Silent Pool’s waters are calm, clear and still. Except for the occasional call of a kingfisher, this former chalk quarry is mute. If it could speak, perhaps it would tell the tale of King John, who surprised a maiden as she bathed here. He wanted her to come ashore, but she refused and stepped into ever-deeper water until she lost her footing and drowned. People say her ghost appears at night, floating above the water. What’s eerie to some is serenity to others - such as Lord Alfred Tennyson, who was a frequent visitor. If you need fortification after your visit, head to Silent Pool Distillers, maker of fine gins and other spirits crafted using the pool’s pure spring water.
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