Not too far from London, Kingston-near-Lewes is nestled in the South Downs in East Sussex, and dates back centuries, having been mentioned in the Domesday Book.
The parish is part of two Sites of Special Scientific Interest, the Lewes Brooks and Kingston Escarpment and Iford Hill.
But despite being a pretty countryside spot, it is said to have a dark past.
‘Pretty’ Sussex village said to be haunted by a ghost
As shared by Muddy Stilettos, which recently named it as being among the best places to live, local legend has it that this Sussex village has its own ghost.
It said: “Nan Kemp, and it is a time-honoured tradition for teens to scare themselves silly trying to awaken her by running around her grave three times with their eyes closed.
“It is said that in the 1600s Kemp murdered her illegitimate baby and served it in a pie for her husband – she was hanged in the village and buried in Ashcombe Lane.”
The Sussex Villages website explains the legend further.
It said: “Local legend said if you ran around her grave three times with your eyes shut, her spirit would appear.
“The exact location of her last resting place also became a little hazy as the years went by, but at the top of Ashcombe Lane is Nan Kemp’s Cottage and the grave was always held to be nearby.”
Kingston in Sussex is among best places to live
Despite its alleged haunting, Kingston is said to be among the best places to live in Sussex.
Muddy Stilettos says that despite being labelled as being among the poshest villages in the country, Kingston is anything but pretentious, and is a “relaxed, happy and beautiful place to live”.
The village has a great community shop, a top pub, and, due to being surrounded by fields and greenery, some top walking routes.
The average price is £539,343, and there are some great places to see in and around the village.
Anne of Cleves’ former residence is next to Kingston and is available to walk around, and there is also Charleston, a former retreat for creatives such as Vanessa Bell and Virginia Woolf.
Woolf’s 17th-century country retreat, Monk’s House, is also close by, now under the care of the National Trust.
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If you are looking for places to eat, the local village pub, The Juggs, is mentioned, with the Community Farm Shop at Lovebrook Farm and Glitterbug Bakery also great to visit.
In nearby Lewes, you will find coffee shop Ground Lewes and the Flint Owl Bakery, with Caccia and Tails, which specialises in homemade pasta, also being highlighted.
Top shopping spots picked out are Freight and Gorringe Auction House, as well as the nearby Lewes Flea Market, Closet and Botts Homestore, Baltic Trader and the Fifteenth Century Bookshop.
