Kentish Express Ashford & District
Curious tales of ghosts and abandoned villages
For our countywide leisure guide and TV listings, see your What’s On supplement
The Curiosity Club – a new series of talks and lectures – takes its bow at Revelation St Mary’s in Ashford town centre next week.
The evening at St Mary’s Church next Wednesday from 8pm (doors open at 7.30pm) will see two talks – both with a slightly spooky feel.
The first is Ghost Villages and Abandoned Settlements by Sony-award winning presenter Dr David Bramwell.
He will detail how the UK has lost over 3,000 settlements in the last millennia, though most are only footnotes in history.
This talk explores those that we can still visit or see including drowned villages, those lost to the plague or those commandeered by the MOD. One even comes with a musical accompaniment courtesy of the band, Grasscut.
The lecture culminates with the exploration of one settlement that should be abandoned but isn’t – Sealand, which, in 1967, became an independent principality with its own flag, currency and piratical antics.
As a performer he has toured several solo shows and won awards for ‘Best Comedy’ and ‘Outstanding Theatre’ at the Brighton Fringe Festival.
Dr Bramwell’s talk will be followed by Creepy Kent with Neil Arnold.
This is described as a dark, humorous and atmospheric look at the stranger side of the Garden of England.
Full-time folklorist, author and monster-hunter Neil Arnold explores the legends of some of Kent’s most ghost-infested places, including Pluckley, Blue Bell Hill and historic Rochester.
But are the legends all they are cracked up to be? With tales of headless horsemen, phantom hitchhikers, Dickensian spirits, festive phantoms and campfire stories, Neil brings a large pinch of salt to his talks, explaining why we need ghost stories, whether you believe in them or not.
Be prepared to be entertained … but maybe not frightened!
Neil Arnold has spent 30 years investigating reports of nonnative animals residing in the British countryside.
Tickets priced £8 or £10 will be available on the door. Six miles – starting at 4pm from Lapwing Drive, Lower Halstow: White Cliffs Ramblers.
Four miles – starting at 2pm from Elham church: Collyer’s Companions.
5.5 miles – starting at 7.30am from Kearsney Abbey: White Cliffs Ramblers.
22 miles – Elham Valley Way (part of Elham Walking Festival), starting at 8.30am from Hythe library, lunch stop at Elham, going to Canterbury with bus back: Long Distance Walkers Association.
4-mile circular walk across fields to the North Downs Way, starting from Wye railway station at 10am. Dogs on a short lead allowed.
Five miles – starting at 2pm from St Margaret’s car park: White Cliffs Countryside Partnership.
3.5 miles – starting at 10.30am from Reculver car park: Dover & Thanet Rights of Way Society.
Six miles – starting at 10am from Kearsney Abbey: White Cliffs Ramblers.
11 miles – starting at 10am from the lower car park at Chilham, car park: East Kent Rambling Club.
16.2 miles – starting at 10am from East Cliff Pavilion, Folkestone: White Cliffs Ramblers.
4.5-5 miles – starting at 10.30am from the lower car park at Chilham: East Kent Rambling Club. 4-5 miles – starting at 10.30am from Whitstable Gorrell Tank: East Kent Rambling Club. 10-11 miles – starting at West Wood car park, Rhodes Minnis, lunch stop at Lyminge: East Kent Rambling Club.
12 miles – starting at 10am from Perry Wood, near Chilham, pub stop: White Cliffs Ramblers.