Update on the Most Haunted Village Guinness Research

Previously I wrote about how I’m trying to figure out if there was ever a Most Haunted Village Guinness World Record category. I had a couple options for trying to find out. One was finding a copy on Amazon.

At the time of the last post, I had. I’d ordered it and was just waiting for it to arrive. (I’m also still waiting for Guinness to reply to my email inquiry. Fingers crossed they will.)

Anyway, yesterday the book arrived, but…it was the wrong year! I need 1989. They sent 1990.

Why 1989 Matters

The video I watched that launched this little investigation of mine alleged Pluckley was named Most Haunted Village in Britain by Guinness in 1989.

Maybe it was?

In the 1990 version, I noticed “Is It a Record?” in the table of contents. It explains the categories. Three clauses in particular caught my eye:

The Clauses

1. The Likely Clause

We are likely to publish only those records which improve upon previously published records or which are newly significant in having the subject of widespread, and preferably, worldwide competition.

The “worldwide” part is why I questioned the Pluckley claim to begin with. It’s too specific to just one region, ie. “Great Britain.” That’s not generally how Guinness works, as evidenced by this clause.

2. The Qualified Clause

It should be stressed that unique occurrences, interesting peculiarities, and the collecting of everyday objects, are not themselves necessarily records. Records which are qualified or limited in some way–for example, by age, handicap, day of the week, etc.–cannot be accommodated in a reference work like Guinness.

Ghost sightings/stories qualify as “unique occurrences, interesting peculiarities,” right? Another reason it’s not likely the Pluckley claim is valid. Although, then there was this next clause…

3. The Gratuitously Hazardous Clause

In this clause they explained that stunts by everyday people weren’t included in the book. Like “lowest starting height for a handcuffed, free-fall parachute jump.” (And what kind of crazy Mo Fo wakes up one morning thinking that’s a great record to set?!)

This is where they also mentioned “World records claimed on TV specials are not always set according to Guinness rules.”

Also, “categories that reached their limits of safety, such as sword swallowing and Volkswagen stuffing,” were retired and either marked as such or deleted.

However, maybe this copy held some clues and mentioned “Most Haunted Village” was a retired category?

Nope. I couldn’t find anything like that.

Rules

Also under the “Is It a Record?” section was “Rules and Procedures” for attempting to claim a record in Guinness. This further confirmed my original gut reaction, which was “How could Guinness have a record like that? How would they verify it?”

There are a lot of steps you have to fulfill. Plus, you need documentation and verification to back up your claims –beyond age-old ghost stories.

Any Mention of Most Haunted in 1990?

After reading the above clauses, I had a feeling my first suspicion was correct: it’s doubtful there was ever a Most Haunted Village category as some try to attribute to Pluckley.

Also, after perusing the 1990 categories, it seemed even less likely Guinness named anywhere “Most Haunted Village.”

But there were some interesting categories. I’ll include those findings in a separate post and see if any surprise you like they did me.

P.S.

I’m trying again. I ordered another 1989 copy, this time a hardcover edition. (And this time from Amazon Warehouse, so if it’s the wrong edition it’ll be easier to return.)

We’ll see if I have better luck this time….