Screeching Ploughboy Haunting
Screeching Boy's Wood, a small woodland on the north side of the A13 near Fanton Hall in North Benfleet, Essex, is home to a haunting that has been reported since 1734. The wood takes its name from a tragic event in which a ploughboy was allegedly murdered by his master. The ghostly presence, known as the Screeching Ploughboy, has been seen and heard by numerous people over the years. Some claim to have heard the blood-curdling screams of the ploughboy, while others have caught glimpses of the phantom figure. The haunting has become a well-known legend in the area, with many believing that the ploughboy's spirit still roams the wood, seeking justice or revenge.
The story behind the haunting is shrouded in some mystery. One account states that the ploughboy was brutally murdered by his master, who later confessed to the crime many years after it happened. This confession, some believe, put an end to the screams of the phantom. Another version of the story suggests that the ploughboy was not murdered at all, but was simply knocked down by a horse-drawn carriage. Whatever the truth may be, the Screeching Ploughboy has become a notorious figure in local folklore, with many reporting strange occurrences and sightings in the wood. The haunting has been documented as far back as 1734, and it remains one of the most enduring and fascinating ghost stories in Essex.
18th century rural England
Location
Location Details
Nearby Haunted Places
Hornchurch Copse Phantom
Copse near river close to St George's Hospital, Hornchurch
Deep in the heart of Hornchurch, a eerie presence lurks within a copse near the River Roding, close to St George's Hospital. Locals have whispered about a phantom old man who emerges from the trees, beckoning people towards the river. His intentions are unclear, but his actions are said to be luring, as if trying to entice the living into the water. The atmosphere is tense, and those who have caught a glimpse of him cant help but feel an unsettling sense of unease.
Ghostly Coach and Horses
Runwell Hall, Wickford
Runwell Hall, a once grand estate in Wickford, Essex, is said to be haunted by the ghost of a woman who travels in a spectral horse and carriage. On New Year's Eve, the eerie vehicle is reported to stop at the top of the driveway, and a woman climbs out, making her way to the hall's door. There, she is greeted by a long-dead butler, a sight that has been witnessed by many over the years. This ghostly encounter is a reoccurring event, happening every year on December 31st.
Scratching Shadows of Wickford
Moat Field, Wickford
Moat Field in Wickford is a place where the ordinary and the unexplained seem to collide. It's here that numerous people have reported catching glimpses of moving shadows, always just out of sight, as if the darkness itself was shifting and twisting. One particularly unsettling encounter involved a tractor driver who, after a close encounter with a shadow, found his vehicle covered in scratches. This incident left him shaken and added to the local legend that the Devil is waiting in this field for the soul of a knight who made a clever, yet ultimately binding, promise.
Benfleet Ghostly Vigilante
Conservative Club, Benfleet
The Conservative Club in Benfleet's High Street is home to a most intriguing spectre, known affectionately as Lady Hamilton. This ghostly presence has been reported to patrol the corridors and rooms of the club, ever vigilant and still waiting for the arrival of her beloved Lord Horatio Nelson. It's said she ensures he hasn't turned up, a poignant reminder of her enduring devotion. The haunting, which began in the late twentieth century, has become a fascinating aspect of the club's history.
Phantom Organ Music Haunting
St Margaret's Church, Bowers Gifford
St Margaret's Church in Bowers Gifford stands quietly in the Essex countryside, its stone walls bearing witness to centuries of history. But on one occasion, a lone churchgoer experienced something inexplicable - the sound of organ music drifting through the empty pews, despite being alone in the church at the time. The witness reported hearing the organ playing, a sound that seemed to come from nowhere and everywhere at once. It's a haunting that has left many questions unanswered, and a sense of mystery that still lingers in the air.
Ghostly Horse and Cart
Road leading to East Hannington, Rettendon
Rettendon road is said to be haunted by the ghost of a farmer riding his horse and cart. This eerie apparition has been spotted by motorists and locals alike, often at dusk or in the dead of night. The ghostly horse and trap are thought to be a harbinger of doom or a spectral messenger from beyond the grave. Some claim to have seen the ghostly farmer urging his horse on, as if in a great hurry to reach a destination. Others report hearing the sound of horse's hooves and rattling cart wheels, even when no one is around.
Stay Nearby
Haunted hotels and accommodation near North side of A13 near Fanton Hall

The Blue Boar Hotel
Maldon, Essex

The Royal Victoria and Bull Hotel
Dartford, Kent

The Shurland Hotel
Eastchurch, Kent