We spent the weekend exploring our favourite haunts (in every sense of the word) around the South Downs in Sussex.

We ended up buying a pile of tomes – perhaps not the wisest of shopping trips seeing as we were in the middle of a five-mile ghost walk at the time. We’d chosen to do another walk from GhostHunter Walks in Sussex, following on from the lovely tour of the haunted villages around Ardingly Reservoir over the bank holiday. This one started from the foot of the mysterious Long Man of Wilmington, just down the road from Litlington.
There are many theories as to the origins of the Long Man. According to Rupert Matthews, author of GhostHunter Walks in Sussex, one explanation is that the chalk outline is a sort of ancient crime scene marker, having been drawn around the dead body of a local giant who was murdered by another giant from nearby back in the day when such giants were said to live. Another tale is that it is the site of a grave of a Roman officer, who was buried in a gold coffin. There are no records of it being located yet, but I’m not sure Sussex Past, which manages the site, would take too kindly to a witch dowsing for treasure there.
Much Ado Books is right next to the Smugglers Inn and if you are in the area and like browsing bookshops, it is really worth visiting. It is on two floors and sells both new and vintage books as well as maps and greeting cards, and plenty of things to read about the local area. The second floor has a cosy reading corner, which you can see in the photo, and the owners of the shop are really friendly and helpful. Browsing is encouraged too.
The photos on this page show The Long Man of Wilmington, Much Ado Books and the Smugglers Inn. If you reuse those pictures you must credit me, Lucya Starza, and www.badwitch.co.uk
1 comment:
Hello! Oh, I have not ventured that far down South yet, but I shall add these recommendations to my list for future holidays/adventures. I am always hunting ghosts, and loving bookshops is ingrained in my soul ;)
https://spookymrsgreen.com/2016/09/16/time-for-tea-at-the-tree-of-imagination/
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