Sussex Ghosts, Folklore and Forteana
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.
ID #9167, last updated 2009-04-12
A skeleton gets his groove on (public domain).
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.
ID #1964, last updated 2002-07-23
A pair of dragons.
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.
ID #1981, last updated 2002-07-24
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 her clothing's 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 standing behind a door.
ID #1922, last updated 2002-07-21
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.
ID #1923, last updated 2002-07-21
Crackling Breaths
Location: Worthing - Heene cemetery
Type: Unknown Ghost Type
Date / Time: 11 December 2025
Further Comments: One visitor standing alone by a wall reported hearing heavy and strained breathing with odd crackling between breaths, together with the feeling of being watched.
ID #16201, last updated 2025-12-21
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.
ID #11005, last updated 2012-07-20
Unease
Location: Worthing - MGM House (demolished 2017), Heene Road
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 1970s
Further Comments: Security guards felt unease in the basement of this building, where strange sounds and occurrences were said to happen. A journalist who spent the night on site encountered nothing, although they did hear footsteps.
ID #16512, last updated 2026-04-05
Door Opener
Location: Worthing - Private residence, High Street, Tarring
Type: Poltergeist
Date / Time: 1960s
Further Comments: This poltergeist opened and closed doors, created footsteps in empty parts of the building, and shut bedroom windows.
ID #15855, last updated 2025-04-06
Raising Miller
Location: Worthing - The Miller's Tomb, Highdown Hill
Type: Legend - Old Nick
Date / Time: 1794 onwards (miller)(?), Dog in 2022
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. More recently, two witnesses encountered a large black dog during a rainy evening; the creature silently watched the pair causing the couple to quickly leave.
ID #8280, last updated 2024-07-31
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'.
ID #6228, last updated 2005-05-05
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.
ID #1943, last updated 2002-07-22
Horseman
Location: Wych Cross - Road in the area
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 1980, winter
Further Comments: A taxi driver had to brake to avoid hitting a rider upon a white horse, both of which vanished as the vehicle stopped. While the encounter has since been declared a hoax, stories of a ghostly horse in the area continue.
ID #16202, last updated 2025-12-21
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.
ID #6264, last updated 2005-05-18
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.
ID #1990, last updated 2002-08-03
Records 451 - 465 of 465
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