York has recently been named the most haunted city in Europe by Enjoytravel.com. This comes as no surprise, as our city is renowned for its creepy atmosphere. With a complex, dark history filled with torture and violence feeding hundreds of gory horror stories and chilling ghost tours, it’s no wonder that York is often referred to as ‘the city of 1000 ghosts'.
The Golden Fleece
Of course, we have to start off with the most renowned haunted pub in the whole city. Supposedly home to 15 ghosts in total, the most famous is known as Lady Anne Peckett, as former Lord Mayor of York, who used to live next door to the pub. Peckett is often seen getting her steps in by eerily floating up and down the staircase. Another notable ghost sometimes sighted is One-eyed Jack always adorned in a 16th-century redcoat, carrying a pistol through the bar.
However, these two creepy characters are only two of many spirits that reside there, there are thought to be many more that simply cannot get away from the pub (mood). Along with sightings of ghosts disappearing through walls in the bar, room keys moving on their own, and perhaps the most terrifying, ice-cold touches of seemingly invisible hands, it is safe to say that this bar’s strong spirits are not just the ones found behind the bar.
It’s evident that the Golden Fleece staff really take pride in being labelled as the most haunted pub in York. This can be discerned from the interior alone. As soon as you set foot in this bar you are reminded; by the myriad of Ghost stories pinned up and framed on the walls, several skulls dotted around the place in cabinets, and, of course, the skeleton of a man propping up the end of the bar...
The staff try to convince people that it is the remnants of someone who supposedly killed himself on the premises (but this could not be confirmed 100%).
The Minster
Arguably York’s most iconic landmark and the largest Gothic Cathedral in Northern Europe, the Minster dates back to 627 - no wonder it is filled with spirits of the past!
The most well-known story of the Minster hauntings is the first reporting in the 1820s about a man in a naval uniform. Two women reported that the spectral marine was whispering in the visitors’ ears. He was thought to be the brother of one of the women who had been killed at sea, he had made a pact, when he was alive, to come back to tell her whether the afterlife existed. He kept his promise, let her know, and then disappeared
There is also a young man called Dean Gale, a previous senior clergy of the cathedral. He is seen as an apparition who likes to sit in the pews to view sermons, probably just resuming his previous role he worked as before he died!
The York Castle Museum
Next up we have the York Castle Museum, a touristic, family day-out landmark that has also appeared on Most Haunted: Extra in 2020 (it was Episode 13 as well, spooky!). Being the city’s first castle, you can imagine that there were plenty of executions carried out here as well as medieval punishments and tortures (like people being burnt at the stake). As well as this gory history, in the 14th century, it was made into a prison, which remained this way until as soon as the 20th century. A prison so overcrowded that some suffocated in the cells, the living conditions were dire. (Their most famous prisoner was famous highwayman, Dick Turpin!)
In terms of the ghostly antics, dark shadows have been seen throughout the building, and moans of imprisoned ghosts echo throughout the long corridors. On top of this various pictures of the family’s photos from cute days out to the museum have surfaced and, upon further inspection, a small girl wearing Victorian clothes is seen to appear in the background or in the periphery. However, having seen the photos, they are possibly photoshopped as they aren’t very convincing…
Ye Olde Starre Inn
Another of the many haunted pubs that are scattered around the streets of York is Ye Olde Starre Inn. The building was constructed in 1644, but the cellars are much much older. It is below the building that is said to have the most paranormal activity. These cellars were used as a hospital in the English Civil War, and it is said that they are filled with the presence of the soldiers that died there, strange noises have been reported there including blood-curdling screams and there have been assumed sightings of shadows and glimpses of men lingering in the dark corners.
As well as human apparitions, the ghosts of 2 black cats can be seen around the bar. There is a legend of them being trapped and dying in the pillar between the bar and the door after it was bricked up. It is said that visiting dogs can’t settle if they are near the pillar and often growl and bark at it. The bricking up of cats is a cruel practice but there was a very common superstition around Yorkshire that if you bricked up cats in buildings it would protect against fire and bad luck!
The Treasurer’s House
As well as being a historic and lavish house, that has been residency for royalty, gentry families, lawyers, and clergy, the Treasurer’s House is also home to York’s most legion-dary group of ghouls.
Numerous staff members and contractors have claimed to have seen entire fleets of Roman Soldiers in the cellar of the house. They are often described as looking like they had been cut off by the knees or kneeling down and reports suggest that horns of carthorses going off in the distance can be heard before their appearance. The house was built over an old Roman road, many inches below the cellar floor, perhaps the cause of these apparitions.
35 stone gate - a.k.a Oliver Bonas
A house famous for being York’s most haunted building, it used to be the site of a haunted house and gift shop tourist attraction. In which, there was an eerie voiceover tour as you went through the house. Now it is Oliver Bonas, a high end, highstreet retailer in which you can go and trick or treat yourself! Above the entrance, there is still a hanging bible in the center of the doorway, as it was once home to the ‘Sign of the Bible publishing house, however, this holy intervention doesn't seem to deter the spirits inside.
The medieval house has been standing since 1492, with a total of 14 ghosts reported by psychics, mediums, and visitors, but many believe that there are more. Jonathan Cainer moved into number 35 in 1999 and soon started to renovate. This process must have disturbed the spirits as, since then, many apparitions started to appear
The creepiest of all the rooms is called the seance room. In which, during an episode of Ghost Towns, the host was dragged backward by a mysterious force. It is assumed that this was the work of its most famous ghost, named Tom, who wears all black and is recognizable by the hat on his head
Other rooms and their inhabitants include the lantern room, in which resides a balding monk, the dining room includes an apparition of a lady dressed in Georgian fashion, and in the kitchen, you can find a distraught lady often crying. Many spooky occurrences also happen daily, such as doors opening and shutting by themselves, bangs, creaks, and a loud screeching coming from the attic.
The Black Swan Inn
This historic Inn was once a 15th century Merchant’s Mansion and is now refurbished into a boutique hotel. Both staff and guests have reported the ghosts and there is a whole page on their website with a list of them!
The most famous of the ghosts are both, an older man ghost who occupies the hotel by walking around checking on all of the guests, and a young, blonde, woman spirit who is suspected to be a jilted bride. She is often noticed to be warming herself by the fireplace in the bar. So much so, that the chair by the fire is said to be cursed, and staff regularly have to warn people about sitting in it!
There is also a highwayman named Jack who often appears in the kitchen but also is partial to singing an Irish folk song or two in the bar. It is said that the hotel was built over a stable yard, this could explain his slightly lost appearance as he is probably tormented by the disappearance of his horse. There are also reports of a small Victorian boy, who appears regularly in the bar and corridor. He is known to the staff and regular customers as Matthew the pickpocket, his light fingers suspected to be the cause of many mysterious things going missing.
Most oddly, there is an apparition of a pair of legs without a body seen in the private quarter of the landlord’s flat. This has no further explanation and warrants the question: What on earth happened to the rest of its body?
In the inn there is a clay pipe mounted on the wall which will never be thrown out. It is said that, when the workmen were working on refurbishing the building, they found it in the rubble. Upon going to throw it out, a cold icy chill descended upon them. The staff at the inn now keep it framed on the wall to keep whatever evil the workmen had felt that day at bay.
The York Dungeon
Being one of York’s most scarily famous tourist attractions, actors have been paid to perform and entertain families and tourists about the creepy history of the York Dungeon. However, it’s safe to say that this is very much a reality. With a deep dark history of torture, plagues, flooding and witch trials, there is no wonder there is something more sinister lurking behind the bars.
A York photographer was taking photos of the attraction and reported that, when she looked back at her photos, she saw the unexplained head and shoulders of a hooded figure in the corner of one of her shots.
It is said to be the previous caretaker who is the main ghost that haunts the Dungeon. If you are to walk through the long corridors you may experience chilled touches of invisible fingers, unexplainable mists, growls and cries or even be met face to face with the spectral figure of a hooded man. It has been suggested that invisible hands once tried to pull a workman from his ladder to his death.
The York Theatre Royal
This famous York theatre dates back to 1744 and was built on the site of the Old Hospital of St. Leonard which was run by an order of nuns.
It is known to be home to The Grey lady ghost, who is said to be both peaceful and friendly. If she is sighted in the dress circle preceding a performance, superstitious folks say that it is a good omen for the show on stage that night! The Grey Lady is said to have been a nun that was punished for breaking her vow of chastity. Her castigation was imprisonment in a windowless room that was then bricked up, in which, consequentially, she died and was entombed. Her constructed tomb is said to be a room behind the dress circle of the theatre now, hence her interest in this specific seating area.
There is also a ghost known as the Dandy who is often seen near the stage, recognizable by his large ring. His story is that he is said to have been killed in a duel and the actors on the stage witnessed his death.
York is without a doubt the spookiest city in Europe. These are just some of the places reported to be haunted too! So, this Halloween don’t be daunted, come be haunted and visit some of the ghostly hotspots in York!
Best witches!
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