Moved to www.robgutro.com /I am an author, paranormal investigator & medium with Inspired Ghost Tracking. I can receive messages from ghosts or spirits (who have crossed over). As a scientist, I explain the paranormal with energy. Known as a Pet Medium; but work with human ghosts and spirits, too. My books teach you how to recognize signs from spirits.* AWARD-WINNING - 2021,2022 and 2023 BookAuthority Best New Grief Ebook for Pets and the Afterlife 3
Rob's Books, Medium Readings, Animal Rescue Fundraisers
BOOKS: Pets and the Afterlife, Pets and the Afterlife 2, Pets and the Afterlife 3, Pets and the Afterlife 4, Lessons Learned from Talking to the Dead, Ghosts of England on a Medium's Vacation, Ghosts of the Bird Cage Theatre on a Medium's Vacation, Kindred Spirits: How a Medium
Befriended a Spirit, Case Files of Inspired Ghost Tracking and Ghosts and Spirits Explained
BEST SELLERS: All of Rob's books have reached "best-seller" status on AMAZON.com in various paranormal categories. PET SPIRIT READINGS: Now offered via email and done on weekends. Reserve a spot thru Paypal. Email me at Rgutro@gmail.com Send 1 Photo of your pet, their name, and any questions.ANIMAL RESCUE FUNDRAISING LECTURES : Rob is a dog dad, volunteers with Dachshund and Weimaraner rescues and does fundraising lectures for dog and cat rescues.
Pluckley, Kent Looks are deceiving in this pretty Wealden village — Pluckley is astir with tales of the paranormal. With 12 ‘official’ ghosts, it was awarded the Guinness World Record for Britain’s most-haunted village in 1989. These include the Red Lady — who’s been seen wandering through the churchyard — vengeful highwaymen, phantom horses and even reports of piercing screeches ringing through Dering Woods, earning it the unofficial title of Screaming Woods. If you’d rather not test your nerves by camping out in the forest, then call into the Black Horse for a Kentish ale beneath the old beams instead. But keep an eye on your things — the pub’s said to be home to a thieving poltergeist.
(Photo: St Nicholas' Church in Pluckley, Kent. The village holds the record for being the most-haunted in the country, with no fewer than a dozen different phantoms reported. These include the Red Lady, who’s been seen wandering through the churchyard. PHOTOGRAPH BYALAMY)
Hidden in plain sight of the Shard, in the eaves of St Thomas’ Church, is one of the world’s oldest surviving operating theatres. Dating back to 1822, it was only rediscovered in the 1950s and is now a museum for those curious to learn more about the terrifying traditions of pre-anaesthetic medicine — with plenty of instruments and artefacts on show. Don’t miss the operating table itself, as well as all the curative curios in the herb garret — a cobwebbed attic space believed to have been used to store herbs by St Thomas’ Hospital apothecary.
Headless phantoms, kindly spectres or tormented spirits, tales of ghosts in Kent have been passed on through decades and centuries.
No matter where you are in the county, you're never too far from somewhere believed to play host to some form of paranormal activity.
Dover Castle's medieval tunnels can feel unnerving if down there alone. Pic: Joe Wright
Whether you are a believer or not, ghost stories are a fascinating aspect of Kent's history that will continue to be passed on from generation to generation.
Many drivers heading home in the dark are adamant they have laid eyes on an unliving being.
Quiet trips to castles can certainly be unnerving as you explore the old surroundings, while landlords and regulars will tell you of mysterious goings on at almost every pub in the county.
The county is teeming with tales of the supernatural...
So let's breakdown the most haunted roads, castles and pubs in Kent.
ROADS
Smiles and sadness - near Wye
Unnerving and unsettling, haunted White Hill is thought to be home to the ghost of a beautiful woman in her 30s, dressed in a long coat.
She is believed to appear in the middle of the road just as a car approaches.
Instead of moving out of the way, she turns and hauntingly smiles directly at the driver just before impact.
As stated in Haunted Places of Kent, one motorist in 2000 recalled hearing a sickening thump and slammed on his brakes. There were however, so signs of blood or impact.
White Hill connects Challock to the A28 near Wye.
A number of Kent's roads are believed to be haunted. Pic: Joe Wright
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang roaring through village lanes - Patrixbourne
Eccentric millionaire Count Louis Zborowski built his Chitty Chitty Bang Bang racecar in Patrixbourne, outside Canterbury.
Fitted with a huge engine, the car won numerous races in the 1920s and the Count - who lived at Higham House - was seen testing his machinery on Kent's village roads.
His famous creation inspired Ian Fleming's classic children's book with a flying car of the same name.
Zborowski, who even raced in the Indy 500, was tragically killed during the Italian Grand Prix in 1924 while driving a different Mercedes.
Count Louis Zborowski at the wheel of his monstrously powerful machine
Following his death, villagers in Patrixbourne began to see visions of the a ghostly Chitty Chitty Bang Bang thundering through the lanes.
It is said the phantom car races down the old A2 before returning to Higham House.
Ancient ghost battling the Romans - Bridge
A Celtic chariot drawn by two horses is said to charge down the village's Watling Street during the night.
It is thought the chariot, which bears a warrior grasping a spear, is on its way to join a fight against the invading Romans.
A battle involving the legendary Julius Caesar against the Celts is said to have taken place in Bridge in the 1st century. The ghostly chariot tale is seemingly associated with the ancient battle.
Hitchhiking spirit at notorious blackspot - Blue Bell Hill
One of the most famous ghost tales around, the mysteries of Blue Bell Hill are well known.
In 1962, Bob Vandepeer said he gave a lift to a girl on the hill only to later turn around and discover the hitchhiker had vanished in the back of the car.
And then in In 1971, James Skene was driving home from work when he says a girl in her early 20s suddenly appeared in front of his car. He gave her a lift to Chatham, but when she got out she disappeared.
A Gazette newspaper cutting detailing the tragedy at the time
Numerous apparent sightings have followed, with shocked drivers detailing how they have spotted a bride in the road, or even spoken to her about her upcoming wedding before she completely vanishes.
The tale originates from a fatal crash on the road in 1965, when bride-to-be Susan Browne tragically died along with two friends.
Susan was due to marry a RAF technician the following day but her Ford Cortina spun out of control and collided with a Jaguar heading the other way.
Despite a common belief that she died on the road, it was actually her friend, Patricia Ferguson, who lost her life there. Miss Browne and Judith Lingham died a few days later in Maidstone Hospital.
Vanishing limousine - Tunbridge Wells
A ghostly white limousine is said to have been spotted on numerous occasions around the roads of Tunbridge Wells.
The luxury car, which dates from the 1920s, is seen on the B2169 towards Bayham Abbey.
It is believed to park up on the side of the road before shimmering and vanishing without trace as soon as intrigued onlookers approach.
Have you seen a big black dog at Leeds Castle?
CASTLES
Roaming black dog - Leeds Castle
The imprisoned Duchess of Gloucester was held at the castle for the remainder of her life in the 1400s on charges of practising witchcraft.
Her magic was said to conjure up a huge black dog which began to wander around the castle grounds. As stated in Kent Ghost Stories, the phantom animal is thought to be the suspected sorceress in canine form - or the Duchess' familiar spirit.
Laying eyes on the beast as it roams around the grounds is thought to bring misfortune on the witness.
Baby cries at ancient towers - Reculver
Sounds of a baby crying are said to be regularly heard during the night at Reculver Towers.
Remains of infants were uncovered at the former Roman fort site in the 1960s.
As stated in Haunted Kent, it is believed young babies may have been used as sacrifices and placed in the foundations to protect the fort from evil spirits.
Cries are said to haunt Reculver. Pic: Lynette Coleman
The chilling cries are therefore thought to be calls for freedom from their endless entrapment in the stonework.
No source for the noise has ever been discovered by those claiming to hear it.
Childhood memories and gruesomeness - Hever Castle
Henry VIII's tragic second wife Anne Boleyn is believed to haunt her childhood home of Hever Castle in a number of forms.
She is said to delicately wander the castle grounds while bearing a sweet smile as she explores her former home in memory of happier and more innocent times.
Anne Boleyn haunts Hever Castle
It is thought her ghostly body was brought back to Hever in a spectral carriage following her execution at the Tower of London.
A more gruesome phantom of the former Queen of England is also said to haunt the grounds. Reports of her being seen walking with her severed head tucked neatly under her arm have been told through generations.
Ancient march through the centuries - Richborough
Marching through the fog, a column of Roman soldiers are said to have been seen at the ruins of the Roman fort near Sandwich.
A once mighty fortification, Richborough was a base for a legion of soldiers. Footsteps of phantoms are said to be heard before the noise grows into a steady march.
The Roman warriors can sometimes be seen making their way through the mist - forever marching.
Richborough - one of Kent's most ancient sites
Forever keeping guard - Dover Castle
Home to numerous ghosts, the most famous to haunt Kent's most impressive castle is that of a headless drummer boy from Napoleonic times.
The night-time phantom is thought to be the ghost of a youngster who was on watch duty patrolling the castle's battlements in case of a French invasion.
Believed to be the unfortunate witness of a crime, his decapitated body was found beneath the castle walls.
Dover Castle by night can be daunting
Now forever keeping watch, the headless boy is said to still patrol the battlements with his drum hanging by his side.
Other spectres to linger at the castle include a soldier in the Second World War tunnels, a lady in red inside the keep, and a cloaked gentleman sporting a large hat from the 1600s.
There are ghosts aplenty at Dover Castle
Things you do for love - Rochester Castle
Having been fatally shot in the heart with a crossbow bolt not intended for her, Lady Blanche de Warrenne is said to persistently haunt her place of death at Rochester Castle.
She had won the hearts of a number of men in the 13th century and was unlucky enough to become a tragic victim of a quarrel.
A bolt shot by her future husband, Ralph de Capo, was intended to kill admirer Gilbert de Clare, but it glanced off his armour and pierced Lady Blanche's heart.
As described in Ghosthunter Walks in Kent, Lady Blanche appears hundreds of years after her death with her long hair fluttering in the breeze.
Pacing back and forth along the battlements and wearing a gown, she can be glimpsed briefly before vanishing.
Rochester Castle
PUBS
Troublesome monk - The Coopers Arms
Formerly a priory, one of Kent's oldest pubs, The Coopers Arms in St Margaret's Street, Rochester, is believed to be haunted by a phantom monk who appears once a year in November.
The monk was said to be buried alive in the walls and left to die for committing an unforgivable sin against the Brethren of Coopers.
Now, he hauntingly reappears, coming out from his walled grave. Some say he has a look of anger on his face before returning from where he came and reappearing the following year.
The Coopers Arms
Invisible nuisance - The Black Horse
Dubbed the most haunted village in England, Pluckley draws in ghost hunters from across the country.
Standing in the heart of the village, The Black Horse is thought to be haunted by an invisible phantom known for moving glasses and belongings which can go missing for days on end.
Coats draped over the backs of chairs also mysteriously make their way to hooks by the pub's front door.
Poker murder - The Walnut Tree Inn
The 14th century pub, in Aldington, near Ashford, was once the headquarters of The Aldington Gang, a group of smugglers who brought in goods across the Romney Marsh.
One night while waiting for a signal from colleagues, some of the gang began playing cards, violence erupted and one member slit the throat of another.
Walnut Tree Inn, Aldington
Nowadays the murderer can be heard at night taking the body to the well to be disposed of. Sometimes the sounds of scuffling and a body being dragged outside can also be heard.
Empty footsteps - The Ringlestone Inn
Footsteps of an unknown individual are often heard making their way up the steps from the cellar at the Ringlestone pub.
Ringlestone Inn
As the noisy ghost nears the ground floor of the pub, it's expected he will become visible. However, when he nears the top, the footsteps cease and the ghost remains illusive.
It is thought the phantom has never made it to the bar and continues to linger in the cellar - occasionally heard moving barrels around the floor.
There are a lot of haunted places in the United Kingdom . I also had the pleasure of visiting England and you can read about my encounters with the ghosts there in my book "Ghosts of England on a Medium's Vacation," available on Amazon.GetReadingUK on-line spotlighted a couple of haunted places and here's one I didn't get a chance to visit, but it's quite haunted!
(Photo: Market Place area of Newbury, UK. Credit: Wikimedia)
Market Place, Newbury
Although this area is now full of cafes and shops, the Market Place in Newbury was once the place where criminals were forced to stand in the stocks while they were ambushed with vegetables.
In 1538 a man named Thomas Barrie had his ears nailed to the stock and chopped off after he was accused of spreading seditious rumours about King Henry VIII. He died of fright.
It is said that his ghost still haunts Market Place, earless and groaning in pain.
Market Street is also known to be a former Quaker burial site and numerous people have seen the ghost of a Quaker lady roaming around Cheap Street.
On Northbrook street, just five minutes down the road, there have been regular sightings of Doctor Watson walking along, carrying a small black bag and disappearing suddenly.
If you haven't yet enjoyed my book "Ghosts of England on a Medium's Vacation" that contains my personal ghost encounters there, give it a read. You'll get history and hauntings on a very personal level. On a related note, Wales Online posted a list of the most haunted places... and I'm sharing with you in this blog.
Research ranks the most haunted places in the UK
WALES On-line: https://www.walesonline.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/research-ranks-most-haunted-places-21903141
Ever visited a castle or old stately home and felt a little creeped out? Wondered what might go bump in the night if you were to stay over? Thanks to new research, the top five most haunted locations in the UK can finally be revealed.
The research by online pop culture retailer, Lost Universe, measured the number of Google searches for haunted places, as well as some of the goosebump-inducing stories that go along with them.
The top five, all based in old castles, are as follows:
1. Ballygally Castle, Northern Ireland
Built in 1625 and housing nearly 400 years of spine-chilling history, Ballygally Castle has recently converted into a hotel, and is reputed to host several ghosts. The stories tell that there are three ghosts residing within the walls, one of whom is the spirit of Lady Isabella, who fell to her death from a window trying to escape from imprisonment at her husband’s hands.
2. Cabra Castle, Co. Cavan, Ireland
Cabra Castle is the home of several gruesome stories throughout its history. Now converted to a hotel, guests will be staying at the location where, legend has it, a servant girl was brutally killed thanks to a forbidden relationship that took place in the 1780s. Many people say they feel a ‘presence’ in the courtyard rooms, and one guest even saw a solider from the early 20 th century striding down a corridor!
3. Colliston Castle, Angus, Scotland
Colliston Castle is a 16 th -century Z-plan tower house, which was altered and extended in the 18 th and 19 th centuries. It has recently been turned into a guest house, although guests will find themselves bedding down in the very house where the owner was found dead in the hall with his gun beside him in 1929. Could he still be walking the halls today?
4. Dudley Castle, England
Dudley Castle was built shortly after the Norman Conquest of England in 1066 and is said to be the home of the Grey Lady, thought to be the spirit of Dorothy Beaumont, who died in the castle, along with her baby, shortly after childbirth. Many tourists claim to have captured her ghostly presence in photographs and even seen her appearing in windows.
5. Edinburgh Castle, Scotland
With a settlement sitting on Castle Rock since around 860 AD, the dark and troubled history of Edinburgh Castle is a long one. There are many terrifying stories linked to the castle, but one of the creepiest is certainly that of The Boy Piper, who was sent to explore the tunnels under the Royal Mile… only to mysteriously disappear.
Other sites that made the top ten most haunted locations list were: Gwydir Castle, Kinnitty Castle, Muncaster Castle, Warwick Castle and Airth Castle.
Alongside the most haunted locations, Lost Universe also analysed search data to uncover the ghostliest UK cities, as it was revealed that searches for ‘exorcisms’ and ‘haunted house’ are up by 29% and 5% respectively across the UK since 2020. The total searches for the following phrases on Google were analysed: Haunted Homes, Haunted Houses, Haunted Toys, Haunted Items, How to Perform an Exorcisms and Is My House Haunted? Local data was then used to determine the most haunted cities in the UK.
Cheryl Cullen, the Managing Director at London Ghost Tour by Taxi said: “We’ve often wondered why London is the most haunted city in the world and decided, well, it’s such a great place to be who would ever want to leave?! We think interest in paranormal activity has increased because it’s now easier to evidence through digital tools such as video and audio recordings and people love a ghost tour because they present a real opportunity to combine an interest in history with the potential for a paranormal experience!”
Want to see what a Ghost Looks Like and meet the Medium who sees and sketches them? A book called "Case Files of Inspired Ghost Tracking," by best-selling paranormal author Rob Gutro takes readers on paranormal investigations into private and historic homes where ghosts were traumatizing families. Rob, a medium in the Inspired Ghost Tracking paranormal group, announced the release of his seventh paranormal book that brings readers along on investigations and reveals some bizarre and shocking things the group found and how they helped the ghosts and families.
"When earthbound ghosts have traumatized families in their own homes, Inspired Ghost Tracking (IGT) of Maryland has gone in to cross them over," Gutro said. "Every case is different, too. Some have had earthbound ghosts that were friendly, others were not. IGT experienced a lot of bad energies that caused people to become physically sick or mentally traumatized. IGT investigators had to figure who, what, when and why things were happening, to finally bring peace to the living and the dead."
In this collection of IGT cases, you’ll read about the "Burned Ghost," ghosts of two different time periods in one home, dark things that Ouija boards brought into homes, a very haunted Maryland mansion, many ghosts of Baltimore’s Federal Hill, a ghostly attachment, a Steelworker’s ghost, poltergeist activity, the famous IGT “Double Murder Ghost Investigation” and many more.
You'll find answers to questions like why ghosts choose to stay in a place, the differences and similarities between ghosts and spirits, why energy is the key to the paranormal and much more.
Although Rob has become known as a "Pet Medium" through the success of his best-selling books "Pets and the Afterlife" and "Pets and the Afterlife 2," he also connects with human earthbound ghosts and spirits.
Gutro is the first in the paranormal field to make the distinction between earthbound ghosts and spirits who have crossed over. Rob has three books about his experience with human ghosts and spirits, called "Ghosts and Spirits," "Lessons Learned from Talking to the Dead," and "Ghosts of England on a Medium's Vacation," and most recently, "Kindred Spirits: How a Medium Befriended a Spirit."
Rob Gutro has been featured in the Washington Post and nationally syndicated radio programs like "Coast to Coast AM." Rob is a volunteer with Dachshund and Weimaraner rescues and gives fundraising lectures for animal rescues around the U.S., teaching grieving pet parents how pets communicate from the afterlife.
Here's the first of several blogs about Haunted New England places. It is one in a series from the Quincy Mass. Patriot Ledger newspaper.This one is called Dogtown, located on Cape Ann in Massachusetts.
Dogtown, Cape Ann, Massachusetts
Once a somewhat prosperous inland settlement on Cape Ann in the 1600s, with nearly 100 families and plenty of pasture, the tides of war were not kind to this village north of Gloucester. First, the Revolutionary War brought a new economic boom around fishing and other marine industries, sending people past the village and to coastal Gloucester.
Then, the War of 1812 took the rest of the farmers still living there, creating a perfect place for pirates and other unsavory types to hide out away from the busier cities like Rockport. After the war, the village’s seedy reputation stuck. At one point, it was reportedly inhabited by witches, including Thomazine “Tammy” Younger, known as the “Queen of the Witches,” who would stand in the road and intimidate travelers as they passed by. Eventually even the unsavory residents moved elsewhere — often leaving their pets behind to turn feral, hence the name “Dogtown” — and the last buildings were demolished in 1845.
Now, the area is a public trust and open to hikers — just keep an eye out for the numerous cellar holes that still dot the land, as well as the 36 boulder carvings commissioned by Roger Babson sporting such ominous phrases as, “When work stops, values decay.”
Recently I was asked whether the Inspired Ghost Tracking (IGT) team of paranormal investigators (of which I belong) are surprised whenever we make contact with a ghost and if we expect to communicate. The answer in today's blog, and you can read about many cases of IGT in my book "Case Files of Inspired Ghost Tracking."
Here's the Q&A :
QUESTION: I've noticed a lot of the ghost chasing shows, folks seemed to be surprised when contact is made.
ANSWER: I think that's because the ghost chasing TV shows are inexperienced people - and don't understand how ghosts communicate.
QUESTION 2: Isn’t it expected to make contact since you are in haunted locations?
ANSWER: Well, that's the hope. Again, sometimes ghosts don't want to talk. That's why some teams will get messages and interactions and others won't. The ghost decides who they trust enough or like enough to communicate with!
When earth bound ghosts have traumatized families in their own homes, Inspired Ghost Tracking (IGT) of Maryland has gone in to cross them over. In this collection of IGT cases, you’ll read about a very haunted Maryland mansion, many ghosts of Baltimore’s Federal Hill, the Burned Ghost, ghosts of two different time periods in one building, the dark things Ouija boards brought into homes, a ghostly attachment, a Steelworker’s ghost, poltergeist activity, the famous IGT “Double Murder Ghost Investigation” and many more. You’ll also learn about ghosts vs. spirits, energy and lots of Q&A. So, come along with us on these IGT investigations and learn that the paranormal is quite active! CLICK TO ORDER
The Travel Channel did a feature about Haunted Trails, and this one is about
a trail in Tennessee! Here's the story.
Ghost House Trail, Tennessee
This part of the remote Appalachians in Big Ridge State Park is known for a witch hanging and an American Indian scalping. The former may or may not have happened, but there’s a plaque commemorating the latter along nearby Indian Rock Trail. However, the 1.2-mile Ghost House Trail is even spookier and earned its name for the onetime house of the Hutchinson family, where daughter Mary died of tuberculosis in the 1800s. Neighbors reported hearing cries and seeing ghosts in the house even after the family no longer lived there. While Mary doesn’t show up on the trail today, her dog does, and many people have reported hearing a phantom dog running and panting.
Windsor Castle in the United Kingdom is haunted. I've been there and had my own experiences (which you can read about in my book "Ghosts of England on a Medium's Vacation." Back in 2021, the UK's Berkshire Live did a story about reported hauntings, and now you can read about them>
(Photo: Rob at Windsor Castle, UK, 2012. Credit. R.Gutro)
England's Windsor Castle: The ghost kings and queens
The area is full of grand stately homes and ancient pubs that are all said to be the home of ghosts.
But if there's one place you think you'd be sure to find an eerie spirit, it would be Windsor Castle.
The world-famous building is The Queen's favourite place of residence.
And yes, there are allegedly ghosts, particularly ones of a high-standing.
According to Stuart Hylton's "Little Book of Berkshire" the castle is haunted by a number of former monarchs and their offspring.
The library is said to be haunted by several of the children of Queen Victoria.
None other than Elizabeth I has also been spotted, and it is said George VI had several encounters with her during World War Two.
George III, famous for his bouts of "madness" is said to have been seen muttering to himself, as has Charles I.
One of the most famous Royals of all, Henry VIII has also allegedly been seen on the battlements of the castle before he disappears through a wall.
Charmingly, Henry has also been seen in the cloisters - some of the walks within the castle - dragging the same ulcerated leg that eventually killed him.
His wife Anne Boleyn, who was beheaded, has also been seen at a window in the castle weeping, reports say.
Other ghosts included George Villiers, the "loathed" 1st Duke of Buckingham and an "unidentifed royalist prisoner" seen, unsurprisingly, in the prison room of the Norman tower.
************************************************* You can read about MY encounters with some of England's ghosts in my book "GHOSTS OF ENGLAND ON A MEDIUM'S VACATION by Rob Gutro:
What happens when a medium goes on vacation? Can a medium simply switch off their ability at will? Well…not exactly. Rob Gutro is a medium/author/paranormal investigator and a scientist who has written 4 books about his encounters with human and animal ghosts and spirits.
In this book, you will read about his experiences on two separate trips to the United Kingdom. England’s rich history and many epic battles have caused an over-abundance of residual emotional energy. Everywhere he traveled, he had a paranormal experience. He explored royal palaces and spent the night in haunted castles. He encountered the ghosts of historical figures including a queen, a prince, and a nobleman; and several ghosts even shared their pain of death experience with him. On one occasion, the doppelganger of a loved one provided directions when he became lost while driving in the countryside due to a malfunctioning GPS.
But not all of his encounters were of the human variety: there was also a very special visit from a canine ghost. This book is intended to be more than just a collection of personal ghost stories. In addition to relating my ghostly encounters, he has also included a short narrative history of the places where the experiences occurred. After all, knowing the history of a place is key to understanding why a ghost has decided to stay behind.
So, join Rob as he relates his encounters with the ghosts of England. Rob has written 4 other books about the paranormal, two about people (Ghosts and Spirits and Lessons Learned From Talking to the Dead) and 2 about pets (Pets and the Afterlife and Pets and the Afterlife 2). The books are available in paperback and e-book on Amazon.com.
