Nearly halfway through October, Brits are rearing up for the Halloween festivities by indulging in themed film nights of horror, spooky decorations, pumpkin-spiced lattes and sweet treats. In the spirit of the holiday, travel experts have revealed a new report of England’s paranormal activity, producing a list of the nation’s “most haunted” counties, perfect for a visit. Read on to see if one is near you.
Recent research from travel experts Ski Vertigo have found the top ten counties with the most paranormal reports — with one particular region surprisingly coming first. Conducting the Paranormal Database, a Ski Vertigo spokesperson shared: “The UK’s heritage is deeply intertwined with tales of the supernatural, and our findings provide a fascinating insight into those counties where history seems to have left a particularly spectral mark”.
The Paranormal Database is an online project which logs Britain’s paranormal, folkloric and cryptozoological experiences, noting the location (within the UK, Ireland and the Channel Islands). With over 14,600 entries, reports have been known to be hundreds of years old. However, travellers and ghost story fans should know that the database is not for the purpose of tourism, with many locations being on private property or within homes.
Crowned the UK’s paranormal capital, Essex was noted to have 535 spectral occurances — one report highlighting Borely as a hotspot for on resident nun first seen in 1900. The Borely Rectory, a Gothic home to the local parish leader of the Church of England (CofE), was infamously dubbed “the most haunted house in England” by Harry Price, a known psychic researcher and author of two texts defending the existence of paranormality.
Originally built in 1862, the house suffered damages due to a fire in 1939, leading to it being demolished in 1944. And whilst many claim this was the beginning of the site’s haunting figure, the database finds show the first sighting of the “phantom nun” to be on July 28, 1900, nearly four decades before being knocked down.
This figure reappeared on multiple occastions, specially during a three year period between 1929 and 1932, just seven years before its fire. In 1929, the Rectory even featured in the Daily Mirror newspaper after a visit from author Price.
(Image: Wiki images)
Coming in second, with 458 reports, is Sussex. The data stating that the most scary occurence being in the Michelham Priory in Upper Dicker, featuring a cloacked floating figure.
Surrounded by a moat, the estimated eight acres of land in Hailsham has been reported on for its paranormal activity. Many visitors describe a man dressed in a cloak being chased by a female figure, appearing to be dressed in Tudor-style clothing. Reported in 1969, the site has since been logged multiple times on the database.
(Image: Martin Burton/SussexLive)
Devon takes third place with 449 logs. Most commonly known as a holiday destination for Brits, many visitors may not know of the rich and haunting history of the southern county.
Locals are taught of its haunting tales, with South Devon being home to “the hairy hands of Dartmoor” and the haunted grave of Kitty Jay — an 18th century young woman who died by suicide, who was burried at a crossroad and who’s grave is said to produce a bunch of fresh flowers each day.
Berry Pomeroy Castle, situated near Exeter city, has been highlighted by the research for sightings of ‘The Blue Lady,’ a figure said to haunt the ruins.
(Image: Getty Images)
Dorset found 446 accounts of ghostly activity, with its Corfe Castle being emphasised by the research for its spooky figures — one cloaked and one without a head…
Corfe Castle can be found on the Isle of Purbeck, just four miles South-East of Wareham and seven miles South-West of Poole. The heritage site dates all the way back to William the Conqueror’s reign, being built shortly after 1066, states the National Trust.
Interestingly, Paranormal Database drew attention to reports of “a headless woman walk[ing] near the gateway” of the castle; a separate cloaked figure being logged as recent as May 15, 2009. One telling even described hoofbeats of a horse they could not see.
(Image: Alamy Live News.)