HAUNTED HOSTELRIES

1. THE CARDINALS ERROR

Lodge Oak Lane, Tonbridge, Kent, TN9

Bar & Restaurant

The Cardinals Error Inn, a venerable structure in Tonbridge, holds a rich history that spans over 500 years. Originally a farmhouse known as 'Oak Lodge', it has witnessed the ebb and flow of centuries, making it a compelling destination for history enthusiasts.

Cardinal Worsley features on the inn's sign. Wolsey suppressed Tonbridge Priory with the blessing of his master, Henry VIII. By way of reparation, the Cardinal promised to build a grammar school in the town, but he fell from favour before he could carry out his promise.

Legend has it that the Cardinal sought refuge in the farmhouse, fleeing the wrath of the King. A tantalizing theory suggests that in a daring act of bravery, a local nun swapped her habit for the Cardinal's clothing to aid his escape. Possibly, she was murdered at the farmhouse by someone, thinking it was the Cardinal. However, the truth of this tale remains shrouded in mystery, adding an element of intrigue.

It didn't become a pub until August 1946, when the Council acquired the 'White Hart' Pub in Tonbridge for the road widening. The company Frederick Lenny & Sons Ltd (trading as Phoenix Brewery) at the White Hart were requested to find other premises,
Oak Lodge and its land were acquired and the licence was transferred from the old White Hart beer house on Tonbridge High Street. A registration was put in for alterations there, the License be transferred and the name given as the 'Cardinals Error' in Keeping with Tonbridge history
Phoenix Brewery was acquired by Whitbread & Co Ltd in 1927, and in 1961 the properties were sold to Fremlins Ltd.
Fremlins Ltd was then purchased by Whitbread & Co Ltd in 1967, returning the Cardinal's Error to its original brewery. In 2002, Whitbread sold its pub estate, the Laurel Pub Company, to Enterprise Inns.

Another story is that a local farm girl fell pregnant by a local lad, who then jilted her at the altar. She was so distraught she drowned herself in the pond that lay behind this building (where a new housing estate was built in the 1970s). Some of this is backed up by a coroner inquest reported in the Kentish Gazette on 24th October 1848. - ''An inquest was held at the "Rose and Crown tap" on Saturday week, before J. N. Dudlow, Esq., on the body of Phoebe Maria Skinner, who was found in the millpond near Tunbridge, on Friday morning, the 13th instant. No clue as to the cause of the fatal occurrence could be obtained. The jury, after a strict investigation, returned a verdict of "Found Drowned'', but how, or by what means, the deceased got into the water, there is no evidence to show." 

It doesn't mention the wedding dress, pregnancy, or a jilted lover. Whether this has been added for the dramatic effect over the years is still unclear.

**HAUNTINGS**

One story is that a lady called Val lived there when she was three. She asked her mother, who was the woman in a big hat. She would come and sit on her bed at night when she slept there, and another guest stated he would never sleep there again. After seeing a ghostly figure of a woman enter his room and sit at the bottom of his bed, he described her as a sad-looking middle-aged woman who wore a big hat.

Is the ghostly apparition seen at the pub, dressed in a tall hat, that of the Nun in the Cardinal clothing?

Another story related to the drowned girl is that since she departed from this earth, her ghostly apparition has been seen in her wedding dress, walking up to the Cardinals Error from the direction of the old pond site. She is also said to have thrown open the pub doors, entered the pub, shut the doors, and then walk across the bar room, before disappearing through a door, that leads to private stairs and footsteps have been heard along the corridor. 

Recent publicans have not witnessed any of these events nor seen Phoebe's apparition.

Another ghost said to haunt the inn is an old gentleman who is said to haunt the area around the fireplace. A spiritually linked lady witnessed him, and he was heard saying 'Good morning' rather loudly when no one was in the pub.

Someone reported that they were heading to the pub's toilet and saw someone walking into the men's toilet before them. Not taking any notice, they walked in there three seconds later, but no one was in there! 

Neighbours on the estate built on the pond area have also reported strange goings-on. 

In 2009, Ghost Connections conducted an investigation there but did not produce firm results, although some unexplained noises were heard during their time there. Their Clairvoyant team made connections, which can be discussed by emailing them.

2. YE OLDE CHEQUERS INN

122 High St, Tonbridge, Kent, TN9

 Bar & Restaurant

Ye Olde Chequers Inn, a Grade II-listed gabled building, holds a significant place in Tonbridge's history. Once the sole inn in the town and the possession of the Culpepper family, it stands as a testament to the town's rich heritage. 

The inn, often referred to as 'one of the finest examples of a Kentish timber-framed building that can be found today', is a sight to behold. Its gabled structure and intricate timberwork make it the most photographed building in Tonbridge after the castle, a true architectural marvel. 

It stands on the High Street, just by the castle, where an inn possibly stood in 1264. The inn may have been burnt in the castle's battles against Royalty. The present building dates back to the late 15th century, but most of it is 16th-century, with only some of its previous unique timbers.

The name could be linked to the word "Exchequer" in connection with fee-gathering for the Lords of the castle. 

A room on the first floor, which was once a Justices' room, served as a place for legal proceedings and decisions. In front of the inn was the traditional place for legal punishments, such as the stocks and whipping posts. 

In July 1555, Margery Polley was the first woman executed under Queen Mary's Rule. She was burnt at the stake in the back of the castle, where the old fire station stands, for her "English Protestant" beliefs. There is a trough, erected in 1909 in her memory, in Pembury, Tunbridge Wells, opposite the "Camden Arms",  which says she suffered from martyrdom in Tonbridge. 

Another execution said to have happened In July 1575 is that of Katherine, the wife of Edmund Brystowe, who was burnt for poisoning her husband. 

The inn, with its rich history and unique ambiance, served as a location in many of the novels of the 20th Century by British writer Jeffrey Farnol, adding a touch of literary charm to its historical significance.

At times, a hangman's noose dangled from a strong oak pole, protruding from the building, close to the inn sign, a dark reminder of justice that jutted out over the street, and one of the men hanged outside this pub was Wat Tyler's brother after the failed Peasants' Revolt of 1381.  

There are stories of secret tunnels said to be hidden in this pub. A small archway is blocked off, possibly the secret tunnel to the Castle or Parish church used to escape if trouble arose or a safe way of getting the taxes to the castle. 

A well filled with water from the river stood in the middle of the cellar, which was closed off about 15 years ago.

**HAUNTINGS**

The courtyard of the inn is not just a physical space, but a place steeped in local legends. The ghosts of two men, dressed in the fashion of aristocrats from Tonbridge Castle, have been reportedly seen engaged in a duel with swords. These stories add a layer of mystery and intrigue to the inn's history.

3. THE GEORGE & DRAGON

2 The Street, Ightham TN15

Bar & Restaurant 

Ightham (/ˈaɪtəm/ EYE-təm) is a parish and village located approximately four miles east of Sevenoaks and six miles north of Tonbridge. The parish includes the hamlet of Ivy Hatch.

Place-name evidence implies the name derives from the Saxon 'Ehtaham'. 'Ehta' is a Jutish personal name, while 'ham' means settlement.

During the Blitz in 1940–41, Ightham was directly under a route of German bombers on their way to attack London. Ightham was hit by 450 high-explosive bombs and 20 flying bombs or rockets.

Ightham was famous for growing Kentish cob nuts.

The George and Dragon Inn, a black-beamed, cream-painted inn on Ightham Street in the village centre, is a living testament to centuries of history.

On the site, once the Mansion House and then a 14th-century travellers' hospice.

An alehouse was built here around 1510, and locals, inspired by the legend of St. George and the Dragon, built the George and Dragon establishment in 1681. The inn was known for its unique architecture, black-beamed, cream-painted exterior, and reputation for serving the finest ales and spirits in the region. 

One notable guest believed to have been accommodated here was Lord Stafford, a figure of historical significance, on the journey to his public execution in 1641.

Over a century ago, workers at a nearby Manor House uncovered a woman's skeleton, said to be that of Lady Dorothy Selby, a former lady-in-waiting for Elizabeth I. It was noted that Dame Dorothy, getting wind of the Gunpowder Plot of 1605, had sent an anonymous letter warning her cousin Lord Monteagle, a Roman Catholic, to advise him not to attend the Houses of Parliament on November 5th, 1605. In retribution, a group of Catholics had burst into Igtham Mote, overpowered Dorothy, and then walled her up in the tower whilst still alive and left her to die. It is rumoured that Guy Fawkes had hatched the plot to assassinate King James I with his fellow conspirators at the George and Dragon Inn, making the inn a significant location in this infamous event.

**HAUNTINGS**

Lord Stafford is said to haunt the inn as a phantom, wearing clothing for that era and seen on many occasions. Other reports of ghosts and apparitions have been seen at the George and Dragon but without history or documentation. 

4. THE BUTCHERS BLOCK

65-67 Church St, Burham ME1

Bar & Restaurant

Burham, a place steeped in history, sits astride the old Pilgrims Way, a route that has been a part of human settlement since Saxon times.

The inn was originally built in 1812 and named the ''Royal Exchange Inn''. The pub then served the needs of the workers in the local cement industry since 1830. After discovering the manufacturing technique for Portland Cement, Burham became a "Cement Village" on the Medway. During this era, the pub was a bustling hub for the workers, and its cellar also served as the village mortuary, as many did; due to the colder temperatures underground, people were buried within a few days of death, and some houses didn't have room for a coffin.

In 1964, a new chapter began for the inn when it was taken over by Mr. Sidney Ward, a man of many talents. Before becoming a publican, he was a well-known Toastmaster of London, even serving as the President of the Society of London Toastmasters in 1974. It was during his residence that the inn's name transformed into the intriguing 'Toastmaster Inn'.  

In 2017, its name was changed to "The Butchers Block" in honour of Simon, the new owner and manager. He was a highly skilled butcher in nearby Bearsted for over thirty years before retiring and moving to Burham to open The Butchers Block.

**Hauntings**

There are local legends that this pub has been haunted for many years.

When Sidney Ward occupied the building, it was not unusual at night to hear the noise of crates being dragged around in the cellar despite everybody being asleep in bed. The door leading down to the basement would often be opened while this noise was occurring, only for the noise to stop immediately and the cellar to be in total darkness. It would happen so frequently & eventually, everybody regarded it as a nuisance, so nobody bothered to go downstairs to investigate. Odd things occasionally happened upstairs. A dark, almost intimidating presence would sometimes come and go; Sydney placed a cup of tea on a table only to find moments later that a teaspoon had been inserted in the cup handle.

At one time, the snug bar was part of a house next door owned by Mabel. She spent much time in the Toastmasters Inn, assisting the proprietor. After she died, her cottage was acquired by the pub and converted into the snug bar and second kitchen.  A plaque was placed on the wall above the bar in the corner where Mabel was said to sit, naming it "Mabel's Corner". It is reported that since she died, there have been numerous unknown sounds, glasses moving of their own accord, and sightings of a ghostly figure. In a photograph taken by local  Keith Thompson at a New Year party in 2001, reflected in the glass of a picture, the ghost of Mabel appears. She appears to be a kind-looking woman, with her grey hair brushed back and a beaming smile.

These occurrences and the unexplained noises made many believe the pub was haunted.

5. THE ANGEL INN

Addington Green, West Malling, ME19

 Bar & Restaurant 

Addington is a village close to the M20 motorway and sits between  Wrotham Heath and West Malling villages.

In the Domesday Book of 1086, it is called Eddintune. The meaning of the village's name is "Æddi's (or Eadda's) estate". The village is notable for its long barrows and Neolithic chamber tombs. Its parish covers under 700 acres (2.8 km2), containing 291 houses. Addington Brook runs through the parish.

Addington Green is centred around the popular 'The Angel Inn' public house. This white-painted, originally 14th-century pub is a Grade II listed building that forms an excellent focal point for the local community. Initially a farmhouse and said to have been a hostelry as long ago as 1350, is strategically situated near the Pilgrim's Way to Canterbury, no doubt taking in some weary travellers.

Rumours of a tunnel from the basement to the church, 750 meters (820 yds) away, seem to be a common theme around Kent.

**HAUNTINGS**

Its ghostly manifestations are said to be one of a German pilot from the Second World War. He was shot down during an air battle close by and was carried back by locals to the Angel Inn to await the police. He was severely injured and was taken to the hospital, but he died—those who have seen him say that he is holding a leather wallet when he manifests. The pub is also said to be haunted by a small child. During one paranormal investigation, one team reported seeing a blue light touching his hand and saw the outline of a child's hand imprinted there. 

6. THE HUNGRY GUEST 

65 High St, West Malling ME19

Café and Artisan Food Shop

West Malling is a market town with several historic buildings, including St Leonard's Tower, a Norman keep built by Bishop Gundulf (bishop between 1077 and 1108). In 1090, Gundulf founded St. Mary's Abbey in West Malling for Benedictine nuns. This historic site now contains significant Norman, medieval, Tudor, and Georgian buildings. There is also a Grade II-listed abbey church used by the Anglican Benedictine nuns, who have made Malling Abbey their home since 1916. 
Other buildings of interest in West Malling include the Prior's House, once a residence for those with leprosy; Ford House, over 600 years old; a mainly Georgian High Street and Went House, built c.1720 and noted for its elegant brickwork. Manor Park Country Park is just south of the town, close to St Leonard's Tower and Douce's Manor, whose grounds the park once comprised.
Situated on the old MacKenzies cafe site, part of the building dates back to the 11th Century. It is now open-plan, with a high ceiling and dark beams. 
The Hungry Guest has an Artisan Bakery and production kitchen in the glorious South Downs. It produces the finest selection of preservative-free bread, pastries, and ambient goods, which adorn the shelves of the food shops and are served in their cafes in Petworth and West Malling.
**HAUNTINGS**
When it was Mackenzie's, there were reports of a ghostly monk seen in the building's upstairs wine bar. The owner was closing the bar at night when the apparition materialized and walked across the room.
The fireplace in the wine bar was once part of the Abbey buildings, so the ghost monk could be the same one who visited the Franks Mussel Bar on the same street.

7. FRANKS RESTAURANT & MUSSEL BAR

53-57 High Street West Malling ME19