Pluckley - we ain't afraid of no ghosts

The Village of Pluckley is probably one of the places many people will head for not only for its reputation as a ghost town but for its association with the television series 'The Darling Buds of May'. This was March and a cool cloudy day so the best of the village was hidden in that typical English grey which was a pity becuse the trip promised much. However, the afternoon was a good one with the occasional sunny spots and as yuo can see from the picture of the church we are still in winter although in all the gardens and around the hedgerows the daffodils, violets and primroses seemed to explain that spring is on the way. Trees are budding and fruit trees have the blossom beginning to burst out. Pluckley shows its readiness fro spring and I would say that once here we will see a great and refreshing change.

Pluckley is supposedly the most haunted place in Kent revealed the only ghosts this day, 14th March, was us as we watched drivers trash through the village ignoring the 30mph and 40 mph speed limits with impunity. The illegitimate son of an illegitimate female dog driving a porsche seemed to think that 60 to 70 was okay even with walkers and cyclists and later a horse and trap as fellow travellers. Idiot! Opposite is a house that is on the Charing road. Note the windows which seem to be part of the Pluckley style but more of that later.

However, we parked outside the Black Horse inn and after our usual break for coffee and or a glass of beer we took a stroll around the village and enjoyed the sights of what must be one of the most attractive villages in this area of Kent. (Pity about the formula one track) Take a look at the unusual brick frame windows we were informed were called Dering windows after the local ancient resident and family that seem to dominate the area. We found a local butcher and bought some pies - delicious; that is the one I had for my tea that night.

A gate house not far from the church which illustrates the style of window that although set in the local stone is a brick or cast shape.

We lunched at the Black Horse but I would not recommend it as a real treat compared to what we have experienced so far in our travels. The beer was not that great and the food was indifferent to fair and the service was good but there was not the atmosphere of the previous places. Probably being a popular place for the average tourist and early in the season I suggest that perhaps staff have not yet realised that you have to be brighter. It had an 'are you local' feel to it. To balance the criticism off the staff member who chatted with us after we had paid was willing to tell us a little about the village.

A view across the weald from Pluckley.

However, the stroll was pleasant and we followed a reccommended route from in front of the pub turning right on down Forge Lane to Lambden road. We missed the public footpath but did niot regret it because there were some interesting buildings on the way. we noticed more of the Dering style windows and noted that where extensions or modernisation had taken place the new windows followed the Dering pattern.

The walking was easy and pleasant and with views of farmhouses, sheep and the low hills we realised what a pleasant place it was to visit and could understand the attraction. Maybe the ghost liked the place so much they too wanted to stay?

One of the attractions was the amount of large trees that were growing in the area but what detracted from that pleasure was that in places, especially past the orchards the hedgerows had been scragged to the point of annihilation. That is not good for wildlife but not all paddocks were like that.

Our walking guide said that there was a house with a rose garden in front of it buit failed to say that it was also part of the most well managed looking farmyard we have seen since Luddenham Manor Farm near Oare. This time of the year the rose are mere trimmed stumps with perhaps the suggestion of growth but what we could see from the layout that in the summer the garden will be a riot of color.

But color was added with the early spring flowers and the early tree blossom and of course the evergreens that contrast with the dun colored trees not yet showing green although if you looked closely there is a green bloom beginning.

We also noted that the birds are getting active and saw, with great pleasure, a pair of fat sparrows on a roof near Pluckley Station.

But back to the wild flowers. It was a treat to see the violets in the sunshine and primroses scattered on the banks of a roadside ditch which chattered with the sound of clear running water.

As it was Pluckley without the ghosts was a neat walk and we should re-visit the area when the place is humming with spring and summer life.

To finish the walk from Lambden we turned up the road back to Pluckley and turned right onto the narrow lane where we saw the primroses and followed a marked footpath from there about a kilometre further along opposite a row of cottages, again with the odd windows and wandered up between the orchards to the farm where house with the rose garden stands. From there it is but a short back past the church and across the sports field sporting its new, community built cricket pavillion and back to the Black Horse. A shortish walk but better for the time of the year.

Not a long walk but full of interest and from our map; the one we use to guide us around places, we saw more areas of interest. There was a walk to or from the Dering Arms or the Blacksmiths Arms to explore and walk on the woodland paths within cooee of Smarden which in the summer would be a great walk. Especially so if we don't want to get stranded on the dark with all them ghosties!