York, England, has been called the ‘city of a thousand ghosts’ (Roberts, 1992). According to Lister (2007), “York claims to be ‘Europe’s most haunted city.’” As far back as the 19th century, W M Camidge (1899) noted that “sixty or eighty years ago most streets had their particular ghost.” Little has changed in the ensuing years. Haunted York is full of ghosts, and many of the ghost stories of York are based on fact.
Haunted Churches: The Haunted Pew, York Minster
Churches have long been a source of ghosts. But one particular ghost has style; he haunts York Minster, York’s Cathedral.
Dean Gale lived in the latter years of the 17th century. He loved the Minster and spent many happy hours attending services, sitting in the same pew wherever possible. Gale died in 1702 and was much mourned. Some time later, a local vicar holding a service was shocked into silence when he saw, amongst his audience, Dean Gale sitting in his pew. That wasn't the last time Gale was seen. Gale was previously laid to rest in a smart tomb which still exists.
Haunted Churches: St Saviour’s Church
This church was said to be haunted by a man dressed in dark clothes and seen leaning into a grave. This is his story.
A light-fingered sexton tried to steal rings buried with their owner. Late one night, he returned to the coffin to cut the rings from the woman's fingers. He ended up cutting her fingers instead. The woman, not dead, but merely in a coma, woke up with the pain. She was lucky to be saved, but the sexton's home was searched and more jewellery was found. No charges were brought.
The graveyard today has the added attraction of a small exhibition on organic gardening and the use of recycled stone. The church is home to DIG, which provides information on York’s archaeology.
Haunted Places in York: The Lady of St Saviourgate
Not far from the church on the same street* stood a large deserted building. A woman was said to appear at midnight and walk from the house to the end of the church. She would pace back and forth until one in the morning. The woman was said to be shy and gentle and would vanish if confronted. But such was the terror at her presence by the house that no one would live there. The house was eventually demolished and replaced by Lady Hewley’s hospital. A plaque relating to the hospital can be seen above the street.
* This is probably the case. This story was cited in Camidge (1899) and is thought (Mitchell, 1996) to be St Saviourgate.
Haunted Places in York: Mad Alice Lane
Between Swinegate and Low Petergate lies a narrow passage called Lund’s Court, formerly known as Mad Alice Lane. Alice was a woman who lived in the street until the mid-1820s, before she was hanged. Reports vary as to why she was hanged – poisoning her husband and insanity being two of them. Although nicely presented with old exposed beams on view, the lane can still be creepy in parts.
Haunted Places in York: The Children of Bedern
Bedern, once a square, is now a passage off Goodramgate – a name which comes from the Danish name Guthrum. Bedern itself means Prayer House. The chapel and dining hall of the College of the Vicars Choral of York Minster can still be seen today. In 1847, a former ‘old people’s home’ became the York Industrial Ragged School, a cross between an orphanage and a workhouse. Several children were said to have died there, with bodies sometimes being stored in a locked cupboard, awaiting burial.
When the school was moved to Marygate (1855), several more bodies were found on site. The children of Bedern have been heard laughing and screaming outside the house. They were also heard by the school manager near the cupboard where the bodies were stored.
More recently, a man heard voices while walking his dog down Goodramgate. The dog refused to go down the alley.
Also recently, an archaeologist working on the site felt he was being watched. He also felt someone tapping on his shoulder. When he turned round, there was no one there. But that night, his wife noticed red marks running down his back, spaced like the imprint of children’s fingers.
Bedern begins as a dark alley. It’s not an advisable place to go at night – whether or not you believe in ghosts.
Do Ghosts Exist?
Camidge (1899) noted that ghosts often served a purpose. He cited a woman in a nearby market town who created a ghost to scare off thieves stealing fruit from her orchard. The ploy worked. “She had studied her part well and … performed all that could be expected from a real ghost.”
The introduction of gas lights and policemen on the beat made short work of many ghosts, chasing the shadows and superstitions away. So did increased education. But ghost stories are still plentiful today; they add interest, fun and a bit of mystery. They’re also an excellent tourist attraction.
Do ghosts exist? I asked that question of a National Trust guide after visiting a haunted cellar. She didn’t believe in ghosts personally, but she believed in the seer, that he had seen what he thought he had. Maybe with ghosts, seeing is believing.
In which case, there’s no better place than York.
York Ghost Walks
The Original Ghost Walk of York
Sources
Camidge, W M. The Ghosts of York. York: Yorkshire Gazette, 1899.
Foley, Brendan. The Ghost Walk of York. 2nd ed. York: Heslington Publications, 1985.
Lister, Philip. Ghosts & Gravestones of York. Stroud: Tempus Publishing, 2007.
Mitchell, John V. Ghosts of an Ancient City: Stories of Haunted York. 3rd ed. York: St Peter’s School, 1996.
Roberts, Andy. Ghosts and Legends of Yorkshire. Jarrold Publishing, 1992.
Ellie Stevenson - Ellie writes on history, travel, careers & the arts. Her novel, Ship of Haunts (http://tinyurl.com/cyryp2m) is on Amazon as an ebook.
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