FAMOUS GHOSTS OF YORK
We continue our run-through of the City of York’s more famous – or infamous – hauntings with another selection of spirits, ghouls and ghosts.
Remember, many of the spooky individuals and occurences that we have unearthed are part of one or another of the many Ghost Tours that run throughout York all year long. With two millenia of early deaths and unhappy victims, there’s a creepy tale around each and every corner, behind the next gate, nexy door in that adjoining room…
The most haunted city in Europe has an unholy host for every visitor, and over 500 ghosts beckoning you to return and feel the chills!
After the restess spirit of the Grey Lady, the pleasant prayers of the late Dean Gale and the Roman troops still marching on, here are another three apparitions from the area: sweet dreams and happy (ghost) hunting!
THE HEADLESS GHOST
One of the more dashing ghosts about town is Thomas Percy, 7th
Rebelling against Queen Elizabeth I, he was captured and publicly beheaded in 1572 and his severed cranium mounted on a spike at Micklegate Bar, probably parboiled and seasoned with cumin to deter birds, as was the custom.Although Percy’s body was buried in the nearby church of St Crux, his head was interred two years later in Holy Trinity.
Sightings of a headless corpse staggering around Goodramgate in search of his misplaced head have been occurring ever since.
HORROR AT THE TOWER
Strange manifestations take place at Clifford’s Tower where in 1190 horrendous anti-Semitism led to a number of Jews being besieged within the tower, who were then driven to commit mass suicide rather than face the angry mob outside.
To this day people have reported seeing blood pouring down the walls of the castle with red stains visible on the gatehouse.
MASSACRE AT THE WORKHOUSE
Worst of all is the spine chilling tale of the incomparably evil master of the workhouse for orphans in the area of Bedern, known as the York Industrial Ragged School.
Many of the orphans died through exhaustion and starvation as a result of his neglect when, being too lazy to dispose of their bodies, he locked them in a large cupboard in the workhouse.
As the bodies piled up, the stench became so dreadful that the master started to imagine that he heard terrified screams issuing from the cupboard until he eventually went mad and grabbing a long knife, massacred the remaining children as they slept.
Many locals avoid Bedern late at night to this day. Others unfortunate to venture there in the small hours may hear voices or whimperings of the restless spirits of the children as they roam the dark streets.