Thursday October 31st 2019
Within the last week or so, a friend of mine - paranormal investigator, John Chance, of 'Ghostcallers UK' (Facebook: LINK) - inquired whether I might be interested in accompanying him on a visit to the magnificent city of York, just prior to Halloween?
I must admit that I've never personally known a ghost researcher that basically travels so far - literally the length and breath of this country - to indulge his passions for the subject before..... so it came as quite a surprise to discover that this proposed journey to York was to be John's first ever visit to this lovely city! In my kindly being asked to go with him, it was also my own chance to 'scratch an itch' that I've basically carried for around 40 years or so! My one and only experience with York came at the age of 10 or 11, when we were taken on a primary school trip to visit the National Train Museum (for some reason?) and York Minster. As a result of that distant and all-too-vague-in-my-mind day trip, I had always carried a hankering to go and see the place again.....
As a result of the above, we visited York on the afternoon of Sunday the 27th of Oct, which - given the previous days of horrible, nagging rain - turned out to be absolutely lovely: chilly, yet completely dry.... and very sunny indeed!
I suppose it's quite needless to say that the sole emphasis for the day was to try and take-in as many of the haunted sites that the city had to offer as we possibly could! One of the key, albeit 'tongue-in-cheek', spots was the (wholly tongue-in-cheek) 'York Ghost Merchants Shop', which is situated in the world-famous 'Shambles' shopping street. (Related press article HERE)
Rather expensive, but well worth a visit, if you're ever in the area..... It's lovely to see how the shop floor concerned is suitably 'decked out' with images of 'ghosts', set into the plasterwork and general decor of the place. Inside the premises, as well as a myriad, different coloured, 'ghosts' to choose from, there are is a small number of - allegedly historic - items on displays which allegedly support the (fictitious) local-lore that the shop purports to trade on. Old letters, wartime documentation, a toy train, purported 'scrimshaw', etc, supposedly show 'historic' examples of the general usage of 'ghosts' in local, social history. (Casting no aspersions, of course.... cough, cough!!.... but, coincidentally, all of the items concerned appear to have had images of ghosts - very indicative of those available to buy in the shop - 'added to them' at certain points!? Laugh!)
As well as the aforementioned 'Ghost Merchants' premises, 'The Shambles' has a number of allegedly haunted properties to appeal to the interested visitor, including No. 44, which is allegedly haunted by the ghost of a woman in black dress, who is often seen on a staircase in the property. Not necessarily related to this lady, an inexplicable 'growling noise' is also often said to be heard there!? In the accompanying shop space of No. 44, the figure of a man - described as looking very much like a 'headteacher' style character - has supposedly been spotted, seemingly in the process of 'carrying a young boy' somewhere, perched across his shoulders!? Yet another male figure has been seen walking into the rear of the property.... but is always said to have disappeared on investigation?
No. 22, in The Shambles is the home of a degree of poltergeist-like activity and a peculiar, faint, 'bell ringing' noise, while another building is known as 'The Pearl Of York and contains a shrine dedicated to a woman canonised by the pope in 1970..... St. Margaret Clitheroe was 'pressed to death' - an horrific form of execution - for being Catholic, during the reign of Elizabeth the 1st. The house is said to be haunted by the vague apparition of a woman in period costume........
Interestingly, a number of the haunted properties on offer in York appear to fall into the same - relatively small - area, just off the Petergate section of the city. The more interesting sites here are the ruins of St. Mary's Abbey - allegedly haunted by the figure of a monk - and the adjacent 'Museum Of Yorkshire', where the apparition of a man in Edwardian costume has supposedly been seen the Library area.
Just to the rear of the aforementioned Museum is the 'Kings Manor', which - it has been suggested by many - is possibly the most haunted building in York? A magnificent range of historic buildings, they are said to be haunted by the figure of a 'Black Monk' and the period figure of a woman in a green gown.... who is generally spotted carrying a bunch of roses in her hand. The North wing staircase of the building is believed to be haunted by an apparition of a man thought to to be Sir Henry Hastings. Even the outside of this wonderful property is said to be haunted, as the attached courtyard supposedly contains a number of ghosts from the English Civil War period.......
Petergate Bar itself is allegedly haunted by the ghost of a nun, as is the Royal Theatre, situated just a few yards distant, along the street. (The same ghost, perhaps?) The latter also houses the ghost of an 18th Century actor, who was killed during a duel over the hand of a young lady!
Less than 200 meters distant stands York Minster itself, which boasts an array of different ghosts and phenomenon. My favourite of these by far is the 'naked' apparition of a religious maniac - appearing in the area of the Choir - who, in centuries past, actually set fire to the Minster, causing considerable damage!! Sharing this same area of the building is said to be the apparition of a quiet clergyman who sits in the choir stalls and stares up at the pulpit.... You cannot wonder what these two ghosts might actually think of each other, eh!? Laugh!!
Elsewhere, the figure of a man in Elizabethan costume has been spotted walking the Nave, and two female figures haunt the North Trancept. A mysterious blue light - said to vaguely hold the shape of a man - allegedly haunts the area between the Nave and the Crossing......
Situated immediately to the rear of the Minster stands 'The Treasurers House', which, of course, was the site of one of the most famous ghost sightings in the world!! In 1953, young, apprentice plumber, Harry Martindale, was at work in the cellar of the house when he famously bore witness to a contingent of Roman-esque soldiers - visible only from the knees up - appearing from one of the walls of the room! (Youtube video / interview HERE) Something that I'd sometimes wondered about this site - and especially in relation to an impending visit to the area - was whether they might have ever allowed visitors into the cellar area at all? Coincidentally, one of our Facebook page members - Phil Cartwright - also happened to be in York this weekend gone and has informed us that the 'cellar tours' were cancelled at the time of his visit, due to the guide being ill....!!
I'm guessing I could pretty much 'go on for hours' on the subject of York's rich, 'haunted history', but - before signing off for this particular post - I just have to give a quick mention to a specific spot that, by far, stood out as the place that I most wanted to see during this visit..... Previously recorded as one of the regions 'most active ghosts', there is said to be the apparition of a 'large man' associated with a tiny passageway: 'Judges Court', just off Coney Street. Accompanying this ghost are said to be the sounds of 'dragging footsteps' and a rather peculiar 'tinkling' sound!?! The spectre concerned is said to have been seen by numerous people, over quite a considerable period of time, before renovations on that part of the city turned up a covered-over, long disused 'well'..... In excavating and exploring this clearly historic feature, the remains of what would have been a large man, wearing 'riding boots', was unearthed..... Somewhat intriguingly - given the large, 'tinkling' ghost that was long recorded as walking the spot - the remnants of a set of 'spurs' were found still fastened to the aforementioned boots........!? Purely as a matter of happy coincidence, I took a photograph while standing inside the 'Judges Court' passage, with John just in the process of exiting at the other end.... Because of the light and shadow play in that dingy area, the camera had issues with focusing the shot concerned, resulting in one of my favourite images of the day...... a rather suitable, spooky-looking, distorted image, if I ever saw one! Laugh!
In ending this post, I can only stress my immeasurable THANKS to John Chance for kindly taking me with him on this fantastic visit! It was a superb day, greatly enhanced by his lovely, interesting company!! Many, many thanks to you John!!
The first - 'The Unexplained Podcast' (LINK) - was suggested to me some while ago by the aforementioned James Lees... and was my firm favourite for quite some while afterwards. Presented and researched by Richard Maclean Smith, the show is usually kept to half-hour (or sometimes shorter) offerings which basically reflect what the associated, advertising blurb claims: "A haunting and unsettling bi-weekly podcast about strange and mysterious real life events that continue to evade explanation. A story-based show mixing spoken-word narrative, history and ideas - often to terrifying effect - that explores the space between what we think of as real and what is not; where sometimes belief can be as concrete as ‘reality,’ whatever that is…"
The second offering, which is, by far, my firm-favourite to date - 'The Dark Histories Podcast' (LINK) - was basically stumbled across while attempting to potentially 'dig out something similar' to the aforementioned show.... No offence to R.M.S., of course, but this broadcast - hosted and researched by a Brighton-based, hair stylist named 'Ben' - soon switched places with 'The Unexplained' as my top listening choice! What I personally like / prefer about DH is - the same as 'Unex. Pod.' - the amount of research that clearly goes into the subjects covered by the show. In general comparison, however, the 'run-time' for this podcast is generally quite superb..... usually transcending the hour mark - sometimes approaching / pipping two hours, even! - which is absolutely excellent for what I use such shows for...... i.e. fascinating 'company' on long walks, or while carrying out lengthy boring / taxing tasks, etc.
