Mysterious Britain & Ireland

Country and County: Yorkshire

Hauntings / Photographed Ghosts

Newby Church near Ripon

In 1963 the vicar of Newby Church, the Reverend K. F. Lord, took photographs of the church interior. When developed one had a strange hooded figure in it. In all probability this is a fake picture although now hard to verify without further research.

Apparitions / Civil War Hauntings / Haunted Battlefields / Hauntings

Marston Moor

On a minor road between the A59 and the B1224, a major battle of the civil war was fought on the 2nd July 1644. In 1968 some tourist were lost on the road when they came across a group of men dressed as 17th century soldiers. They thought that they were people in fancy dress, although the men looked worn out. They later discovered that they had been on the road through the battle site.

Hauntings

Acaster Malbis Parish Church

During the medieval period in Britain the Jewish people were heavily persecuted, one of the heavy persecutions was carried out in York. A group of Jewish people fled to Acaster Mathis, and used the parish church for meeting. Some local villagers managed to trap the group inside and then set fire to the building – killing all those who were trapped inside.

Black Dogs / Folklore

Troller’s Gill, Appletreewick

The caves of this deep limestone ravine are the haunt of trolls and sprites. The Gill is also associated with a black dog legend.

Apparitions / Hauntings / Roman / Roman Hauntings

The Treasurer’s House

The Treasurer’s House was the seat of the treasurers of York Minister from the 12th century to 1546. The last treasurer – William Cliffe – resigned, after all the treasure was removed during the dissolution of the monasteries. The house was extensively rebuilt in the 17th century.

Apparitions / Hauntings

The Theatre Royal, York

The Theatre Royal is reputed to be haunted by a ghostly nun who has been witnessed several times. The Theatre was built on the site of Old St Leonard’s Hospital founded in the 12th century. The theatre also has a tradition about a Grey Lady, and the ghost of an actor who died in a duel.

Apparitions / Haunted Hotels / Haunted Pubs / Hauntings

Viking Hotel, York

In the past staff of this hotel claimed to have seen a shadowy shape on the stairs. The site of the hotel used to have a house upon it, which was reputedly haunted and connected to a murder.

Folklore

Bainbridge

Associated with a 700 year old tradition of horn blowing. The horn was sounded every night during the autumn and winter months. It was once a guide to travellers, who may have become lost in the great forests that surrounded the area.

Directions: Off the A684 to the East of Hawes. Or just listen for the horn.

Apparitions / Haunted Hotels / Haunted Pubs / Hauntings / Poltergiests

Bagdale Hall

The hall is the oldest building in Whitby built in 1516. It is now a hotel said to be haunted by Browne Bushell, a former owner who was executed for piracy. He has been seen walking up the staircase, and has also been heard in the same place.

There has been other strange phenomena associated with the hall over the years, including poltergeist activity.

Folklore

Brimham Rocks

The rocks are associated with a wealth of folklore, and were perhaps a place of ancient worship. They were once thought to have been carved by the druids, although their strange weathering is entirely natural. One stone is called the wishing stone, it has a hole into which you would place the fingers of your right hand and then make a wish.