Chilham, Kent
The Woolpack Inn is famously home to a resident 'Grey Lady' ghost, a gentle and benign spirit often seen wandering the inn's rooms and corridors. Guests and staff have reported her faint, greyish figure, and she is sometimes associated with minor poltergeist-like activity, such as moving small items, which is perceived as curious rather than malevolent. Her presence is considered a part of the inn's historic charm. The surrounding area is also associated with the Barrow Dog, a spectral black hound witnessed in January 1947 bounding towards an ancient burial barrow opposite the inn on Pilgrim's Way before mysteriously vanishing.
The Grey Lady (Full-body Apparition, Friendly Ghost). The Barrow Dog (Phantom Beast, Black Shuck). Minor poltergeist-like activity also reported.
The Grey Lady of the Woolpack Inn is a well-known spectral figure, frequently spotted by both guests and staff. She is consistently described as a faint, greyish apparition of a woman, often seen drifting through the upstairs hall or occasionally standing quietly at the foot of a guest’s bed. Unlike many ghost stories that evoke fear, this spirit is widely considered to be friendly and curious. She has been credited with mysteriously opening and closing interior doors without a sound. Sometimes, small items like cutlery or tavern decorations are found rearranged, as if she has been tidying up after the living. Local legends passed down through generations speculate that she might be the ghost of a Victorian-era landlady who loved the inn dearly, or perhaps a jilted bride who lived at the inn long ago and continues to watch over the establishment.
In January 1947, a witness observed a large, spectral black hound bounding towards an ancient burial barrow opposite the Woolpack Inn on Pilgrim's Way, where it promptly vanished. This sighting represents a classic example of the Black Shuck phenomenon that has haunted Kent and East Anglia for centuries.
The Woolpack Inn's most famous spirit is the Grey Lady, an elegant, shadowy female apparition in a long grey gown. Often seen in corridors or guest rooms, she is considered a calm and friendly presence, sometimes tidying items or gently touching a shoulder. Her identity remains a mystery, but she is a beloved guardian spirit of this 600-year-old Grade II listed inn.
Dates to the 15th century, built circa 1400s.
Originally established as a coaching inn and tavern, providing food, drink, and lodging for travellers, particularly those on route to Canterbury.
Located in the historically preserved Tudor village of Chilham, The Woolpack Inn has served as a hostelry for over 600 years. It has welcomed countless pilgrims journeying to Canterbury Cathedral through the centuries. The building itself is Grade II listed, retaining many original features such as oak beams and large inglenook fireplaces, which have offered warmth and shelter to patrons for more than five centuries. Its continuous operation makes it a significant landmark in Chilham and a repository of local history and stories.
The Woolpack Inn is a classic example of a timber-framed Tudor inn. Its exterior features distinctive white plaster infill panels set between dark wooden beams, a characteristic of the period. The interior preserves much of its medieval charm, with original oak beams, large inglenook fireplaces that were central to coaching inns, and low ceilings that evoke its centuries-old heritage. These architectural elements contribute significantly to its historic and atmospheric appeal.
The primary reported activity is sightings of the 'Grey Lady', a faint, greyish female apparition. She is also associated with minor poltergeist phenomena, such as opening and closing interior doors silently and rearranging small items like cutlery or decorations. An inexplicable cold spot is often noted in the corridor by the old oak staircase when she is believed to be present. Staff have found chairs subtly moved or a solitary cushion placed on a chair after closing.
The upstairs guest rooms are where the Grey Lady is most frequently glimpsed, with a particular room (often hinted to be Room 4) having multiple reports of guests awakening to a misty female figure near the window. The corridor by the old oak staircase is another hotspot, often associated with an inexplicable cold spot. In the snug bar area, staff have occasionally found chairs subtly moved or a single cushion placed on a chair after closing time, as if for an unseen guest.
A former manager of the inn recounted an experience of serving a pint of ale, only to turn around and see a translucent lady dressed in grey sitting by the fireplace; she reportedly smiled before vanishing. Visitors have left notes in the guestbook describing a “kind lady in old-fashioned dress” who seemed to guide them when they were lost trying to find their room, later realising she was not a member of staff. Paranormal websites note the general consensus that, while her identity is unknown, her presence is harmless and even comforting to many who encounter her.
The Woolpack Inn has been featured in various regional 'Haunted Kent' pub guides. It was informally investigated by a local paranormal club in 2015, whose members reported capturing orbs in photographs and detecting gentle EMF (electromagnetic field) fluctuations. The inn embraces its ghostly resident; staff are often willing to share stories about the Grey Lady with interested patrons. The Woolpack has not been featured on major television paranormal shows, maintaining a more low-key, local reputation for its haunting, but it consistently appears in ghost-hunting travel blogs as a recommended visit in Kent.
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📅 Sample dates:2025-08-30 to 2025-09-01 • 2 adults
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Paranormal Tip: Book rooms near the upstairs guest rooms are where the grey lady is most frequently glimpsed for the best chance of supernatural encounters!
Address:
The Street, Chilham, Canterbury, Kent, CT4 8DL, England
Phone: +44 1227 730351
Status: Open. A historic coaching inn operating as a pub with rooms, offering traditional hospitality in the picturesque village of Chilham.
During the Halloween season, The Woolpack Inn occasionally hosts a 'Ghost Supper' or a story night by candlelight, primarily for locals. There is no year-round dedicated ghost package, but its historic ambiance is ever-present.
Due to its considerable age and historic structure, accessibility can be challenging. Guest rooms are reachable only by stairs, and corridors may have low beams, which taller guests should be mindful of. The accommodation is not wheelchair accessible. The ground floor pub area is accessible with some difficulty, involving a small step at the entrance and potentially tight spaces within. Prospective guests with mobility concerns should contact the inn directly.
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