A Guide to Haunted Canterbury and Chilham’s Environs

The historic village of Chilham and the nearby city of Canterbury offer a rich tapestry of ghostly lore for visitors to The Woolpack Inn.

Canterbury (6 miles): This ancient city is rife with haunted tales. The Canterbury Ghost Tour is one of Kent’s best-known walks, covering sites like the ‘Dark Entry’ at Canterbury Cathedral, haunted by the tragic spirit of Nell Cook, and various other spectral figures associated with its long history. The Marlowe Theatre and older inns also have their own ghost stories.

Chilham Village: Beyond The Woolpack Inn, Chilham Castle has its own legends. The picturesque village square and St Mary’s Church churchyard are atmospheric spots where local tales might be whispered. Around Halloween, volunteer-led ‘Haunted Chilham’ walks sometimes take place, often including a stop at the Woolpack.

Howfield Manor (approx. 8 miles): Another historic hotel near Canterbury, Howfield Manor, is said to be haunted by chanting monks and other spirits.

Canterbury: Ancient City of Ghosts

Canterbury stands as one of England’s most haunted cities, its cobbled streets echoing with centuries of pilgrimage, martyrdom, and mystery. The cathedral city has drawn visitors seeking both spiritual and supernatural experiences since medieval times.

Canterbury Cathedral and the Dark Entry

The most famous ghost story centres on the ‘Dark Entry’, a covered stone passage leading to the cathedral precincts. Here dwells the tormented spirit of Nell Cook, a Tudor-era servant who met a grisly end in 1570. According to historical records, Nell was found brutally murdered in this very passage, her body discovered by morning worshippers. Her ghost is said to manifest as a woman in white, sometimes headless, who appears to those walking the passage alone after dark. Witnesses describe an overwhelming sense of dread and the sound of muffled crying echoing from the ancient stone walls.

Canterbury Cathedral itself harbours numerous spirits. The spot where Archbishop Thomas Becket was murdered in 1170 is said to be haunted by his phantom, appearing as a kneeling figure at prayer. Pilgrims and tourists have reported sudden drops in temperature and the sensation of being watched whilst near the martyrdom site.

The Marlowe Theatre and Historic Inns

The Marlowe Theatre, built on the site where Christopher Marlowe was baptised, experiences unexplained phenomena including lights switching on and off, mysterious footsteps in empty corridors, and the apparition of a man in Elizabethan dress believed to be the playwright himself.

Canterbury’s ancient coaching inns contribute their own ghostly tales. The Falstaff Inn, dating from the 1400s, is reputedly haunted by a cavalier who appears in the bar area, whilst the Cathedral Lodge reports sightings of medieval monks wandering the grounds.

Chilham Village: A Medieval Atmosphere

Beyond The Woolpack Inn’s Grey Lady, Chilham village offers a remarkably preserved medieval atmosphere where folklore and history intertwine.

Chilham Castle

The Norman keep and Jacobean mansion of Chilham Castle possess their own spectral residents. The grounds are said to be haunted by a White Lady, believed to be connected to the castle’s turbulent history during the English Civil War. Local accounts describe her as a figure in flowing white robes who appears near the castle gatehouse, particularly during autumn evenings when mist rises from the River Stour.

St Mary’s Church

The 13th-century St Mary’s Church, with its impressive tower visible across the Kent countryside, contains the supposed tomb of St Augustine. The churchyard has its own ghostly reputation, with reports of spectral figures moving amongst the ancient headstones. Some visitors have reported hearing phantom church bells tolling at midnight, despite the bells remaining silent.

The Barrow Dog of Pilgrim’s Way

A unique piece of Chilham folklore concerns the Barrow Dog witnessed in January 1947. This large, spectral black hound was observed bounding towards an ancient burial barrow opposite the Woolpack Inn before vanishing entirely. The creature fits the pattern of Black Shuck sightings throughout East Anglia and Kent - ghostly dogs often associated with ancient burial sites and trackways. The Pilgrim’s Way itself has generated numerous paranormal accounts over the centuries, with walkers reporting phantom pilgrims still making their eternal journey to Canterbury.

Nearby Haunted Sites

Howfield Manor

Eight miles from Chilham stands Howfield Manor, another historically significant haunted hotel. This 15th-century manor house is renowned for the phantom chanting of medieval monks, heard echoing through the halls during the quiet hours. The building’s history as a religious house provides context for these manifestations, with guests frequently reporting the sound of Latin prayers and the rustle of heavy robes in empty corridors.

Ghost Tours and Paranormal Experiences

Canterbury Ghost Tours operate year-round, offering guided walks through the city’s most haunted locations. These tours typically include the Dark Entry, various haunted pubs and inns, and lesser-known supernatural sites scattered throughout the medieval streets.

For those staying at The Woolpack Inn, October brings special opportunities as local volunteers sometimes organise ‘Haunted Chilham’ walks, incorporating village folklore and culminating at the inn itself. These intimate tours provide insights into local legends often unknown to casual visitors.

The area’s rich paranormal heritage makes it an ideal destination for ghost enthusiasts, combining well-documented hauntings with atmospheric medieval settings that have remained largely unchanged for centuries.