The Smiling Lady of Twineham
In the sleepy Sussex village of Twineham, a rather charming ghostly apparition has been spotted on several occasions. The Smiling Lady, as she's come to be known, is said to appear in the rectory, dressed in brilliant white and carrying a basket of roses. Her presence is often accompanied by a harsh, scratching sound that seems to emanate from the upper part of the building. While there's no record of her interactions with the living, her gentle demeanor and lovely attire have led many to believe she's a benevolent spirit.
The sightings of the Smiling Lady date back to the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, a time of great change and upheaval in rural England. During this period, the rectory in Twineham would have been a hub of community activity, with the local vicar and his family at its centre. It's possible that the Smiling Lady may have been a member of the congregation or a local resident who was connected to the rectory in some way. While we can't say for certain who she was or why she's haunting the rectory, her appearances have been documented by multiple witnesses, adding credibility to her ghostly existence.
The rectory in Twineham has been a part of the local community for centuries, serving as the residence of the village vicar.
Location
Location Details
Nearby Haunted Places
Bolney Ghostly Film Location
Wykehurst Place, Bolney
Wykehurst Place in Bolney is a country house with a rather intriguing connection to the paranormal. It was used as a filming location for the 1973 horror film The Legend of Hell House, where it stood in for Belasco House. One review of the film at the time claimed the location was genuinely haunted, which has led to some speculation about the house's ghostly credentials. Although there aren't any specific stories to support this assertion, the house's history and appearance do lend themselves to an air of mystery.
Ghostly Woman in Grey
A23 near the Queens Head Public House, Bolney
On the A23 near Bolney, a spine-tingling apparition has been spotted by multiple witnesses. The location, close to the Queens Head Public House, is where a ghostly woman in a grey dress has been seen stepping out in front of cars, causing them to crash. What's particularly chilling is that, after the accidents, the woman vanishes into thin air. This eerie phenomenon was first reported in the early 1990s and has left many questions unanswered.
War Ghosts of Cowfold
Monastery, Cowfold
Cowfold Monastery in Sussex has a spine-tingling secret. During World War II, this historic site was used as a base for soldiers, but it seems they weren't the only ones in residence. Certain areas of the monastery were said to unsettle the guard dogs, who would get spooked for no apparent reason. The military men themselves weren't too keen on investigating these strange occurrences, perhaps sensing that they were in for a fright.
Cowfold Dark Figure Sighting
A272 just off mini roundabout towards Bolney, Cowfold
On a stretch of road in Cowfold, West Sussex, a driver had a startling encounter on the night of 5 May 2021. As they were driving along the A272, just off the mini roundabout towards Bolney, they spotted a dark figure suddenly run into the road. The driver quickly swerved to avoid it, and in doing so, the figure vanished into thin air. This bizarre incident left the driver shaken and wondering if they had really seen what they thought they had.
Burgess Hill UFO Sighting
Royal George Road, Burgess Hill
On Royal George Road in Burgess Hill, a rather unusual sighting took place in the mid 1990s. A male witness was outside when he heard the sound of aircraft engines and looked up to see a 737 aircraft briefly appear in a gap in the clouds. What happened next was even more extraordinary. The 737 was closely followed by another craft that was twice its size and had a distinctive boomerang shape with squared wing tips. This larger craft was dark grey or black in colour and left the witness wondering if he had really seen what he thought he had.
Henfield Poltergeist Haunting
Budgens Supermarket, Henfield
In the sleepy village of Henfield, nestled in the heart of West Sussex, a rather unusual poltergeist was said to have haunted the local Budgens Supermarket. Strange occurrences started to plague the store, with items mysteriously removing themselves from shelves and a jar hovering in mid-air before falling to the ground. These bizarre events were reportedly accompanied by more traditional signs of paranormal activity, including disembodied footsteps and fleeting shadows darting around the store.
Stay Nearby
Haunted hotels and accommodation near Rectory

The Regency Hotel
Brighton, East Sussex

Amberley Castle
Amberley, West Sussex

Angmering Manor Hotel
Angmering, West Sussex