Aveley UFO Abduction
Aveley, a small town in Essex, was the scene of a bizarre and unexplained event on 27 October 1974. A family of four, driving home, were abducted by a blue UFO. The occupants of the vehicle described the beings they encountered as four foot high, hairy creatures with large eyes and pointed ears. The family were held for three hours before being returned to their car, with no apparent harm or memory loss. This incident remains one of the most well-documented UFO abduction cases in British history.
The 1970s saw a surge in reported UFO sightings in the UK, with many cases involving alleged alien encounters. The Aveley abduction is particularly notable due to the multiple witnesses involved - the family of four. Their testimony describes a typical 'nuts and bolts' UFO, with a detailed description of the alien beings. While the incident has been extensively studied, the true nature of the event remains a mystery. The lack of physical evidence and the reliability of the witnesses' accounts have sparked intense debate among UFO enthusiasts and skeptics alike.
Part of a larger wave of UFO sightings in the UK during the 1970s
Location
Location Details
Nearby Haunted Places
The Devil Dog of Ingatestone
Area around the Star Inn Inn, Ingatestone
The Star Inn in Ingatestone, Essex, is home to a most unusual and intriguing ghost story. Locals have reported sightings of a small, black hound, affectionately known as the Devil Dog, roaming the area around the inn. This phantom canine is said to have been seen trying to block pedestrians walking along the lane, its presence felt by many from the 1970s onwards. While its appearance may seem menacing, the spirit is generally considered harmless.
The Star Public House Poltergeist
The Star Public House, Ingatestone
The Star Public House in Ingatestone, Essex, has a notorious reputation for paranormal activity, particularly a poltergeist that was reported back in 1956. Two sisters had booked a room for the night but didnt stay long after checking in. They claimed the lights in their room were turning on and off by themselves, and what really freaked them out was the door that just kept opening and closing on its own. It was an unsettling experience that led them to quickly pay their bill and leave.
Fryerning Pond Ghostly Apparitions
Pond, Fryerning
Fryerning Pond, a tranquil spot in rural Essex, is said to be haunted by the restless spirits of a local man and a witch. Both are believed to have met their demise at the pond, but under very different circumstances. The man's death was likely an accident, while the witch's fate is shrouded in mystery. Locals claim that on certain evenings, you can see the ghostly apparitions of both individuals near the pond's edge.
The Flailing Hand Phantom
Rail line between Shenfield and Ingatestone, Ingatestone
On a train chugging between Shenfield and Ingatestone in Essex, a commuter got more than he bargained for on his journey from London Liverpool Street to Clacton. As the train rumbled along the tracks, he spotted a hand seemingly appearing from thin air behind him. This was no ordinary hand - it looked Asian and was flailing about wildly, banging against his seat and coming perilously close to hitting his head. The commuter spun around, expecting to see someone frantically waving their arm, but what he saw was a white middle-aged man fast asleep in the seat behind, with hands that bore no resemblance to the one he'd just seen.
Ingatestone Station Footbridge Footsteps
Footbridge at Ingatestone station, Ingatestone
The footbridge at Ingatestone station is where a rather unusual and unexplained phenomenon has been reported. A couple from London were making their way across the bridge when they heard heavy, disembodied footsteps. The sound was quite clear, apparently, and seemed to climb the stairs of the bridge and then descend down the other side, eventually trailing off further down the platform. It's not hard to imagine the surprise and perhaps a bit of fear that the couple must have felt on hearing these mysterious footfalls.
The Legless Margaretting Phantom
Margaretting Road between village and Galleywood, Margaretting
On a quiet stretch of Margaretting Road, a motorist was left shaken after a bizarre encounter with a seemingly legless male figure. The incident occurred on a June evening in 2023, when the driver was travelling between the village and Galleywood. As the motorist rounded a bend, a fast-moving figure with dark hair and wearing an oversized grey tee-shirt shot across the road at incredible speed, vanishing over a ditch. The driver slowed and stopped to look, but there was no sign of the mysterious figure.
Stay Nearby
Haunted hotels and accommodation near Road in the area

Down Hall Hotel
Bishops Stortford, Hertfordshire

The Green Man
Harlow, Essex

The Blue Boar Hotel
Maldon, Essex

The Royal Victoria and Bull Hotel
Dartford, Kent