Haunted Pubs of York
York is famous for its ancient hostelries, many of which are set in the winding Snickleways and dark alleyways of the city – the former haunts of highwaymen, bodysnatchers and scenes of bloody executions and foul deeds, so perhaps it’s not surprising that the pubs have more than their fair share of ghostly apparitions and devilish goings on.
In medieval York there was a church for every week of the year and a pub for every day of the year.
Consequently the pubs have a window on much of York’s history, which is probably why many of the city’s most famous ghosts still hang around.
Fun with Dick and George
From Dick Turpin’s spectral horseman galloping through the cobbled streets to the ‘groping’ ghost inhabiting the snug in The Cock and Bottle, reputed to be the lecherous George Villiers 2nd Duke of Buckingham, or the ghostly Papists whose meetings reportedly still take place in the rooms of The Old White Swan when muffled voices are heard and chairs are mysteriously re-arranged in circles during the night.
The Golden Fleece in Pavement claims to be the most haunted of coaching inns with a total of five spectral visitors, but the oldest continuously licensed pub in York is The Olde Starre on Stonegate where the cellars were once used to shelter wounded Royalist soldiers.
It’s said that on dark nights, one can sometimes still hear their dying screams.
Strangely, the pub has a strange effect on canine visitors who appear to see something lurking in the corners of the bar invisible to the human eye.
Two Girls One Chap
The Black Swan on Peaseholme Green, boasts two ghosts who regularly stalk the premises.
The first is an enigmatic, flaxen haired girl wearing – surprise, surprise – a long white dress, who stares pensively into the fireplace.
The second, less intimidating spectre is a diminutive workman dressed in Victorian attire, complete with bowler hat who glances anxiously at his stopwatch every now and then as if waiting for someone to arrive (or for last orders), before gradually fading away.
Landlords have a hard time at The York Arms on High Petergate where a mischievous female spirit, so annoyed one incumbent who was decorating the toilets that he threw a paintbrush at her – needless to say, it went straight through her.
Grim Scary Tales
One of the saddest stories however is of Marmaduke Buckle born in 1697; a young crippled boy who was viciously persecuted.
He retreated to his upstairs bedroom at The Anglers’ Arms on Goodramgate where he spent his days gazing down into the busy streets below before hanging himself from a beam.
But first he scratched his name into the wall with the dates of his birth and imminent death.
The room is still imbued with an unbearable feeling of sadness and a feeling of being watched. Sometimes a lamp mysteriously lights in an empty room, or a door is softly open and shut.
A grim secret lies at The Punch Bowl in Stonegate, a former house of ill-repute, where a flower girl was ruthlessly pursued by a male customer who strangled her to death in an upstairs room.
It’s said that her spirit still flees from room to room in a futile attempt to escape.
Roman and a Groanin’
But York’s oldest pub ghosts surely reside in the Roman Bath in St Sampson’s Square which contains just that – a 1,999-year-old stone built bath complete with Fridgearium.
Footsteps are often heard as well as splashing water, presumably as the ghostly Ancient Romans frolic in the tub. Many terrified customers have fled the premises having felt something brush past them.
One unfortunate landlord was so stunned after he saw a blinding light and ghostly figure fading into the Fridgearium that he left, never to return to York again.
These are just a few of the restless spirits that haunt the pubs of York –maybe someone should tell them that it’s closing time.
RELATED BLOGS:
Eyes for Ghosts
Justin’s Blog on Haunted Pubs of York!
Haunted Pubs at suite101
York Ghost on CCTV and in Japan!
You May Also Be Interested In:
Haunted York, North Yorkshire UK
Days Out in York, North Yorkshire
Days Out in Leeds, West Yorkshire
Days Out in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear
Days Out in Liverpool, Merseyside
Days Out in Chester, Cheshire
Directory of Chester Directory of Liverpool Directory of York
Directory of Leeds Directory of Newcastle upon Tyne
Related posts:
- Grim ‘n’ Gritty City: Ghosts of York Part 2 FAMOUS GHOSTS OF YORK We continue our run-through of...
- Ghost Walks: Terrifying Tours of York Part 1 HAUNTED WALKS OF YORK If you want to...
- Hunting and Haunting: Terrifying Tours of York Part 2 HAUNTED WALKS OF YORK With a torch shining...
- Get in the Spirit: Ghosts of York Part 1 FAMOUS GHOSTS OF YORK York’s living population share...
- Fun and Frights at the York Ghost Festival from 24th October 2009 York Ghost Festival: ‘Orribly Original A host of ghostly...
Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.
