The Paranormal Database

Saxon Chieftain

Location: Westmeston - Downs in the area
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: This Saxon is said to wander the area, looking down on nearby towns and villages.

Nun

Location: Westmeston - St Martin's Church
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Reputed to appear only in the afternoon
Further Comments: This lonely figure leaves the churchyard, crosses the road, and disappears through the wall of a nearby house.

Carving Monk

Location: Westmeston - Westmeston Place
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: This sixteenth century hall is said to be home to a phantom monk who has been observed carving away at an ornate wall.

Coffin

Location: Wilmington - Hill
Type: Legend
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: One of the barrows in this area is said to contain a Golden coffin containing a Roman body.

Long Man of Wilmington

Location: Wilmington - Windover Hill
Type: Legend
Date / Time: Still present
Further Comments: This tall hill giant, cut into the soft chalk base, stands around seventy metres in height and is thought to represent any one of several legendary figures. A phantom black dog is also reputed to lurk above the figure, and a local legend says that Arthur fought one of his battles nearby.

Old Farmer

Location: Winchelsea - Queen's Head Hotel
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: Once a farmhouse before its conversion into a public house and hotel, the ghost present was a farmer who lived here long ago. Another story states that the shade is a former pub owner whose body was displayed in the bar so his regulars could show their respect.

Hiding Highwayman

Location: Winchelsea - Winchelsea Church, monastery ruins
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: Said to have been seen hiding in the trees around the ruins, the highwayman's target can occasionally be heard galloping up the nearby road. A black soldier in a red uniform has also been reported from the churchyard, and a phantom monk has been observed moving above the ground on nearby private land.

Man from the Twenties

Location: Wiston - Cottage in village
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 1954-1958, late summer & autumn time
Further Comments: A couple who moved into their dream home were disturbed by the spectre of a gentleman dressed in 1920's clothing, who had a habit of walking through bedroom walls. His footsteps could also be heard about the cottage, and he often opened the front door.

Jacob

Location: Wivelsfield Green - Royal Oak public house
Type: Poltergeist
Date / Time: 2008
Further Comments: Nicknamed Jacob, this phantom is blamed for setting off the security alarm and throwing small items through the air.

Broadwater Church in Worthing.

Tugging

Location: Worthing - Broadwater Church
Type: Unknown Ghost Type
Date / Time: April 2005
Further Comments: Three local people walking through the churchyard experienced a 'tugging' from behind. Two of the people also felt nauseous and had to quickly leave the area. When one of the witnesses returned later, they felt nothing unusual.

A skeleton gets his groove on.

Dancing Skeletons

Location: Worthing - Broadwater Green, old oak tree
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 23 June (or Midsummer Eve) (reoccurring)
Further Comments: A local tale says that these animated bones appear on midsummer night's eve to dance and jig until the sun rises on the following day.

Guarded Secret Tunnel

Location: Worthing - Cissbury Ring (Hillfort)
Type: Dragon
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: Leading to an untold amount of wealth, the tunnel hidden in this hillfort is guarded by a pair of snake-like dragons. The ghost of a druid is reported to haunt the site looking for this treasure, and the sound of phantom galloping horses have also been reported. Finally, another legend says the structure was formed by earth falling off the Devil's shovel as he tried to dig a hole in the South Downs.

Actress in Grey

Location: Worthing - Connaught Theatre
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 1987 and September 2015
Further Comments: The apparition of this actress wears a grey dress, though its style has been placed in several periods - possibly a result of the woman playing many different roles during her lifetime. She was most recently observed in 2015, wearing a long dress and stood behind a door.

Field Place House in Worthing.

Lady in Glasses

Location: Worthing - Field Place House
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: August 1996
Further Comments: This old lady was watched as she walked down a corridor in a long black dress and vanished into a wall.

Heene Road, Worthing.

Naming Names

Location: Worthing - Insurance company, Heene Road
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 2000s
Further Comments: Staff are said to have experienced something tapping them on the shoulder in the basement of this building, while two other workers heard their names being called out when they were alone on the site.

Raising Miller

Location: Worthing - The Miller's Tomb, Highdown Hill
Type: Legend - Old Nick
Date / Time: 1794 onwards?
Further Comments: Dancing or walking around the tomb seven times will summon the miller who is buried within, according to one legend. Others say that it will be the Devil who appears when the rite is complete.

The Thorntons shop in Worthing.

Two Children

Location: Worthing - Thorntons and Ernest Jones shops
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Twenty-first century
Further Comments: Two child-like figures were caught on security cameras in these shops, while staff report strange sounds and phantom activity. One staff member observed a ghostly entity in a storeroom, which spoke the word 'quiet'.

Ragged Child

Location: Worthing - Wyke Gardens
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 1950s
Further Comments: A young child has been seen in this building, looking pitiful and sick.

Luke the Smuggler

Location: Wych Cross - Roebuck Hotel
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: Wearing sea-going clothing and having a well weathered face, Luke sometimes returns to the hotel to raid the rum supply.

Polka

Location: Yapton - General area
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 1956
Further Comments: The ghostly sounds of a Polka could be heard in the village during the early evening, though the source could not be traced.