Chislehurst Caves

Chislehurst
Kent

History

Dug by hand, these chalk caves date back to around 1250 but are difficult to date exactly. Church mining records date back to around 1737. There are over 20 miles of these mysterious caverns and passageways and were originally used as mines to dig and search for chalk and flint. The mine’s were believed to be last in use during the 1830’s but was then just a tourist attraction as well as hosting several underground concerts in the early 1900’s. During the First World War the tunnels were used as an ammunitions depot as part of the Woolwich Arsenal and up until the outbreak of the Second World War the mines were used by the Kent Mushroom Company but during the Second World War itself, the caves were used as a massive air raid shelter. In modern times the caves have become again a tourist attraction as well as a host for film locations.

Paranormal Activity

These strange tunnels and caves have been home to a vast amount of strange activity much of which has been poltergeist activity such as locks being thrown around, cables being torn down and chalk being thrown at visitors. Even an exorcist has been called in to solve the problem. The caves was featured and investigated by the TV show Most Haunted.

Foxbury Manor

Chislehurst
Kent

History

Designed by the architect David Brandon in 1875 and owned by Henry Frederick Tiark, this Elizabethan-style mansion spreads over 22,000 sq ft with its gables and turrets. The main bedroom alone was 1,800 sq ft with servants springing from every corner, large lakes were dug, gazebos built and even a chapel was erected in the attic for the personal use of Henry’s grandson’s wife. The building was also home to a paneled library and was home to a grand lifestyle for the Tiarks until 1931when after the German economy fell and the Tiarks shares in the bank Schroders were lost, the Tiarks had to sell up. In the 1940s the house was used as a retreat for bishops and missionaries’ wives and children. In 1976 the house was bought by the Woolwich Building Society as a management training centre and soon the old building was encircled by lower-middle class housing. Foxbury was soon to be institutionalised with its large front lawn becoming a car-park and its magnificent rooms becoming home to whiteboards and conference chairs but Foxbury was restored by Woolwich in 1994. However by 1998 the house was left and faced an uncertain future until Richard Upton, a property developer made plans to convert it into 2 large semi-detached dwellings. The building is now split into Foxbury Manor and Foxbury Hall and is currently up for sale as either one or two dwellings.

Paranormal Activity

Much of the strange activity recorded here is due to the surrounding area as the large manor sits on the edge of an ancient 22-mile maze of haunted passageways known as the Chislehurst Caves. Much of the activity recorded has been poltergeist activity with locks being thrown around, cables being torn down and chalk thrown at visitors. Even an exorcist has been called in to solve the problem as well being featured on the TV show Most Haunted.

Chatham Dockyards

The Historic Dockyard
Chatham
Kent
ME4 4TZ
Info Line: +44 (0)1634 823807
Trust Office: +44 (0)1634 823800
Fax: +44 (0)1634 823801

History

Although Queen Elizabeth I visited the area in 1573, the docks weren't moved to the current location until 1622, and the first dry dock was built in the 1660s. The Dutch Fleet successfully attacked the docks, with many killed and wounded. In 1864, the docks were staffed by French prisoners of war.

Paranormal Activity

The most well-known of the Chatham Dockyard ghosts is the apparition of a young teenage girl whose image has been seen often in a downstairs window. It is believed that she is waiting for her sailor lover to return from the sea. The ghost of Lord Nelson has apparently been spotted here, although no-one seems to know why. There may also be two other apparitions, one of a woman and the other of a not-very-nice man, who haunt the space which used to be a nursery. There is also the ghost of a female supervisor who died in the 1980s who apparently prods workers who aren't pulling their weight. Footsteps have been heard in the darkest corners of the yard and doors have slammed of their own accord.