The Pest House

When her attempts to reinstate her annuity failed, Theresa Benenden killed herself in her home rather than be sent to the workhouse. She has been seen in the upper rooms and on the stairs here; one witness said that an old lady was seen in a rocking chair in the attic, presumably Theresa? Another phantom, former resident of Sissinghurst Castle Sir John Baker allegedly haunts this location after he was tried and executed for murdering his former love and his new lady when she discovered his foul deed (there is said to be a secret tunnel from the Pest House to Baker's house). His phantom is sometimes seen with a lady; she may be the "pretty lady" who is sometimes seen on her own, either holding a candle or gliding from the fireplace to the stairs before vanishing. However, other versions of Baker's tale exist; one is that he lived to an old age and died in his bed; another is that he was tortured and burnt to death in an iron cage. In addition, it must be said that recent owners have reported that the building is now spectrally quiet.