The Paranormal Database

An old woodcut of a large bear, appearing to exhale smoke.

Final Bear

Location: Fernhurst - Ruins of Verdley Castle
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 25 December (reoccurring)
Further Comments: This is said to be the location where the last wild bear in England was pointlessly killed; the creature's ghost now returns in protest.

Distressed Horse

Location: Firle - Around the old abattoir
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Every six months?
Further Comments: Said to have been slaughtered in the abattoir, this horse is said to be heard every six months. There are also reports of the creature being heard galloping away from the area.

Margaret Kemble

Location: Firle - Firle Place
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: This tall woman dressed in grey is reportedly haunts the house.

Coffin

Location: Firle - Hill
Type: Legend
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: This is another location where a silver coffin is reputed to be buried.

Limping Lady

Location: Firle - Ram Inn
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Twentieth century
Further Comments: During life, this woman lived in the attic of this public house during the 1880's. She can often be perceived moving around the building, her distinctive walk heard overhead in the bar room.

Hissing Creature

Location: Fittleworth - General area
Type: Dragon
Date / Time: 1867
Further Comments: A worm was reputed to live in this area, rushing out to hiss at anyone who passed its lair.

Phantom Peacock?

Location: Five Ashes - A267
Type: Other
Date / Time: October 2006
Further Comments: Wildlife rescuers were called to this road twice by motorists who claimed that they had hit a peacock which was crossing the road, though on both occasions no evidence could be found of the bird's existence.

Grey Lady

Location: Hailsham - Augustine Priory Gatehouse, Michelham
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: This aging building is said to be the home of a misty grey female wraith.

Cloaked Man

Location: Hailsham - Michelham Priory
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 1969
Further Comments: A couple of witnesses watched a man dressed in a cloak float into the room, being chased by a woman dressed in Tutor clothing. It is unclear whether the female spirit is the same as the woman in grey who has been seen in other areas of the estate, often with a small brown dog.

The A23 road between Handcross and Crawley.

Woman in Red Coat

Location: Handcross - A23 between Handcross and Crawley, near motorway junction
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Late twentieth century?
Further Comments: Waiting for a lift, this ghost vanishes if anyone pulls over to help her. A phantom male figure has also been reported in the area, also standing by the roadside.

Mr Hawkley

Location: Hankham - Mill Hill
Type: Post-Mortem Manifestation
Date / Time: 9 November 1976
Further Comments: Mr Hawkley became eccentric after his wife's death and was frequently seen walking the roads of the village at night wearing his dressing gown and slippers. One girl returning home after two months away thought little of it as she drove past Mr Hawkley at night, walking towards his home wearing pyjamas, until she arrived home and mentioned it to her mother who told her Mr Hawkley had died three weeks previous.

Six Year Old Girl

Location: Hastings - 85 De Cham Road
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 1996
Further Comments: One of several ghostly children seen playing in the garden here, the entities vanish before they can be approached. An unknown man wearing a cap has appeared in the house, the witness mistaking him for a guest prior to his fading away.

Built by the Devil

Location: Hastings - Church, Hollington
Type: Legend - Old Nick
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: Local legend says that this church was erected by Old Nick himself, though his motives are unclear.

Hastings Castle (public domain).

Old New Castle

Location: Hastings - Hastings Castle
Type: Environmental Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: An image of Hastings Castle has been reportedly seen floating over the sea, flags flying and in the condition that one would imagine it to be in several hundred years ago.

An old woodcut of Thomas a Becket being murdered.

Hungry Prisoners

Location: Hastings - Hastings Castle, the area called The Mount
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Twentieth century
Further Comments: Several manifestations exist here. The sounds of prisoners rattling their chains and calling out for food have been heard under the castle; the upper areas are haunted by phantom organ music. Thomas a Becket, dean of the church college, walks the area, as does a nun caught on film during the 1970s.

Maid in Mobcap

Location: Hastings - King's Head public house, Courthouse Street
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 1996
Further Comments: This ghost is only seen in the ladies' toilet, vanishing when approached. It is thought she was killed by a short tempered employer.

Man in Grey Suit

Location: Hastings - Royal Victoria Hotel, St Leonards-on-Sea
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: Not seen for many years now, the man in grey is thought to have been a previous manger that died in a fire on site. His dog also died in the blaze and has been seen running about in the corridors.

Mrs Prideaux

Location: Hastings - Shovells, All Saints Street
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 1970s
Further Comments: A former owner of the building, this woman was seen for several years following her death.

Male in Blue Uniform

Location: Hastings - St Helen's Hospital, St Leonards-on-Sea
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 1980s
Further Comments: This old man dressed in blue has been reported near the area where the old hospital radio station once stood. His footsteps were also often heard down empty corridors.

Could be Dick

Location: Hastings - The Stag Inn, All Saints Street
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 1988
Further Comments: Thought to be Dick Turpin by the witness, no real evidence exists to back this claim up.

Victorian Shadow

Location: Hastings - Warrior Square Station area, St Leonards-On-Sea
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 15 August 2010 (shadow seen)
Further Comments: Staff in a building in this area have reported a fast moving black shadow, a faint grey man wearing Victorian clothing, and mild poltergeist activities.

Man in Raincoat

Location: Hastings - White Rock Pavilion
Type: Poltergeist
Date / Time: 1985
Further Comments: Built on the site of a hospital, several outbreaks of poltergeist like behaviour have been reported, along with the sighting of an old man wearing a raincoat who vanished when approached.

Lady in Black

Location: Hastings - Wishing Tree Inn and road outside, Hollington
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 1990s
Further Comments: This Victorian woman has been felt pushing past witnesses in the public house and has been seen outside with a pram. Another ghost, nicknamed 'Funny Face' by locals, reportedly appears to children and makes them laugh.

Bomber?

Location: Hayward's Heath - Rocky lane
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 1995, 13:15h
Further Comments: Driving home for lunch, this witness watched a large aircraft, possibly a Second World War bomber, pass overhead and descend towards a railway line. The witness thought the craft had crashed, so climbed out of the car and ran over to a brick wall which had obscured the view of the falling aircraft. There was nothing there, and then the witness realised the aircraft had been completely silent as it passed above.

Pacing Anne

Location: Heathfield - Blackboys Inn
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: When it was discovered she was pregnant, friends and family shied away from Anne, and her worried pacing can be heard as her ghost still debates her future.