The Paranormal Database

Phantom Hand

Location: York - Earl Grey Tea Rooms, Shambles
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: July 2016
Further Comments: One visitor reported on Trip Advisor that they had felt a child's hand grab them while in the lady's toilet, although nothing was there. Another story says a phantom older man sits at a corner table.

The River Ouse running through York.

Pale Figure

Location: York - Edge of the River Ouse
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 01 May (reoccurring) (legend), ghost unknown
Further Comments: Thought to be the shade of a drowned person, this figure drifts around the banks of the river. Another piece of folklore says that a person drops five white pebbles into the river when the Minster clock chimes one in the morning during the first of May, they see their past, present and future.

First Hussar pub, York.

Caped Man

Location: York - First Hussar public house, North Street
Type: Unknown Ghost Type
Date / Time: Twentieth century
Further Comments: A small team of men working through the night to complete a painting and decorating job all reported seeing a ghostly man dressed in a cape, who vanished through a wall.

Five Lions pub, York.

Green Jenny

Location: York - Five Lions public house (now Watergate Inn)
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Early twentieth century
Further Comments: This figure has not been seen for many years, and her history is all but forgotten.

Walking

Location: York - Fordington Lodge, outside of the city
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: Haunted by an unknown entity, the sounds of footsteps were often heard crossing the living room floor. Doors sometimes opened themselves, and once a sofa moved itself away from the wall, before moving back a few seconds later.

Baker and Soldiers

Location: York - Former toy shop just inside Roman Gate
Type: Other
Date / Time: Circa 1978/79
Further Comments: Late at night, a woman approached the toy shop window to look at a teddy bear. At the window, the woman entered a dream-like state - she 'became' a large male baker covered in flour working within the shop and looking out she could see Roman soldiers walking past.

The Foss Bridge in York.

Shrouded Woman

Location: York - Foss Bridge
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: This figure is reputed to leave St Crux and head towards the Foss Bridge where she vanishes - this may be the same entity which leaves the same church but disappears at Spen Lane.

Highwayman

Location: York - Four All's public house, A64
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 06 November 2006, 23:45h
Further Comments: A driver returning home from work reported passing a figure on horseback, dressed in highwayman's clothing, stood by the wall of the pub. When the witness looked in his rear view mirror, the figure had vanished. There is a local belief that the highwayman is Dick Turpin, and sightings of the highwayman are said to go back to the mid-twentieth century. A sandstone cave in the area is said to have been one of Turpin's hideouts.

Stuck in a Cupboard

Location: York - Grimston Lodge, road from City to Hull
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: This entity can be heard tapping on cupboard doors throughout the building - when the doors are opened the noise halts.

Guido

Location: York - Guy Fawkes Inn
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: The birthplace of Guy 'Guido' Fawkes is perhaps unsurprisingly haunted by the man himself, although what form he takes is not really known. Two children who died of cholera are also reputed to lurk around the site.

Holy Trinity Church, York.

Thomas Percy

Location: York - Holy Trinity Church, Goodramgate
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: Local folklore says that a decapitated Thomas Percy, the Seventh Earl of Northumberland, fumbles around the churchyard searching for his severed head. Thomas and head separated after upsetting Elizabeth I; the earl attempted and failed to raise an army against his queen and was executed for this error of judgement. More recently, a ghostly figure in a long gown (possibly a nun) has been observed on the site.

Old Soldiers

Location: York - Imphal Barracks, Fulford
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 1969
Further Comments: One soldier in training was taken to sickbay after seeing one of the ghosts which haunted this barracks. The spirits wore black buttoned tunics and cylindrical headwear.

Large Man

Location: York - Judge's Court, off Coney Street
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Late twentieth century
Further Comments: This unknown figure is heard jangling prior to appearing - his broken spur betraying his position.

Child Crying

Location: York - Lamb and Lion public house
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 2010s
Further Comments: The sound of a child crying has been reported upstairs, even when no child has been present. Doors are also said to close unaided by human hand.

Mad Alice Lane, York.

Executed Alice

Location: York - Mad Alice Lane (now Lund's Court)
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: Hanged here in 1825, her crime apparently only guilty of being 'mad', Alice drifts along the lane that once held her name. Another version of the story says she killed her abusive husband along the lane and was executed at the castle.

The Micklegate Bar Museum, York.

Sarah

Location: York - Micklegate Bar Museum
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: The museum is currently home to the ghostly Sarah, who as a young girl lost her father's keys to the city. She dedicated the rest of her life to finding them, and on completion of the task dropped dead of old age. It is reported that her shade wanders the corridors victoriously rattling the keys.

Lord Stafford

Location: York - Middlethorpe area (was a field, which may longer exist)
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: After 1385, last encounter not known
Further Comments: Upon a field in this area, Lord Stafford lost his life in a duel. His form continued to haunt the area for many years after his death, clad in his old military uniform.

Lady Mary

Location: York - Middlethrope Hall
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Late twentieth century
Further Comments: Lady Mary was murdered by her son and her phantom is now said to generate the feeling of nervousness in certain parts of the building.

Young Person

Location: York - Milthorpe School
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 24 March 2003
Further Comments: At least one student at the school has heard soft whisperings and seen a shadowy young person move quickly away from them.

The National Railway Museum, York.

Odd Spots

Location: York - National Railway Museum
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: A sleeping car housed here is said to contain a strange presence, while the darkroom is also reportedly home to a ghostly presence.

Rustling Woman

Location: York - Netherby Hall
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: A female clad in a silken dress was once said to move noisily around the hall.

Old White Swan Inn, York.

Laughing Figures

Location: York - Old White Swan Inn, Goodramgate
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: The haunting is said to be centred around one of the fireplaces and is variously described as a presence or a group of shadowy figures who laugh amongst themselves. One theory is that the entities are a group of catholic priests planning to escape to France, although whether their escape plan was successful is not known. The pub also featured in the local press in November 2018 after an unconvincing ghost photograph came to light.

The Good Musician

Location: York - Passageway once known as Beedham's Court, off Skeldergate
Type: Legend - Old Nick
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: A small band of musicians were performing around the city when they found themselves joined by another unannounced member. He played the violin particularly well, and as the band completed a song standing by Beedham's Court, their new-found violinist vanished, leaving only the strong smell of brimstone.

Grey Lady

Location: York - Path towards Bootham Bar
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 1970s, and 26 November 2016, 22:00h
Further Comments: While nicknamed the Grey Lady, all the stories associated with this phantom nun place her in a brown habit, although her hair was said to be grey. Seen in daylight hours during the 1970s, her more recent encounter occurred at night, where the witness and the nun locked eyes before she faded away.

Grey Nun

Location: York - Petergate Bar area
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: Bricked up alive for her sins, this ghostly nun has been seen in a few buildings in the area including the York Arms (where she appeared in the male toilets).