COUNTY, district and town councillor Adam Carew admits his entertaining book Ghosts of East Hampshire was written by accident after being invited to lecture to a community group thinking he would talk on history and wildlife conservation.

“Instead I found I had been put down to speak on ghosts and the months I had to do my research before the talk was the start of the book, and this in turn forms a much larger and more comprehensive work on Ghosts of Hampshire,” he explained.

It was also the beginning of a fascinating journey that took him to haunted houses, inns, woods and ruins across East Hampshire, and even afield across the county.

At the start of his book Adam, who represents Whitehill and Bordon, says: “I have called this series Historic Hauntings as I want these books to be far more than just a few scant lines per entry.”

As a result, the book covers the history of some of the landmark buildings and places in East Hampshire, as well as details of the murder of eight-year-old Fanny Adams in Alton and with interesting side notes to add to the deeply researched information he includes, which all adds to the enjoyment.

Of the book, he says: “These are very human tales, sometimes caught at a particular moment in our area’s history or the turbulence of national events, and by putting them in an historical context I hope it will further interest and understanding of our area.

“Whether you believe in ghosts or not, I hope you will agree there are some cracking tales.”

They certainly are “cracking tales” and here are a few extracts from the book of the spooking goings on in the towns and villages of East Hampshire.

Alton

The Crown Hotel in the High Street boasts at least four ghosts and also, it is said, a poltergeist in the cellar, who has been known to push staff and flick them. He is thought to be John Gould, an ornithologist and artist and friend of museum founder William Curtis.

And room three, upstairs, is haunted supposedly by John Gould’s sister, a maid at the inn and whose spirit has apparently not been seen by guests but is known to move things to ensure everything is tidy.

On Amery Street, near the Market Square, a plaque marks the spot of the home of Elizabethan poet Edward Spenser. Spenser’s ghost has allegedly been seen in the lane near his former home.

Bentley

Fox Hall, an early 18th Century building, can be found just off School Lane. The spirit here is of an elderly man who has been witnessed on numerous occasions wandering around the grounds at twilight.

A visiting priest who encountered the ghost is said to have given the earthbound spirit absolution after which appearances have apparently become much less frequent.

Jenkyn Place, on Hole Lane, dates from the time of Queen Anne, and is best known for the ghost of a small “dumpy” woman in brown with a white apron and 18th Century-style mop hat known as “Waggs”. Thought to be the spirit of a former housekeeper, she doesn’t appear to have ever left the house.

Bordon and Whitehill

A former employee working in Bordon Garrison spoke of hearing footsteps in the corridors despite the fact he and a colleague were the only ones still in the building.

One night as they were closing down the library both heard a voice saying “don’t go”. There was nothing there, and they hurriedly locked up and left the building.

At Longmoor, near the site of the Roman Road to Silchester, there are two reports of residents seeing a bedraggled Roman army marching across Woolmer, where a battle was fought in AD296.

One resident, while walking his dog across Longmoor, was suddenly surrounded by the sound and commotion of battle.

Holywater

Staff at The Royal Oak pub at Holywater, near Bordon, have witnessed a ghost known as “the man in the blue boiler suit” who has been seen descending the cellar steps and sometimes just materialises in the cellar.

Conford (between Bordon and Whitehill)

Plough stots – or plough boys – have been heard but not seen in the meadows of Conford Park.

Selborne

A ghost of a large black Labrador is said to hunt Priory Lane, off Honey Lane, and at Priory Farm, the site of the former Selborne Priory, a ghostly monk has seen gliding along the sunken lane.

Liphook

The Royal Anchor, which dates back to the 14th Century, has the ghost of a smuggler come highwayman, Captain Jacques. He and his gang used Bramshott Church as a base to hide their contraband.

Jacques’ career came to an abrupt end when he was shot dead in a first-floor room of the Anchor by excise men while he was trying to escape via a secret passage. Legend has it that Jacques’ ghost can sometimes be seen at the window of room six.

Blackmoor

As a child, the author was an altar boy and crucifer at Blackmoor Church, so he was shocked to learn that the voice of a phantom choir boy is supposed to join in during hymns.

Farringdon

Village folklore has it that Bridestone Lane was the scene of a wedding party who forgot to invite the fairy folk to their celebrations and so were cursed and turned to stone. For many years there was a group of stones in the lane and it is said on summer evenings the sounds of laughter, song and merry making can be heard around the stones now long gone.

Headley

This tiny village boast several ghosts, and one is a woman dressed like Queen Mary in a toque hat, seen walking her dogs down Hurlands Lane and into the woods near Hilland.

When approached the woman calls out in a well spoken but cheery voice “don’t worry, the dogs wont hurt you” before vanishing off into thin air.

The lady is supposed to be the ghost of a Mrs Philips, who lived between the wars at Hilland House (now long gone).

Petersfield

At an awards ceremony in 2011 in The Festival Hall for Petersfield Town Juniors footballers the club photographer noticed some 20 “orbs of light” around the young players.

Thought to be associated with spirits, sometimes occurring before or just after a ghost materialises, the photographer speculated that these could be the spirits of the children’s ancestors who didn’t want to miss out on the proud occasion.