The Chequers Inn: Six Centuries of History and Hauntings

The Chequers Inn’s haunted legacy is built upon centuries of history. Smarden’s local lore suggests the village was a smugglers’ haven in the 1700s, providing a fitting context for a ghostly highwayman or well-dressed rogue like the ‘Man in Green’. The primary haunting, that of the Napoleonic soldier, is believed to have begun with his murder around 1812. From that point onwards, travellers and guests began noting odd happenings in that particular room; journals from the 1860s reportedly mention an ‘unquiet spirit’ in a Smarden inn, possibly referring to The Chequers. A significant event in the inn’s paranormal history occurred in the 1970s during renovation work, when builders allegedly discovered a hidden compartment under the floorboards containing an old dagger. This discovery fueled speculation that it might have been the weapon used to murder the soldier. More recently, in 2014, the inn proudly won a ‘Haunted Pub of the Year’ award in a local contest, cementing its place in Kent’s supernatural circuit and acknowledging its rich ghostly heritage. ## The Medieval Foundation

The Chequers Inn’s story begins in the late 14th century, when Smarden was establishing itself as a prosperous market town. The village had received its Royal Charter from Edward III in 1333, granting it the right to hold markets and fairs that attracted traders from across Kent and beyond. By 1397, the growing commercial activity necessitated proper accommodation for travelling merchants, pilgrims heading to Canterbury, and other wayfarers.

The inn’s original timber-framed structure reflected the building techniques of the period, constructed using oak beams from the surrounding Kentish woodlands. The central hearth, around which much of the inn’s social life would revolve for centuries, was built large enough to accommodate multiple cooking pots and provide warmth for dozens of guests simultaneously. The upper floors, reached by narrow wooden stairs that survive today, contained simple sleeping chambers that could house several travellers per room.

Archaeological evidence suggests the inn may have incorporated elements of an even earlier structure, possibly a Saxon hall or Norman manor building. This would explain some of the unusual architectural features found during renovations, including foundation stones that predate the supposed 1397 construction date.

The Tudor and Stuart Periods

During the 16th and 17th centuries, The Chequers Inn evolved from a simple village alehouse into a proper coaching inn. The growth of trade between London and the continent meant increased traffic along the Canterbury to Dover route, bringing prosperity to establishments like The Chequers that could provide quality accommodation and fresh horses.

The inn’s location proved strategically important during the English Civil War (1642-1651). Smarden’s position between the Royalist stronghold of Canterbury and Parliamentary forces controlling the Channel ports meant the inn frequently hosted soldiers, messengers, and refugees from both sides. Local records suggest the inn’s cellars may have been used to hide Royalist sympathisers during particularly dangerous periods.

This era also saw the inn’s first recorded paranormal activity. A 1659 parish record mentions “unnatural disturbances” at the village inn, though the specific nature of these events remains unclear. Some historians suggest this may relate to violent deaths during the Civil War period, though no definitive evidence survives.

The Golden Age of Coaching

The 18th century marked The Chequers Inn’s golden age as a coaching establishment. The improvement of roads and the regularisation of coaching services transformed the inn into a vital stop on the London-Dover route. Fresh horses were kept in extensive stables behind the main building, and the inn could accommodate up to forty guests in its expanded accommodation.

This period coincided with the area’s reputation as a smuggling haven. Smarden’s network of country lanes and its position inland from the coast made it an ideal location for storing and distributing contraband goods. The Chequers Inn, with its multiple entrances, extensive cellars, and constant flow of travellers, provided perfect cover for smuggling operations.

The appearance of the “Man in Green” ghost likely dates from this period. Whether the figure represents Dick Turpin himself or another Georgian gentleman, the sightings began during the 1730s-1740s when such characters would have been regular visitors to the inn. The ghost’s association with writing suggests he may have been literate—unusual for common criminals but typical of the educated gentleman rogues who sometimes turned to highway robbery.

The Napoleonic Tragedy

The inn’s most famous ghost story centres on events during the Napoleonic Wars, specifically the winter of 1812. This was a particularly brutal period in the conflict, with Napoleon’s Russian campaign ending in disaster and British forces heavily engaged in the Peninsular War. Kent, as the closest English county to the continental battlefield, saw constant military activity.

The tragic murder of the British officer appears to have occurred during a particularly lawless period when disbanded soldiers, deserters, and common criminals roamed the countryside. Contemporary magistrates’ records reference increased incidents of robbery and violence throughout Kent during 1812, as economic hardship and military upheaval created perfect conditions for criminal activity.

The officer’s identity remains mysterious, though regimental records suggest several possibilities. The Buffs (Royal East Kent Regiment) lost multiple officers during this period, some officially recorded as “died of wounds” with no battlefield specified. The discovery of the period dagger during 1970s renovations lends credence to the murder story, as does the specific nature of witness accounts that have remained consistent for over two centuries.

Parallel to this British tragedy runs the story of the French prisoner of war, whose presence represents the broader human cost of the Napoleonic conflicts. French prisoners were indeed held throughout Kent during this period, often in informal arrangements that saw them billeted at local establishments under loose supervision. The death of such a prisoner, far from home and family, would have created the perfect emotional conditions for a lingering haunting.

Victorian Developments

The arrival of railways in the mid-19th century initially threatened The Chequers Inn’s coaching trade. However, the building adapted by becoming more of a destination in its own right rather than merely a waystation. The Victorian era saw the inn’s first formal recognition of its ghost stories, with local newspapers beginning to report on the paranormal activities.

An 1868 edition of the Kent Herald contained the first detailed account of the Napoleonic soldier, describing him as “a melancholy figure in military dress who appears to guests in the upper chambers.” This Victorian documentation proved crucial in establishing the authenticity of the haunting, as it predates any modern ghost tourism or commercial exploitation.

The inn’s architecture was also modified during this period, with the addition of proper chimneys replacing some of the original central hearths, and the installation of gas lighting that would later give way to electricity. Remarkably, many guests report that the ghostly phenomena seem unaffected by these modern conveniences, suggesting the spirits remain anchored to the building’s essential character rather than its physical modifications.

Modern Recognition

The 20th century brought formal recognition of The Chequers Inn’s paranormal reputation. The inn won local “Haunted Pub of the Year” awards and began appearing in published collections of ghost stories. However, this recognition has been balanced by continued operation as a genuine hospitality establishment rather than merely a tourist attraction.

Today, The Chequers Inn stands as a remarkable survivor—a building that has maintained its essential character and purpose for over 600 years whilst accumulating one of England’s most compelling collections of ghost stories. Its three resident spirits represent different aspects of the inn’s long history: the tragic military victim of the Napoleonic era, the mysterious Georgian gentleman, and the displaced French prisoner whose story reminds us that war’s casualties extend far beyond the battlefield.

The inn’s enduring appeal lies not just in its paranormal reputation, but in its authentic historical atmosphere that makes these ghostly encounters seem entirely natural—as if the spirits are simply long-term residents who happen to exist in a different dimension of time.