The Paranormal Database

Flying Hands

Location: Heathfield - Warbleton Priory
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: A pair of small pale hands are said to have appeared several times outside the building, visible from an upstairs window.

An old woodcut of a moody-looking skull.

Unhappy Skull

Location: Heathfield - Warbleton Priory Farm
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: The skull (or skulls - one version of the story has two) causes trouble whenever removed from the site - it is said that to prevent 'accidental removal', the skull is now part of the brickwork.

Flying Bread

Location: Henfield - Budgens Supermarket (closed at this location in 2023)
Type: Poltergeist
Date / Time: Pre 2023
Further Comments: Items would remove themselves from shelves and a jar hovered in the air before falling. More traditional reports of disembodied footsteps and fleeting shadows were also reported.

Fiery Eyed

Location: Henfield - Woodland in the area
Type: Shuck
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: The large demonic dog of this area is said to be the size of a calf with the fires of hell burning within its eyes.

Herstmonceux Castle (public domain).

Fifteenth Century Drummer

Location: Herstmonceux - Herstmonceux Castle
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: This phantom drummer, sparking blue on every beat, could either be Lord Dacre (once a local eccentric) or a drummer from the battle of Agincourt. Another ghost, this time a twenty year old female, haunts the moat; reportedly dying on the eve of her twenty first birthday, she has been seen either swimming or standing beside the water.

Little Old Lady

Location: Herstmonceux - Millers House, Windmill Hill
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 1993
Further Comments: Seen standing on the staircase, this ghost had short grey hair and dressed in civilian clothing from the Napoleonic era.

Purple Cloaked Woman

Location: Herstmonceux - Windmill Hill Stores
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: November 1995
Further Comments: The owners of this shop were convinced they had seen this mysterious apparition walking about the first floor.

Short Figure

Location: Hilliers - Woodland in the area
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Nineteenth century?
Further Comments: A short ghost, standing around one metre in height, and wearing brown gaiters and a round flock was spotted by gamekeepers. One man tried to grab the figure, but his arms passed through it.

Man in Long Coat

Location: Hooe - Red Lion public house
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: This man dressed in a beige coat is thought to be a member of the smugglers gang that was once based in the public house. A machine once used by the gang to break up tobacco leaves is still on site today and can sometimes be heard in use during the early hours.

Monk

Location: Horsham - Causeway to the church
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: This spirit often walks between the road and the churchyard, though he vanishes before setting foot on holy ground.

Handsome Young Man

Location: Horsham - Private residence along Brighton Road
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 2003-2005
Further Comments: A handsome young man wearing a light blue jumper was spotted by one occupier. The entity glided across a bedroom before passing through a closed window. Unidentifiable shadows and phantom footfalls were also reported.

Woman in Black

Location: Horsham - Private residence, Forest Road
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 1986-present
Further Comments: This haunting began with the manifestation of a woman wearing black who appeared in a bedroom. Items then began to move by themselves and dogs would stare at certain walls. During the late 2000s the smell of curry plants could be detected, an old man started to appear in the hall, and a female spotted walking past the windows. Despite this, the residence retains a friendly feel.

Wispy-Haired Man

Location: Horsham - Right hand bend on A24
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 23 August 2021, 23:00h
Further Comments: While travelling as a passenger along the A24, a witness spotted a man dressed in a dark blue jumper and shabby brown trousers standing by the roadside. The man had a leathery, mummified face with sunken eyes. His mouth was slightly agape, and his wispy shoulder-length hair touched his collar. The witness was left shaken, although the driver was unable to see the man.

The cover of an old booklet showing the Horsham Dragon.

Poisonous Dragon

Location: Horsham - St Leonard's Forest
Type: Dragon
Date / Time: 1614 (dragon), eighteenth century (headless figure)
Further Comments: This wooded area was home to a nine foot long dragon in the seventeenth century - it killed men with its poison, but did not eat them, preferring rabbits and smaller creatures. It was coloured black, with a red belly. Even today, there are reports of another unknown creature that travels in the branches of the trees, rarely descending to the forest floor. A nineteenth century story has a headless phantom, named as Squire Paulett by some, which would leap on to the back of any horses being ridden through the forest. The entity would hold on tight and ride pillion, vanishing when its victim reached the edge of the forest.

Screams

Location: Horsham - St Leonard's Forest and private home
Type: Unknown Ghost Type
Date / Time: Late Summer 2008
Further Comments: Teenagers Stephen Foster and Todd Bevis camped the night in the forest and claimed to have heard a girl screaming, seen weird lights, and encountered a presence that tried to enter their tent. Since the incident, Foster also alleged a presence followed him home, where it opened and closed doors and manifested as a dark shape.

Hitchhiking Teenager

Location: Horsham - Unknown junction along A24 near Horsham
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: Those who pick up this hiker find she has vanished soon after their journey commences. She has reportedly given a few drivers her telephone number; when the number is called, it is discovered that the girl died in an accident near the site years previously.

The Blue Anchor pub in Hove.

Door!

Location: Hove - Blue Anchor public house, Boundary Road
Type: Unknown Ghost Type
Date / Time: 1993
Further Comments: While working alone in this pub, in the cellar, a member of staff heard a voice call out 'Door! Door!'. He turned in time to stop the self-locking door from closing itself.

Echoing Steps

Location: Hove - Brooker Hall
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Late twentieth century
Further Comments: The source of the footsteps heard walking around the building has yet to be seen, though it is often blamed for moving items around.

Lady in Brown Dress

Location: Hove - Hangleton Manor Inn
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Mostly unknown, tap felt in October 1995
Further Comments: Local legend says this ghost is a serving girl whose child was killed when the lord of the manor threw it from an attic window. A pair of disembodied hands have been reported floating around the building, also said to belong to the former servant, while on the odd occasion, a male figure in spurs has been observed. A visitor to the manor in 1995 felt a strong tap on her shoulder. Expecting it to be her boyfriend, she turned, but was alone in the room. There are several other local legends about the manor, including hauntings by a horse and carriage, a phantom woman, and ghostly birds.

Man in Tweeds

Location: Hove - Private residence, Albany Villas
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 1970s
Further Comments: This ghostly figure dressed in tweeds would appear sitting in different rooms around the property.

Woman in Nightdress

Location: Hove - Private residence, Bigwood Avenue
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 1980s - early 2000s
Further Comments: Several residents and at least one visitor spotted a phantom woman in a white nightdress during their stay in this house. Footsteps were also heard on the site, doors would slam shut, and one person found themselves locked in a room. One of the children injured themselves trying to float down the stairs like their 'friend'.

Sailor

Location: Hove - The Ship public house
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: Seen in the cellar under the pub, this ghostly eighteenth century sailor is believed to have been a smuggler.

Band Music

Location: Hove - Western Lawns Bandstand (no longer standing, area redeveloped in 1968)
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Pre-1968
Further Comments: Prior to the area being redeveloped, the bandstand fell into disrepair, although people would still hear music coming from the abandoned area.

Feline

Location: Hurst Green - Prospect Terrace (private house)
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 1970s
Further Comments: This spectral cat has been seen running around the property, a shadow of its former self.

Mr Gutsell

Location: Icklesham - Queen's Head public house
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: A local hero, when Gutsell died his coffin was brought along to the wake in his pub. This may have been a mistake, as ever since then his ghost reportedly sits by the fireplace.