HISTORIC YORK - GHOST WALKS IN SPOOKY TOWN
Scares in England’s Most Haunted City
York
in the north of England is one of the island nation’s
most fascinating cities for history and reputed to be one of its most
haunted.
Nearly every corner of the old town within the great walls which still
surround it (see Walking
York's Medieval Walls), has a curious bit of
history or story attached to it and a local industry has grown for the
benefit of visiting tourists.
York seems to have invented the “Ghost Walk”. This walking
tour of the city’s dark secret corners has since been much imitated
elsewhere since it began in the early 1970’s. What is a Ghost
Walk? Well, its not the dead walking, but a group of gathered tourist
who follow
a guide through the city to various spots where either a reputed haunting
took place or just an interesting bit of history. 
Typically
lasting about an hour and half, a very entertaining guide tells spooky
ghost
stories
with the dark verve of a Shakespearian thespian. Some of the guides
are actors, some college lecturers, authors, or city “Blue Badge” guides.
There is no need to reserve a place on a ghost walk tour. One needs
only show up at an appointed spot at the correct hour.
The guide will collect the tariff on the walk. The stories of hauntings
are taken
from histories York or books of actual events and spun into an entertaining
mix of street theater and campfire ghost story.
There
are more than one provider of ghost walks in York. The “Original
Ghost Walk” offers two versions and the “Ghost Hunt of York” is
another. There is a debate about the “best”. Many prefer
the “original” but the Ghost Hunt has won local awards. The
Original Ghost Walk departs from the historic King’s Arms Pub at
the Ouse River Bridge at 8:00 pm every day no matter the weather. Ghost
Walks in the dry are certainly preferable, but there’s also something
appropriately demented huddling under brollys in the drizzling Yorkshire
mists listing to scary and amusing tales. Arrive early and you can have
a drink or a meal at the pub before the walk. If running late, you can
join the walk at the steps of Clifford’s tower at 8:30. The Ghost
Hunt meets every night at 7:30 pm at the historic street of 16th century
shops “The Shambles” in the center of old York. The walking
tours cost £4 and £5 for adults with discounts for kids and
students. Group tour discounts can be arranged in advance. There is also
the "Ghost Detective" who meets at the Jorvik Viking Center
at 7:30 pm and the "Ghost Trail" leads from The York Minster
at 7:30 pm as well. The streets of York may be full of more touring strollers
and ghost story tellers at night than walking ghosts. Beginning in March
of 2010 a new spooky tour company Dick
Turpin Tours is offering ghost
walks and even a haunted candlelit dinner at York's most haunted pub,
the Black Swan Inn (see Ghosts
By Candle Light).
Treasurer’s House
Not
spooked enough? One of the stories you’ll hear on a Ghost
Walk is of The Treasurer’s House. Located behind York Minster Cathedral
this historic mansion is one of York’s most famous haunted locations.
The spectral images of Roman Soldiers reportedly march through its cellars
on the
conquering road from the north (see Hadrian’s
Wall). And its not
only the roman’s who haunt the Treasurer’s House. 
Its
eccentric owner from the
1800’s Frank Green promised
to haunt the
place if anyone
moved his furniture. And well, you have to dust every once in
a while. The Treasurer’s House is a National Trust property open
from March to November - 11 am to 4:30 every day except Fridays, with
tours of the gardens, beautiful Edwardian house rooms and the haunted
cellars. Cost is £5.50 to £7.50 depending on the tour. The
Tea Room is a free entry and a nice spot to have an afternoon tea or
a lunch after a visit to the nearby Minster.
The York Dungeon
For
more theatrical scares, the York Dungeon is the place. An indoor
amusement attraction
of “haunted house” scares and thrills,
the York Dungeons were also the first of many that have expanded to other
cities (see Hamburg
Dungeons). A few blocks down Clifford Street from
the Kings Arms Pub, step into the York Dungeons and enter a dark and
chilling world of the past events of this historically gruesome city,
told in performances by costumed actors accompanied by Halloween thrill
effects. You wander
through black halls into the themed displays
as
doors close behind you. No escape for the wicked. Relive the Plague which
ravaged
York in the middle ages, follow the highwayman Dick Turpin to the gallows,
get caught up in the executions of the Gunpowder Rebellion of Guy Fawkes,
try to make it through
the
Labyrinth
of the
Lost, survive
marauding
Vikings,
and outlive the terrors of the torture chamber. The York Dungeons are
open all year except for Christmas Day and not recommended for young
children or those with a "nervous disposition". Whoohoo... © Bargain
Travel Europe
Find
the best deals on B&Bs and Inns in York
at TripAdvisor
Web Info
York Tourism
York Dungeon
National
Trust
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See Also:
RIPLEY CASTLE AND BOARS HEAD INN
NORTH YORKSHIRE MOORS RAILROAD
