SWALE DISTRICT
HAUNTED HOSTELRIES
A listing of Public houses, Taverns, Old Coaching Inns, Tap & Beer Houses, Cafes, Tearooms, Restaurants, Hotels & B&Bs in the Swale 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.
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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 SHIP INN
Quay House, Conyer, ME9
Bar & Restaurant
Early records frequently mention Conyer, a Roman hamlet often mentioned in relation to smuggling. The hamlet is part of Teynham's village, home to a strong smuggling community in the 18th and 19th centuries. A quarter of all the vessels engaged in smuggling nationwide were based in Kent and Sussex. Conyer certainly played its part as a smuggling community, especially where the small boatyard in the Conyer Creek and the Ship Inn remain.
A short walk north along the creek to the Swale clearly illustrates how remote and suitable the area would have been for smuggling in the past. The Ship Inn, a building with a rich and varied history, is a tangible link to the past and a living testament to the area's historical significance. It has functioned as a private home, a blacksmith's shop, a bakery, and eventually an alehouse, each phase adding to its historical legacy.
The Ship Inn began as a private house. In 1642, it was divided into a baker's shop, and a blacksmith's; the latter is reportedly in Stephen Blaxland's possession.
In 1802, A blacksmith applied for an alehouse license, naming that part of the building The Ship.
The other half of the building continued as a Bakery until 1831 when William Beacon bought out the Bakery and was granted a full license for the house. According to Ancestry records, when he died in 1840, his wife, Sarah Beacon, inherited the business. By 1851, Sarah had moved to the Mechanics Arms in Faversham with her daughter Martha, who had married Thomas Hudson, a Brewer. It was managed by Sarah's sister, Hannah, and brother-in-law, John Pierce (a bargeman), for a couple of years before Sarah's son, William, took over. He had lived next door to the inn with his family. According to the 1855 directory, the inn was trading under the name "The Ship Endeavour" but soon reverted to The Ship. William remained there as a publican until his death at the inn on 25th January 1869. His wife, Anne Sarah, remarried widower Ebeneezer Frost in April 1871, and they continued to run the inn.
In 1870, the inn joined the Licensed Victuallers Tea Association, which was set up in 1869 in response to grocers selling wine in their shops. The inn was also selling packets of tea.
Upon Anne Sarah's death in 1884, Ebeneezer continued there until he died in 1899. so it remained in one family's hands throughout the majority of the 19th Century. It then had various different publicans throughout the 20th Century and beyond.
There is a dramatic story about a fierce battle near The Ship between the Bow Street Runners, a group of early English policemen, and local smugglers. The battle, which took place in the 18th Century, was a significant event in the history of Conyer. Many of those captured were either hung or transported for life. One convict, who was said to have returned from the colonies, later tragically drowned in a storm outside the inn.
The inn was also used for death inquests, and the majority were from drowning in the creek.
The Ship Inn closed suddenly in December 2023, with the owner, Noun Hospitality, having ceased trading. The inn was put up for sale. After remaining closed for nine months, it reopened with first-time landlord Harry Roberts in September 2024. Harry has worked in the hospitality industry for a decade and has welcomed the punters back, with Michelin chefs cooking up some delights in the kitchen.
**HAUNTINGS**
A ghostly figure dressed as a seafarer manifests in the Ship, and witnesses have also seen his ghostly corpse stagger out of the waves and towards the pub's front door, so it is believed to be that of the drowned convict.
2. The George Inn
76 London Road, Teynham, ME9
Bar & Restaurant
The Charters of 798 to 801 and Domesday Monachorum – a series of Domesday-related texts kept at Canterbury Cathedral – mention it as Teneham, Taenham, Tenaham and Tenham. In the Domesday Book of 1086, the name occurs as "Therham"
In 1590, William Lambarde wrote his book Perambulation of Kent, in which Tenham is called ''the towne of ten houses''. He also notes that in 1533, 105 acres of good ground in 'Brennet' (a former name of Tenham) were divided into ten parcels of land to grow fruit for King Henry, and thus the village is one of the earliest in which the cherry was grown in Kent and England.
By 1848, Teynham had a population of 845 people.
A remarkable Roman sculpture of the god Triton, half man and half fish, was discovered close to the line of the Roman A2 road at Teynham in 2023
London Road was formerly called 'Greenstreet.'
The ''George Inn'' is a high street countryside pub within Teynham's large village with a history spanning over four centuries. Records show the historic boozer was built in 1652 as a coach house for pilgrims travelling between London and Canterbury, with its sloping internal ceiling with old beams.
The first licensee on record was William Terry in 1740.
28 September 1768, Daniel Stoddard's Post-Chaises was ready to run on East Kent Road at nine pence per mile. The George became a stopping place for coaches and later buses (the Sittingbourne to Greenstreet bus stopped outside)
There are some old photographs of the pub and a picture of the village fire handcart, which were still in use in 1916.
But by the 1950s, it had reverted to being a pub after its stables and outbuildings were either demolished or transformed into garages, stores, and a kitchen.
The Inn closed and re-opened in 2002 with Peter Gomm as the Landlord. In 2006, it changed its name to 'The George and New Territories,' with a pub and his wife, Oi Lin Wong, launching a Chinese restaurant in part of the building.
In 2022, it went back on the market when Mr Gomm decided to retire at age 68 but was withdrawn when it didn't sell for the asking price at auction, so he still runs it with his wife. Mr Gomm also claims developers wanting to transform the London Road structure into homes have expressed interest in the site, but he only wants to sell it to someone intent on continuing to run the popular business, adding that its takings will rocket if previously approved plans for a B&B in its pub garden are revived.
**HAUNTINGS**
It has had some ghostly manifestations over the years, including two old people chatting in what used to be the snug. One customer who sat in the snug overheard them. He reported that the conversation ended when the back door closed on them, and they left. There is no history of who these two are. However, they are said to speak with a local accent.
3. THE DOVER CASTLE INN
20 London Rd, Teynham ME9
Bar, Restaurant & Functions
The Dover Castle Inn stands on the London Road, which was previously named Greenstreet, within the large village of Teynham, historically known as a smugglers' area, halfway between Rochester and Canterbury. It is a 17th-century coaching inn built around 1640. It was once owned by the Lord of The Manor and sold to Shepherd Neame around 1758. The first Landlord under Shepherd Neame was John Unckles.
In 1768, the Upper Division of the Lathe of Scray held a monthly meeting at the Inn, his Majesty's Justices of the Peace acting in and for the said Division.
In 1830, Henry Brett provided his Posting Business from The Dover Castle Inn, advertised as ''providing good horses and careful drivers may at all times be depended on, with constant opportunities for the metropolis and coast of Kent by Royal Mails and other well-regulated coaches. The Tavern department will be conducted with economy and comfort - Good beds and choice wines may be relied on. Private Stall stabling and Lockup Coach-houses''.
The hauntings section discusses a landlord named Ray, who had been the landlord of The Dover Castle since 1975.
Phil Clements took over in 1994 and remained the landlord for nearly 20 years.
In 2014, it saw two new faces behind the bar at the Dover Castle Inn in Teynham when Phil Hope and his partner Rebecca Anderson took over.
In October 2017, The Dover Castle Inn underwent a significant renovation, a testament to its enduring appeal. While it retains its historical charm, the pub now caters to the needs of the 21st-century traveller. With its three dining areas, a large terrace, and a garden overlooking an orchard, it's a perfect blend of old-world charm and modern comfort. Stuart George, with his partner Kelly Tompkins, took over the watering hole, ushering in a new era for this beloved establishment.
In March 2024, Shepherd Neame confirmed that Dover Castle is welcoming back landlord Stuart George.
**HAUNTINGS**
Landlord Ray has received many reports of strange incidents at the inn during his time there. He said, "Sometimes, someone will tell me they heard a strange female voice speaking to them while they were in their room, and when they looked to see who was talking there, there was no one there! Others have reported seeing a woman in the Gents. toilets!" She has been seen and heard in every room of the inn, but for some reason, she frequents the Public Bar less than anywhere else.
The Woman in Grey, or ''Old Mary'' as she is sometimes called, has been described by those who have seen her as a tall woman wearing a long grey dress. In her long blonde or grey hair, she has a flower.
One evening, after the pub had closed, a barman was cleaning when he saw a beer glass standing on a table at the far end of the room rise into the air, hurtling across the bar, and smashing on the opposite wall, just missing him. These real or imagined hauntings have become part of the inn's rich history and add to its unique character.
Read the full story here.
4. CHEQUERS INN
The Street, Doddington, ME9
Bar & Restaurant
Whitstable was an important seaport in the 14th and 15th centuries, and the only road linking it to Maidstone at that time ran through Doddington. Nowadays, the leading local highway is the M2 motorway, which is not far from the village.
The Shepherd Neame-owned Chequers Inn is on the main road at Doddington. It is a Grade II listed (Jan-1967) 14th-century coaching inn along the old way from Maidstone to Faversham.
The Chequers Inn, a Shepherd Neame-owned establishment, has been a cornerstone of Doddington's life for centuries, weaving itself into the fabric of the local community.
The extended roof of the Chequers is believed to have been used as a smuggler's dump. Later, it was turned into a large apartment, where post-boys and postillions slept. At the same time, their Coach passengers stayed in the bedrooms below.
Today, the Chequers Inn boasts two distinct bars: a 15th-century Saloon Bar and an earlier 14th-century Public Bar. These were once four separate bars, each catering to a different social class. The transformation of the Public Bar into a single room in 1804 marked a significant change, However, they removed the main post for the structure, and the building slowly started to list, so customers had to support the ceiling beam with whatever they could until hasty repairs could be carried out.
It has an Inglenook fireplace and a 'secret' room, possibly once used as a priest-hole or for smuggling activities.
The Chequers Inn has served a multitude of purposes over the years, reflecting its versatility and adaptability. It has been a resting place for pilgrims journeying to and from Canterbury, a hospice, and a center for local tax collection.
It was used as a coroner's Court.
In one inquest held there in June 1863, a male named Edward Foster, a labourer aged 20 years, was buried in a Chalk Pit bank avalanche. The cause of death, which was instant, was falling off a bank of chalk and dislocating his neck vertebrae. The jury returned the verdict: accidental killing.
In 1865, Coroner Mr Delasaux held an inquest on the body of an aged woman named Jane Everist Johnson, who died on the previous Tuesday by falling from a tree in an Orchard at Shurland Farm while engaged in gathering cherries. The deceased was subject to fits. Mr Cragie, a surgeon, expressed his opinion that the accident probably happened because of that cause. The jury returned a verdict of accidental death.
A small pond, which was filled in 1947 due to constant flooding, existed on the current car park site.
An old, thatched wooden barn also stood on the site, used for various purposes, including Coaching stables, the rat and sparrow club, Barn dances, a youth club, and the 1953 coronation celebrations.
The lounge bar was once utilized as a doctor's surgery and dispensary. Since 2004, it has doubled as the village post office every Tuesday at lunchtime.
**HAUNTINGS**
A Cavalier ghost has been seen, apparently wearing a plumed hat and laughing, peering through an overhanging window, possibly from the English Civil War, who is said to have died in an upstairs room (some reports say he was murdered there).
If you listen carefully, a spirit with a passion for the piano is also heard. It is said to be the wife of a previous proprietor. Witnesses have reported seeing her wearing a floral dress and hearing her playing the piano in the private quarters.
5. THE FERRY HOUSE INN
Harty Ferry Rd, Leysdown-on-Sea, ME12
Wedding Venue, Accommodation B&B, Bar & Restaurant
Harty is a small hamlet on the Isle of Sheppey, known as Hertei in 1086, Heartege in 1100, Herteye in 1242 and Harty by 1610. It is separated from Sheppey by Capel Fleet, consisting of a few cottages and a church, plus isolated and overlooking the Swale estuary, is a Grade II Listed 16th Century Country Public House called "The Ferry House Inn,"
In the 13th century, many pilgrims visited the church, crossing by the ferry after visiting the Abbey at Faversham and continuing after resting to pay homage to St. Sexburga at Minster Abbey.
Schooners, Thames barges and Oyster smacks filled the East Swale until the early 20th century. Barges traded to beaches and landings at Harty brought up manure to enrich the land and took away haystacks.
In later years, Harty was a necessary sea route from London via Queenborough and the Swale, and it was then the last port of call.
As late as 1893, the Ferry House was reportedly on the left-hand side of the road at the bottom of the road from Capel Hill.
It was first documented as being used as the House for the Ferry-keeper.
An extract from "Rambles in the Isle of Sheppy" by Henry Turmine 1843 At the law day, a ferry-warden, two ferry-men, and a constable were yearly chosen, who appointed a ferry-keeper and with the homage made rules and orders for the good government of the ferry". The Ferryman is "obliged to tow all Travellers over free, except on four Days yearly, Palm-Monday, Whit-Tuesday, St. James's-day and Michaelmas, when a Horseman pays Two-pence, and a Footman one Penny: But on Sundays, or after Eight o'Clock at Night, there is no Passage gratis so that at such Times, the Ferry-keeper will demand Six-pence of every Horseman and Two-pence of every Footman and in these cases the Land Occupiers pays, as well as Strangers. He was also allowed to dredge for Oysters within the Compass of his ferry loop, which extends one Tow's Length (as they term it), i.e., sixty Fathoms on each Side of the Castle".
There are many sad accounts over the centuries of boats capsizing and drownings of men, women, and children within the Ferry area of the swale.
The Ferry House was eventually converted into an inn to provide refreshments and shelter for the waiting passengers; the current landlord still holds the rights to the ferry.
The inn now offers quality pub food and a La Carte dining in the restaurant. It is self-contained and provides beef, game, herbs, and vegetables.
The East Indian merchant ships almost all called at the Ferry House Inn. The building had two stairways, one leading to the rooms used by the seamen, and the landlady would stand at the bottom of the stairs so that no one could escape payment.
In 1854, there was a report of a local man named Coleman who tragically drowned. His boat capsized in the Swale estuary.
In 2020, speaking to Kent online, the owners of The Ferry House Inn, Mr and Mrs Burden, expressed their pride in the inn's transformation. They stated, "The evolution of The Ferry House over the last 20 years has been nothing short of remarkable, and we're incredibly proud of where we are today."
"We're very far from being done, however - there is much more that we want to achieve with our fantastic team''.
In September 2024, speaking to Kent Online, the owners revealed their plans to transition The Ferry House Inn into an exclusive wedding and events venue by April 2026. While the restaurant and B&B services will be reduced, the inn will continue to host select 'pop-up' dining experiences, taster evenings, and special occasions. This news encourages potential visitors to make plans to experience the inn before the changes take effect.
**HAUNTINGS**
During a 2004 paranormal investigation, they recorded banging noises from the cellar and captured a photo of a spirit man sitting at a table.
Staff members have reported feeling an unseen presence, maybe the old landlady, watching them while they work and ensuring they do their jobs correctly.
In 2013, the pub held a psychic evening, which revealed that the inn had many spirits that tragically died in a fire at the inn some centuries ago. (no facts on this currently found)
6. THE ROYAL HOTEL
29 The Broadway, Sheerness ME12
Accommodation, Bar & Restaurant
The building, which Shepherd Neame owned, is a unique piece of history. It was constructed in 1825 by the renowned Sheppey builder Sir Edward Banks, who also built the Crescent and Banks Terrace.
Once a private residence known as ''Kent House'', the building now stands as a thriving hotel.
The 'Strand Pleasure Gardens' were placed around the hotel, and a pavilion served refreshments in the corner of the gardens.
A road in front was added and named Edward Street in honour of Sir Edward Banks; this later became Broadway.
It became a hotel in the 1840s, with a connected license that welcomed passing trade and tourists, a tradition it has upheld ever since.
In 2013, Sheperd Neame underwent a £100,000 refurbishment., a thrilling change that may have stirred up other spirits. It was looking for a new licensee to run the business of 13 letting rooms and a function room.
In 2015, Shepherd Neame was close to closing it, but it continued with a new tenant and another major refurbishment.
In October 2018, the hotel was featured on the reality show Four in a Bed.
In May 2021, it was bought by friends Rashmi Dedigama, 28, and Peter Karan, 60 and it had another renovation.
It was put on the market for sale in April 2024 but remains open until sold. The hotel is the only hotel in the town centre, with 17 trading rooms,14 ensuite bedrooms for customers, and three for staff. The listing is no longer available, so I presume it was sold or the owners changed their mind.
**HAUNTINGS**
The upstairs part is said to be haunted by the ghost of an old lady. Witnesses have reported seeing her ghostly figure sitting on her favourite sofa.
The hotel cellar is also said to be haunted, but the building has many spirits, most of which are said to be children.
In September 2017, local clairvoyant Charlotte Clark held a spook school in the hotel's back room. She used her crystal ball to track down ghosts hiding upstairs in the bedrooms.
7. THE RED LION
61 High St, Blue Town Sheerness ME12
Bar & Bar Snacks
The Red Lion, a cornerstone of the Historic naval town of Sheerness, is one of the oldest surviving public houses in the area and stands as a testament to our local history.
Surviving the test of time, The Red Lion provided lodgings for the docks' seamen and is one of the few remaining buildings in BlueTown. It is said to have been built in the 18th Century, and there is also mention of "The Swan" and the "White Swan" that may have been next door.
Before Blue Town, Dockworkers and their families would live on the Hulks in the Estuary. They suffered greatly from the cramped, poor conditions. Each worker was allowed to carry one piece of wood, no longer than 3 feet, out of the dockyard, and they built themselves cabins around the storehouses. They were painted with blue naval paint, and the area became called 'Bluetown', but they became no better than the Hulk's conditions. In 1765, there was a major problem with malaria.
The barracks were built in the later part of the 18th Century, and the remaining workers were evicted from the cabins and moved into the Barracks. However, a fire 20 years later destroyed some other remaining buildings.
In the 1800s, The Red Lion served as a meeting place for the Freemasons of the area, adding a layer of intrigue to its historical significance.
In 1827, a dockyard wall was erected, and prisoners were used for work. The dockyard was closed to the local men. The lack of work led to ex-dockers drinking, and fighting became a big problem.
Every other building was a drinking establishment, and every third house a brothel. This continued throughout the Century, with Bluetown being the poorest area.
By the 1950s-60s, the last remaining houses had been demolished, and the dockyard had closed, so people left the area to seek work elsewhere. Shops closed, and the area was left to decay. Only a few old buildings remain today.
**HAUNTINGS**
It is one of the area's oldest pubs and has one of the longest haunted pasts. Some believe it was haunted by the ghost of a former prostitute and her beloved dog.
Paranormal investigators who visited this pub reported the sound of phantom footsteps, and some even felt seasickness overcome them while they were there, adding to the pub's eerie reputation.
Others have reported the sound of phantom hoofs and bells mysteriously ringing themselves.
8. SHURLAND HOTEL
79-81 High St, Eastchurch, ME12
Accommodation, Bar & Restaurant
In 1800, the parish's population was less than 400 people. Half lived in the 30 or 40 houses within the village, the remaining 200 being spread throughout the local agricultural community.
The area is said to have "a history steeped in stories of piracy and smugglers". The most famous being at Warden Manor, once the home of Sir John Sawbridge, a respectable magistrate who dabbled in smuggling in the late 18th Century. He cleverly incorporated a pigeon loft in the house, observed from the smoking room, and the smuggling vessel released a homing pigeon and dumped the contraband overboard at the mouth of a nearby creek. The tide swept the barrels in, and the cooing messenger warned the magistrate to collect the goods before anyone else found them.
The hotel, with its roots dating back to around 1830, was originally known as The 'Crooked Billet'. This establishment has a rich history, steeped in the stories of the local community.
Situated in the Highstreet of the village of Eastchurch, which means the Church, East of the Mother Church at Minster.
At the site of what is now the Crooked Billet Garden, there was a piece of triangular rough ground where the road split. This is where the stocks may have existed many years before the building did. The garden, with its unique history and potential ties to the village's past, is now a peaceful and picturesque spot for guests to relax and enjoy the surroundings.
Undergoing several alterations and renovations since its inception, the hotel has evolved with the times. Its name changed to The Shurlands Hotel in the 20th Century, a testament to its adaptability and commitment to providing a comfortable stay.
It was last at auction in Mar 2016 and undergoing a significant refurbishment, giving it a contemporary feel. It was promoted with 16 individually appointed en-suite guest bedrooms: two suites, one with a four-poster bed and jacuzzi spa bath, a spacious family room able to sleep 5, one single room, and a combination of double and twin rooms. The hotel also offers a free pass to the Gym, Sauna, Steam and Jacuzzi, ensuring a comfortable and relaxing stay for all guests.
**HAUNTINGS**
Over the years, staff members and guests have reported hearing strange noises throughout the hotel, such as banging on the walls and footsteps across the roof, but nobody is there.
One publican's partner claimed to have seen a little girl, aged around 8-9, appear at the foot of a bed in one of the rooms.
In 2011, a blog started reporting the paranormal activity there.
Guests and staff have reported a range of eerie occurrences, from light switches turning on in room 1 after being switched off, to the door unlocking and opening in room 2 without reason. Items have been known to disappear and reappear elsewhere, and Room 7 is said to have a perpetual chill, regardless of the weather outside. Even the cellar is not immune, with toilet rolls being thrown at a Barman and the light turning back on when switched off.
It gained worldwide coverage due to CCTV footage showing potential poltergeist activity there. One such video shows a pint of beer without being touched sliding across a table and smashing onto the floor. However, many theories, both paranormal and non-paranormal related, explain this, including potential drafts, uneven surfaces, or even the possibility of a staged event. The hotel's history and the reported sightings, however, continue to fuel the belief in its paranormal activity.
9. CHARISMA COCKTAIL BAR
Bar & Restaurant
Whitstable was an important seaport in the 14th and 15th centuries, and the only road linking it to Maidstone at that time ran through Doddington. Nowadays, the leading local highway is the M2 motorway, which is not far from the village.
The Shepherd Neame-owned Chequers Inn is on the main road at Doddington. It is a Grade II listed (Jan-1967) 14th-century coaching inn along the old way from Maidstone to Faversham.
The Chequers Inn, a Shepherd Neame-owned establishment, has been a cornerstone of Doddington's life for centuries, weaving itself into the fabric of the local community.
The extended roof of the Chequers is believed to have been used as a smuggler's dump. Later, it was turned into a large apartment, where post-boys and postillions slept. At the same time, their Coach passengers stayed in the bedrooms below.
Today, the Chequers Inn boasts two distinct bars: a 15th-century Saloon Bar and an earlier 14th-century Public Bar. These were once four separate bars, each catering to a different social class. The transformation of the Public Bar into a single room in 1804 marked a significant change, However, they removed the main post for the structure, and the building slowly started to list, so customers had to support the ceiling beam with whatever they could until hasty repairs could be carried out.
It has an Inglenook fireplace and a 'secret' room, possibly once used as a priest-hole or for smuggling activities.
The Chequers Inn has served a multitude of purposes over the years, reflecting its versatility and adaptability. It has been a resting place for pilgrims journeying to and from Canterbury, a hospice, and a center for local tax collection.
It was used as a coroner's Court.
In one inquest held there in June 1863, a male named Edward Foster, a labourer aged 20 years, was buried in a Chalk Pit bank avalanche. The cause of death, which was instant, was falling off a bank of chalk and dislocating his neck vertebrae. The jury returned the verdict: accidental killing.
In 1865, Coroner Mr Delasaux held an inquest on the body of an aged woman named Jane Everist Johnson, who died on the previous Tuesday by falling from a tree in an Orchard at Shurland Farm while engaged in gathering cherries. The deceased was subject to fits. Mr Cragie, a surgeon, expressed his opinion that the accident probably happened because of that cause. The jury returned a verdict of accidental death.
A small pond, which was filled in 1947 due to constant flooding, existed on the current car park site.
An old, thatched wooden barn also stood on the site, used for various purposes, including Coaching stables, the rat and sparrow club, Barn dances, a youth club, and the 1953 coronation celebrations.
The lounge bar was once utilized as a doctor's surgery and dispensary. Since 2004, it has doubled as the village post office every Tuesday at lunchtime.
**HAUNTINGS**
A Cavalier ghost has been seen, apparently wearing a plumed hat and laughing, peering through an overhanging window, possibly from the English Civil War, who is said to have died in an upstairs room (some reports say he was murdered there).
If you listen carefully, a spirit with a passion for the piano is also heard. It is said to be the wife of a previous proprietor. Witnesses have reported seeing her wearing a floral dress and hearing her playing the piano in the private quarters.
2, High St, Minster on Sea ME12
10. THE SHIPWRIGHT ARMS
Hollow Shore, Faversham, ME13
Bar & Restaurant
Originally Hollow Shore was named 'Holy Shore' by a Viking King.
The Shipwright Inn is in an isolated setting, among marshland and mudflats, situated on the Saxon shore way. its white-weather boarded exterior is visible from some distance away. It has a single bar, the interior, being adorned with nautical fittings. The pub is filled with character, with low beamed ceilings, narrow doorways, with lots of places to hide and have a quiet drink.
The building is said to be over 300 years old, although it is said that, traces of an earlier building, dating back to the thirteenth century. Most of the detail of its history has disappeared, so little is known before the pub getting its first License in 1738, although it could have functioned as an Inn well before that or possibly a fisherman's cottage.
It is believed, that the inn has led a colourful past. The perfect remote place for smugglers and pirates. John Ward, who was born in Faversham, who flourished between 1603 and 1615 as the biggest pirate of his day.
Fishermen and sailors, over time, all using the Thames estuary. Stopping at the inn to refresh themselves, while waiting to go up the Creek to Faversham to unload. In those days,
It is said to have also have been, quite normal for an Inn to also provide certain 'feminine comforts'. One time, when the pub was a revenue cutter station, this would not have gone down well with those gentlemen and their 'Ladies of the night', who preferred their illicit activities, to go unnoticed.
The pub has always had links to the maritime agencies and the current landlord keeps tradition by acting as a 'reporting member' to the coastguard.
There is a report of a sea captain said to have died at the Shipwrights' Arms at Hollow Shore while lugging ashore a huge piece of iron – sometimes thought to be the fire back in the grate by the bar.
**HAUNTINGS**
During the Winter months on cold and stormy nights, numerous customers and staff at the Shipwrights Arms have witnessed paranormal occurrences, like one of a thick-set Victorian sailor, wearing a large thick coat, peaked hat and with red glowing eyes. A sudden drop in temperature is usually felt, just before the apparition manifests and after disappearing, there is usually the overwhelming smell of rum, tar and tobacco.
Another ghost reported is a seaman, off a ship that sank in the Swale on a cold winters night. He made it to land and after trudging through the mudflats, he made his way up to the lights of the Inn. Exhausted, he banged on the door asking for help. The landlord refused to open the door at such a late hour, fearing smugglers or pirates and shouted at him to leave. The next morning, the landlord found the sailors dead body, on his doorstep and it is said that, since then, the sailor's spirit has remained and many of the Landlords of the inn, have heard banging on the door, in the early hours and upon investigation, found no-one there.
One female publican reported waking over many nights, by the ghost of the Captain standing at the bottom of her bed glaring at her with his bright red eyes.
Another former Publican has reported being awoken, one cold winters night, to find a ghost had climbed into bed with him, it disappeared after several seconds.
An apparition has also been seen, in a small room that is adjoining the bar. Many customers have been startled, when a bearded ghostly figure, suddenly enters the room, then vanishes right in front of them. It has also reported, that a strong smell of decay has been smelt, before the appearance of the apparition.
Orbs are regularly seen in the public bar area and they also say, ''if you sit in the corner seat by the small fire, you might feel just a little bit cold, even on the warmest day''.