams.
In the 1800s, it was used as the business of a Surgeon-Dentist, followed by General Practitioners. Then, it became a large tea warehouse, followed by a Clothes and outfitters. It is now a traditional English tearoom with a courtyard to allow visitors to revel in the warm weather.
**HAUNTINGS**
The top floor has a 'Ghost Room', which is open to the public. It provides details of the ghosts' history and the full restoration of the building in the 1980s.
It is said to be the most haunted building in Canterbury, and three children are said to haunt it.
Legend has it that when restorations took place, the workmen found teeth and ringlets of hair, alongside the name, date of birth, and death of each child skeleton found behind the wall panelling. After this discovery, the workmen started to report the sounds of children playing on the staircase.
Strange noises are heard in the attic—youngsters whispering in the panelled room.
Could the disturbance of these items have awoken the ghosts of the children? Staff and customers have also reported seeing children appear and then disappear.
There are also reports of moving objects, taps on and off and occasionally whispers heard by the visitors.
12. THE BLACK ROBIN
Covet Ln, Kingston, Canterbury CT4
Bar & Restaurant
The Black Robin pub has stood at the entrance to the village of Kingston since before 1740.
The term 'Black Robin' is an old Kentish slang name for a smuggler. Legend has it that the pub is named after a notorious highwayman who terrorized travellers. as they passed through the village on their way to and from Dover and London. He was infamous for shooting down coachmen in cold blood and robbing passengers for money and jewels. However, his end came when he was caught and hanged on the gallows erected at Barham Cross Roads. A life-size effigy of Black Robin stands in the lounge bar of the inn.
Between around 1820 and 1826, a network of smuggling gangs operated around the Elham Valley. The most notorious was the Aldington gang, commonly known as 'The Blues'. The Black Robin was one of many pubs where the gangs dropped off their goods, which were then sold to locals at a knockdown price without the heavy taxes and duties. It was also a popular drinking hole and meeting place for the gangs.
It is said that one night, a deadly fight broke out between two gang members, resulting in one of them getting dragged into the street and murdered. Eventually, the smugglers got caught and disbanded, and their leader, George Ransley, was sentenced to be shipped to Australia, where he worked as a farmer until he died in 1856.
It is also reported to be home to the ghostly daughter of a former proprietor. She had been attacked nearby, being seriously injured by a man who escaped. Locals took the woman back to the Black Robin. She died shortly afterwards from her injuries.
**HAUNTINGS**
The ghost of this daughter has been reported on many occasions, and she is always heard sobbing.
Locals say that on certain nights, the sound of a groaning male can be heard outside of the pub, possibly the spirit of the gang member who was killed in the fight, described above.
13. THE HOWFIELDS MANOR HOTEL
Chartham Hatch, Canterbury CT4
Accommodation & Restaurant
Howfield Manor dates from the 12th Century. It was known as Haghfeide or Hughvelde. It formed part of St Gregory's Priory in Canterbury, in the possession of Arch Bishop Lambert, who died in 1206. It was possibly used as a working dairy run by the monks of the priory, and it remained with them until the reign of Henry VIII.
After the dissolution of the Monasteries, it passed to the Master of the Roll, Sir Christopher Hales, then to his daughter, who married Alexander Culpepper, then sold to the Duchess of Westmorland, then to Sir William Man.
Very few remains of the original manor are left except glimpses of the chapel, which can still be seen.
It was considerably rebuilt in the early 17th Century, and a northwestern wing was added. It was then sold to John Denew, remaining in his family for over 100 years until 1796, when it was sold to George Gipps, the MP for Canterbury.
It has been a Hotel since the early 1970s. Archaeological work was done at Howfield in the late '90s. Still, very little was found along Howfield Lane. However, "fire pits", believed to date back 4,000 years, were found on the site, now occupied by Brownhills Motorhomes, on the other side of Howfield Lane.
Then, modern renovations were done, and the well, initially outdoors, can now be seen inside the building, in the small lounge next to the reception.
**HAUNTINGS**
Visitors have reported hearing the sound of monks chanting. There is also a story about a monk who became trapped inside a building during a fire. Another monk entered the building to rescue him, but he suffered severe burns and died from his injuries. It is said that his ghost haunts the building.
14. THE PIG HOTEL
Bourne Park Road, Canterbury, CT4
Accommodation, Bar & Restaurant
The village of Bridge is situated on Watling Street, the old coaching route from Dover to London.
The Manor belonged to an ancient Abbey on the ground now occupied by the church.
The 16th-century manor house, formerly known as the Manor of Blackmanbury (and Bridge Place Country Club), was renamed Bridge Place in about 1650.
It was bought in 1638 by Arnold Braemes, a Dutchman who was the first manager of the Dover Harbour Board. Braemes was a contemporary of Samuel Pepys and accompanied Pepys in the Restoration (1660) of Charles II but was captured at the Battle of Nasby while tending to the wounds of his mortally wounded son. He later escaped to Holland and joined young Charles II in exile.
When Charles II returned to England after Cromwell's death, he stayed at the house, and the King knighted Arnold for his efforts.
Lord Nelson and Lady Hamilton are also said to have stayed here several times in their lifetime.
In the 70s, Led Zepplin held concerts there.
Queens Brian May took an interest in buying the house when it was on the market by the owner, but eventually, the owner's son moved in.
Several years ago, it was opened as a hotel and an over 30's Nightclub
In February 2018, it was sold and renamed 'The Pig Hotel.'
Among the significant changes is a new linked coach house, boasting 10 bedrooms and seven 'hop pickers' huts made from reclaimed material from an island within the grounds. Also, they will restore the gatehouse, offering another two bedrooms. Together with the seven newly refurbished bedrooms in the main house, there will be 26 rooms altogether. The potting sheds have become a treatment centre so you can enjoy a revitalising treatment in peace.
**HAUNTINGS**
There have been reports of a ghostly maid being seen in one of the bedrooms. She is said to have been murdered by a former owner named Edward Taylor, the great-grandson of Sir Arnold, who had an illicit affair with her. She was either killed or died after giving birth to an unwanted baby. There have been reports of an infant crying from behind the fireplace.
A ghostly cavalier has also been seen around the site, possibly that of Sir Arnold riding around his Manor.
15. THE DIVER ARMS
66 Central Parade, Herne Bay CT6
Bar & Restaurant
The inn was opened by an ex-smuggler, William Wood, "one of the town's more colourful characters, who in 1830 was sentenced to penal servitude and transported to Australia for smuggling. He returned, some say, after escaping from Botany Bay to join a local salvage and diving business. From his share of silver dollars recovered from the wreck of a Spanish galleon off the Irish coast, he opened the "Divers Arms" public house, whose name still stands. Probably with the proceeds of his 'runs', after he returned from transportation in the 1830s and became a deep-sea diver
**HAUNTINGS**
A Paranormal team claims four ghosts are haunting the Diver's Arms. Mr. Alfred Potter is a fat man wearing a black suit who was a former bank manager in Herne Bay. He has been recognized as a former customer at this pub.
Two child ghosts, a boy and a girl, are seen running around inside the Divers' Arms. People say they died in an accident, either at the pub or in a house nearby. The two scamper around; however, when anyone speaks to them, they stare at them and disappear.
A short woman dressed in a long black Victorian-style dress and bonnet, believed to have been the mother or grandmother of the two children, has also been seen.