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Bedern Hall of York: A History

A fine example of a 13th century hall, Bedern Hall has a fascinating history since its original inception as a refectory in the College of Vicars Choral, having been over the years a school, a baker’s, butcher’s, slum tenement buildings and latterly since restoration, the venue of weddings, conferences and celebrations.

It lies hidden just south east of York Minster within easy walking distance from the railway station and car parks, and can be approached via an archway opposite the National Trust shop on the corner of Deangate and Goodramgate to the right of the disused Bedern Chapel built in the 1340s.

The present Bedern Hall was probably completed in 1399, being the second building on the site, and was originally part of the College of Vicars Choral – the junior clergy who sang the daily services in York Minster in place of the Canons.

The College was squeezed into the area between Goodramgate, St Andrewgate and Aldward and by 1300 there were 36 Vicars Choral, one for each member of the chapter (the governing body of York Minster). The hall was used as a refectory, or communal dining room from the end of the 14th century up to the mid 17th century and archways can still be seen in part of the building which used to lead to the pantry and buttery. Outside there was once a walled garden with a vineyard and orchard and individual houses for the vicars who often demanded payment for praying for the dead in the form of property.

The fan vaulted roof which was discovered during renovation is similar to designs found in the eastern part of the Minster created by the masons William Hoton and Robert de Patryngton, and medieval tracery still exists in one of the windows on the north east front.

The vicars themselves appear to have been an unruly lot and managed to accumulate a great deal of wealth. By 1400 the vicars rented out some 240 properties and had two mills, two tile works and a brewery. In 1362, reports of them “walking round the streets dressed like laymen and wearing knives and daggers,” appeared in a comperta and in 1408 there was an order made forbidding the service of wine to vicars at or after meals.

After the Reformation in the 16th century when the church in England broke away from the Roman Catholic Church, vicars were permitted to get married. This meant that many moved away and their numbers at the College declined. The houses were let to lay people and the tradition of communal dining ended even though the Hall was still used for meetings and feasts for another half century.

During the Civil War, extensive damage was incurred by St Peter’s School – one of the oldest schools in England founded in 627 – and the students were accommodated in Bedern. Later, attempts were made to establish a university there without success. In fact York didn’t acquire its present university until the 1960s.  

As the Hall passed into private ownership it was divided into tenements in the 1790s and populated by Irish immigrants who had fled the Irish potato famine. The whole area became a slum and a “sad spectacle of poverty and wretchedness.”

In the 1870s, the Bedern National School was built on the site and though many of the remaining buildings of the College of Vicars’ Choral were demolished, Bedern Hall survived as a local bakery called Bartons. The bakery occupied the premises up until the 1950s when the Hall was purchased by Wright’s pork butchers and became part of the curing department used for storing hams, bacon sides and curing tanks.

It wasn’t until the 1970s that the area was cited in the Esher report as a site for redevelopment and restoration began in 1979. Every effort was made to retain features and ensure that modern improvements reflected the integrity of the original building. New additions have been made from materials selected to emphasise their modern provenance like softwood and York Stone.

The Bedern Hall Company, formed from members of Guilds including the Company of Cordwainers (workers in leather), the Guild of Freemen (a guild dating from medieval times) and the York Guild of Building (including masons, glaziers, plumbers, carpenters, joiners and carvers), was charged with overseeing the building to ensure that it was put to good use and of value in the community. A modern stained glass window was also commissioned commemorating Guild members.

Nowadays the Hall can be hired for weddings, dining, family occasions, birthday celebrations, christenings, afternoon teas, receptions, promotions and Christmas parties with seasonal menus available. Resident caterers can customise menus to suit individual occasions taking into account factors like season and budget. Ingredients are sourced from small local producers and herbs, garnishes and flowers come from the Hall’s own gardens.

With current sumptuous menus including dishes like Oak Roast Salmon, Pan Fried Fillet Steak with Red Plums, Grilled Goats’ Cheese with Slow Roasted Tomatoes and Walnut Oil Dressing and a Chocolate and Hazelnut Roulade, it’s guaranteed that any dining experience at Bedern Hall will be a truly historic occasion.

Address:
Bedern Hall
Bartle Garth
St Andrewgate
York YO1 7AL

 For further details telephone 01904 653698 or visit www.bedernhall.co.uk

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Here’s just a couple of excellent examples of photography from Gemma Leak on her wordpress blog.

I think that the Autumnal portrait above has a beautiful spread of colour, and reading Gemma’s description of a photography session shows that she really enjoys her vocation!


Gemma writes:

“I travelled to Harrogate to photograph Jo, Nick and little Edward,  (and not forgetting their gorgeous and very shy dog!)  We had a lovely day,  shooting a huge variety of images in and around the home.  Finishing off the day with a walk through the beautiful autumn leaves in the nearby park.

Jo and Nick are absolutely lovely and made me feel so welcome in their home, Edward was also a little star,  really patient , cute and cuddly.

I can’t wait to show the Nick & Jo the images, I have so many that I am thrilled with.  Here are just a few of my favourites ….”

To see more of Gemma Leak Photography, and read about a wide range of different photoshoot styles and themes, please visit the website!

HAUNTED WALKS OF YORK

The Haunted Walk of York

The Haunted Walk of York starts 8pm at exhibition square in front of the art gallery without “silly theatrics” costing from £2-£4.
 
Probably the oldest family-run ghost tour in the world, it was set up 25 years ago and boasts a family heritage in York spanning ten generations.
 
Spine-chilling tales, murders and mysteries will be revealed as you tiptoe around the haunted streets.
 

The Ghost Trail

For something a bit less strenuous but seriously creepy, try Haunted – a genuine haunted house over located at 35 Stonegate and the venue of TV’s Most Haunted Programme when ghost hunter Derek Acorah had a very close encounter with a spectre on the premises.
 
Restless spirits are still said to wander the rooms. Prices range from £9 for an adult and one kid to £18 for 2 adults and 4 kids, with lots of variations in-between.
 

York Boat Cruise

Or on the other hand the York Boat cruise has a special Halloween Cruise on 31^st October with optional fancy dress.
 
Setting off from Lendal Bridge Landing at 8pm and returning at 11.15pm, tickets are £28.50 per person to include a boarding drink, disco and barbeque style supper to keep the ghouls at bay.
 
As mentioned in our previous post, all the mentioned ghost tours last for one to one and half hours, don’t be LATE!

External Links:
The Haunted Walk of York
The Ghost Trail

HauntedYork Boat Cruise

York Ghost Festival: ‘Orribly Original

A host of ghostly goings on are manifesting in York over Halloween from Saturday 24th October to Sunday 1st November, when the sixth York Ghost Festival takes place in a spirited celebration of the paranormal.  

Since 2004, the York-based Paranormal and Spectral Investigations (PSI) group in conjunction with Haunted has been organising a feast of supernatural activities in England’s most haunted city, and this year there will be eerie events galore with Haunted Treasure Hunts taking place every night throughout the festival from 7pm until 10pm.

Spooky characters will be around to recount free ghost stories, presided over by celebrity astrologer Jonathan Cainer, with history tours, plenty of thrills and chills and audience participation broadcast live by Minster FM. Ghost vigils will be held at venues throughout York with live feeds to a giant screen from haunted locations including the Golden Fleece Pub in Pavement and the Treasurer’s House in Minster Yard.

At Haunted itself there’ll be ghost tours taking place until 10pm every night. Over the years, the house has been the scene of ghoulish materialisations when visitors have reported feeling the icy touch of invisible fingers or heard spine-chilling screeches emanating from the attic. Recently, the professional phantom hunter, Derek Acorah had a very spooky experience at the house on TV’s Most Haunted programme when he was held in a ghostly stranglehold whilst the entire film crew bolted the premises screaming.

On the night of Halloween on 31st October in a grand climax to the festival, you can become part of an attempt to stage the World’s Biggest Ghost vigil. Everyone is invited to assemble beneath The Eye of York at the foot of Clifford’s Tower to listen out for signs of paranormal activity and devilish disturbances.

Mr Cainer is hoping that some ghoulish participants will make an appearance to swell the numbers: “It will be a celebration of Samhain – the ancient pagan festival of the ancestors,” he told The Press, “and we’ll be inviting the ghosts and spirits of York to join us.
“The Eye of York is famously nasty. They did hangings there and it’s also a place where witches were persecuted.”

Last year, although the attempt to stage the World’s Biggest Ghost Vigil at York didn’t break the record, a staggering total of 700 people looked and listened for signs of spectral activity at Haunted on Stonegate and across various locations. This year it’s hoped to smash all previous records by signing up a total of more than 900 people. Once the vigil ends, there’ll be an overnight investigation at Haunted by brave and intrepid members of PSI.

The York Ghost Festival has become so successful that several other cities including Edinburgh, London and Stratford-upon-Avon have followed suit and organised their own Ghost Festivals based on the same ideas.

The concept was first spawned back in 2004 when, after a lifetime interest in ghost stories and several years of attending paranormal investigations, founder Rachel Lacy decided it was time to set up her own group in her hometown of York.  PSI –Chicks was formed with the name reflecting the predominantly female membership of the group.

Since that time, PSI, under the leadership of Ghost Master General Rachel has carried out many investigations at a host of spooky venues including York Brewery, Lendal Water Tower and St Nicholas’ Fields.

With regular ghost detectives headed by the celebrity medium Diana Jarvis, the entourage have encountered more than their fair share of spectres; at haunted locations like the York Brewery and the York Castle Museum, that have included a tall, thin shadowy figure who left an overwhelming sense of evil, a phantom dressed in 1940’s attire and mysterious lines that materialised in flour traps at the brewery during the night.

Previous ghost vigils have unearthed some strange goings on too including THAT photograph taken at The Ebor Inn in Bishopthorpe that revealed hidden properties when displayed on computer. Who was the mysterious, bespectacled lady reflected in a mirror on the wall of the pub, who was not present at the investigation? What were the strange orbs that appeared to follow the landlord around the premises?

You might think that these experiences would be enough to send the PSI into quiet retirement but this year, undaunted, members intend to kick off the festival on October 24th with a one person/one room investigation.

“Despite doing investigations now for nearly ten years, it’s still scary contemplating spending a night alone in a haunted location!” says the intrepid general Rachel Lacy, “I last did it in 2003 when I spent Hallowe’en in the roman bathhouse in York alone, so I know I can do it, but the venues have a very different feel to them and last time it wasn’t on camera.”

You can watch Rachel and other group members’ vigils via the Haunted website www.hauntedhouseyork.co.uk where events will be streamed live throughout the night.  If you intend to host a ghost vigil yourself and would like it to be broadcast live on the public screen, contact Lucy on 07855 444069.

For anyone wanting to spend a few days ghost hunting, good value overnight accommodation is available throughout the festival at York University where B&B for a single room costs from £35 and a twin room £46 – it is, as far as we know, not haunted.

These treasure hunts are in the form of an East Walk from Haunted – a genuine haunted house, over 700 years old, located at 35, Stonegate – and a West Walk (a shorter option) from Micklegate Bar. The trails take intrepid participants on an enthralling hunt around the city, picking up pieces of information and clues along the way. At the end you can enter your answers in a prize draw for a chance to win a special Hallowe’en prize.

The attempt to break the record will be followed by séances and investigations at Haunted. The official vigil takes place at 9.30pm but the event will run from 7.30pm to 10pm. Entry is free but donations will go to the Inspiration Foundation’s Stables Project which helps young people who have difficulty fitting into mainstream education to achieve their potential.

Whether they will still be there in the morning or not, only remains to be seen.

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External Links:
York Ghost Festival 2009
Haunted: York’s Most Haunted House
PSI-Chicks

Directory of Chester    Directory of Liverpool    Directory of York    

Directory of Leeds   Directory of Newcastle upon Tyne

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, 7^th

Earl of Northumberland or the “Headless Earl” as he has become known.
 
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.

 

RELATED BLOGS:
Eyes for Ghosts
Haunted Churhes in York on suite101
Why There Are Ghosts at Clifford’s Tower
Ghost Children of Bedern at GhostTheory

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 2^nd 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.

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RELATED BLOGS:
Eyes for Ghosts
Justin’s Blog on Haunted Pubs of York!
Haunted Pubs at suite101
York Ghost on CCTV and in Japan!

HAUNTED WALKS OF YORK

 
If you want to become more closely acquainted with the burgeoning population of ghosts in Europe’s most haunted city, there are many guided ghost walks that take place throughout the year on most nights – especially dark and sinister ones.

Usually led by equity-trained, local guides, the spooky atmosphere of York’s snickle and alleyways reputedly stalked by over 500 ghosts, only adds to the terror.
 
Here are a just few of the haunted walks that the city of York has to offer the bravest visitor!

The Ghost Hunt of York

 
The Ghost Hunt of York, winner of the City Tour of the Year York Tourism Award, uses drama to great effect as creator Andy Dextrous, dressed like a macabre Sherlock Holmes and tolling his death bell, leads the way starting from the medieval jumble of streets around the Shambles.
 
Complete with props, audience participation and illusion, the tour departs at half past seven with the proud boast that it is never cancelled.
 
Described as a “walk on the dark side” it is predominantly for adults, but children and students – or “Boils and Ghouls” - are welcome if they dare, with tickets from £3-£5.
 

The Original Ghost Walk of York

Back in 1973, The Original Ghost Walk of York began its nightly prowl through the streets and is believed to be the first exclusive Ghost Walk in the world, offering a night of “history and mystery to capture the imagination and inspire the mind.”.
 
Leaving at 8pm from The King’s Arms Pub on Ouse Bridge notorious for its flooding, the tour costs from £3-£4.50. Exploring a world of folklore, legend and dreams the operators state that they don’t stage manage tricks or gimmicks but prefer to rely on the art of storytelling.
 

The Ghost Detective

Fear and fun are combined when The Ghost Detective tour hosted by Gary Goldthorpe sallies forth nightly at 7.30pm from July to October or Fri, Sat and Sun from Nov to June.
 
Embarking from the Jorvik Centre – built over the old Viking settlement where apparently shopkeepers report strange goings on at night – the tour continues with sinister stories “of the absurd and unnatural” delivered with an element of humour.
 
All the ghost tours above last for one to one and half hours – if you ever return that is.

External Links:
The Ghost Hunt of York
The Original Ghost Walk of York
The Ghost Detective

FAMOUS GHOSTS OF YORK

York’s living population share the city with the dead – in fact the city of York is one huge burial ground spanning 2,000 years of history and rarely does any road excavation take place without unearthing human bones from one era or another.

With over 500 phantoms roaming the town centre and its environs it’s not surprising that York has the reputation of being the most haunted city in Europe.

LEGLESS ROMANS

Perhaps the most celebrated sightings of York’s ghouls ever to take place occurred in 1953 in the cellar of the 17^th century Treasurer’s House. 

 
A 17-year-old plumber, Harry Martindale, was working in the cellar when he heard a distant trumpet blast and was only able to watch in terrified disbelief as a horse carrying a rider emerged through the wall followed by a dejected band of what appeared to be Roman soldiers, legless below the knees, who moved across the cellar and disappeared at the other side.
 
On recounting the tale to historians however, Harry’s detailed description of the men’s uniforms did not tally with existing evidence of Roman costumes.
 
Only later was it discovered that an auxiliary troops wearing similar uniforms and carrying identical shields had been stationed in York at the end of the Roman Empire. As for the lack of legs, archaeologists revealed that a Roman road lay about a foot beneath the cellar floor.
 
If the phantom soldiers had been marching along this road, their legs would have been only visible from the knee down.

THE GREY LADY

Perhaps the most ubiquitous ghost in York is the restless spirit of The Grey Lady, a robed figure who has been spotted on numerous occasions around Petergate Bar and often inside the Theatre Royal.
 
Legend has it that she was a nun who was bricked up in a cellar by religious authorities after becoming pregnant by a townsman.
 
Others say that she had a vision of an angel and was expelled from her order to later die of a broken heart.

GHOSTLY DEAN GALE

The best known ghost of York Minster is the gentle spirit of Dean Gale, who was responsible for the upkeep of the cathedral in the late 16^th century and was known for his devotion to duty and religion, attending services regularly and always occupying the same pew.
 
On his death in 1702 and after he was laid to rest, a minister was rendered trembling and incoherent during a sermon when he saw Dean in his customary pew below.
 
Ever since then the devout spectre has been spotted from time to time, listening intently to services.

RELATED BLOGS:

 Snickleways – EyesforGhosts
Eyes for Ghosts
Jim Richardson – Fear Amongst the Roman Ghosts
Patrick Stewart and the Grey Lady?
York Minster and Ghost Tour on Flickr

Welcome to York!

York is one of the most beautiful cities in the world because of its history, architecture, places of interest and a unique shopping experience.

If a city visits in England interest you, then an excursion to York should be near the top of any tourist’s list. One trip to York will fill you with wonder and awe and will surely make you want to come again.

The History of York

The city of York was founded in 71AD by the Romans, and was initially called Eboracum. From the day that building was completed, York’s importance was ensured, as the Romans used the city as the region’s capital.

After the fall of the Romans, the Angles moved into York and made the city the capital of their kingdom of Northumbria. Next to arrive were the Vikings, who in turn made Jorvik the capital of all their land in England. It was under the Vikings that the name York slowly evolved.

Following the Norman Conquest of 1066, a greatly damaged York was slowly rebuilt, eventually becoming the administrative centre of Yorkshire.

Historically, the Kings and Queens of England have always regarded York as an important and pivotal city in the ruling of their lands, at times seen as an alternative seat of royal government.

Today, although the city proper doesn’t have a large population by modern city standards, York is still celebrated as one of the most important cities in the country for its historical and cultural significance.

Days Out in York

There is much to do and see in York, and you can spend many days out visiting the sights.

 York Minster is one such place of interest. The York Minster is the largest cathedral of the Gothic style in Northern Europe, situated in the old medieval city walls; the combination of the cathedral and the medieval walls create a breathtaking three mile walk, and is something not to be missed.

The city of York also boasts the beautiful Theatre Royal which showcases popular shows, within architectural surroundings that were built in the 18th century.

Other places of interest include the many musuems of different themes that can be found around York. These museums include the National Railway Museum, the JORVIK Viking Centre, the Castle Museum, the Richard III Museum and many more.

Shopping in York

York is a well known haunt for those who enjoy retail therapy. Not only does the city of York offer designer outlets and high street stores, there are also a great number of speciality stores and unique gift shops to visit.

From the main streets of the city to the smaller back streets such as The Shambles, York is every shopper’s idea of heaven with so many individual and interesting shops to find around every corner.

Restaurants and Eating Out in York

York is renowned for first class restaurants offering traditional fair, from the likes of Bettys Café Tea Rooms to the Middlethorpe Hall Restaurant.

From breakfast time through to your evening meal, York will have something to offer even the most discerning palate. The city of York is held in high regard when it comes to quality places to eat and drink, where one can unwind and relax in the wonderful surroundings of this great city.