Mysterious Britain & Ireland

Specific Location: York

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Early Christianity

Anchorites and Anchoresses

Anchorites and anchoresses would live in religious solitude bricked up in a hut or cell known as an anchorhold attached to the side of a medieval church. This was a special vocation and the bricking up of the chosen anchorite was usually presided over by the bishop.

Apparitions / Haunted Pubs / Hauntings / Poltergiests

The Windmill, York

A whole host of acitivity has been reported at The Windmill, including cold spots, strange footsteps, the apparition of a 18th centry ostler and spontaneous glass and bottle shattering.

Hauntings

The National Railway Museum

The National Railway Museum is the worlds largest museum dedicated to rail travel and covers over 300 years of worldwide history. One of the many exhibits, a sleeping car, is supposed to be haunted by an unknown prescence.

Apparitions / Haunted Pubs / Hauntings

The York Arms, York

The York Arms is haunted by a Grey Lady. She also haunts the Theatre RoyalTheatre Royal, which stands across from it, this sounds like a linked legend, and it may be worth noting if there is a legend about a connecting tunnel.

Apparitions / Hauntings

York Castle

The castle was the scene of a strange hallucination in 1717. Sir John Reresby saw a piece of paper that was being blown by the wind turn into a monkey and then a bear. Perhaps an early discoverer of Opium.

Clifford’s Tower

Apparitions / Haunted Pubs / Hauntings

Yorkshire Hussar, York

Four decorators working late through the night saw a black cape clad figure pass them and disappear behind the bar where an old door had once been. The ghost was also known to smash glasses and overturn bar stools.

Apparitions / Hauntings

Holy Trinity Church, York

Although much of the exterior dates from the 17th and 18th centuries, Holy Trinity Church sits on a site that has been used for a church since the Doomsday Book. Holy Trinty itself dates from between the 13th and 15th century, boasting some fine examples of medieval stained glass. It is supposed to be haunted by a phantom nun, and two other ghosts.

Apparitions / Haunted Pubs / Hauntings

The Cock and Bottle, York

According to a local paper, George Villiers, Duke of Buckingham who used to live on Skeldergate, York, haunts The Cock and Bottle. The haunting has included the sound of door being broken, the apparition of an ugly man, and other sightings. The ghost is said to be evil and to hates crucifixes.

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.