Appledore ghost walk raises the spirits

A GHOST Walk around the narrow, winding streets of Appledore turned into an unexpected flurry of supernatural activity as psychics reported sightings of ghosts and claimed to have contacted spirits of the dead. Appledore has a remarkable history of such

A GHOST Walk around the narrow, winding streets of Appledore turned into an unexpected flurry of supernatural activity as psychics reported sightings of ghosts and claimed to have contacted spirits of the dead.

Appledore has a remarkable history of such occurrences and residents have reported ghostly sightings of hooded monks, fishermen and sailors in their houses.

Others have told of poltergeist activity, such as flying cups and glasses, heavy furniture moving on its own as well as unexplained footsteps and smells of perfumes, tobacco and food cooking coming from nowhere.

There have also been reports by people of being hugged by invisible presences.

Such an unusual catalogue of happenings provoked huge interest in the Ghost Walk and Terry Bailey, who hosted the event for the Appledore Book Festival, had to add a second walk to accommodate the numbers.

Most of the reported incidents occurred during the first outing.

Terry said: "I wasn't surprised that people saw something, because so many things happen in Appledore that can't be explained. During our research of Appledore's history we found more than 60 sites where ghosts have been seen around the village. But I have to admit I did not expect to experience so much activity."

The first walk had not even begun before the sightings started, he said.

"A lady said she had felt the presence of a French sailor. She claimed he told her he had been murdered in Appledore and was buried in the churchyard and that Appledore folk didn't like Frenchies. Well, there was a Frenchman murdered in the village in 1902 and his unmarked grave is in the bottom of the graveyard, not far from where she was standing. But he was killed by a fellow French shipmate during a fight."

Among the ghost walkers was Susan Roberts, from the Devon College of Psychic Studies and founder of the English Psychic Company and some of her students.

She said: "As a medium of some 25 years experience, I have encountered many ghosts, spirit people and a great many strange and unexplained phenomena and the Appledore ghost walk was no exception. Within minutes of starting the tour a student and I were aware that a spirit gentleman had joined our group."

More sightings were reported said a delighted Terry.

"This turned out to be more interesting that I expected. In fact, there has been such a huge interest that I shall be doing two more at Hallowe'en and there will be more to follow," he said.