Things That Go Bump In The Night

Neither of us are fans of scary things. John thinks they are silly and I think they are... scary. I have had what were either actual ghost encounters or the result of pain medication and an overactive imagination. I don't know or care which it is but I am more than happy to leave the ghost stories and experiences to others. Yet in very old places, especially ones with the history that the city of York has it is almost impossible to miss the scary stuff.

Normally we would skip the York Dungeon https://www.thedungeons.com/york/en/ but the city has such a history of nefarious characters such as Guy Fawkes and Dick Turpin that we decided to go, plus it was included on our city pass. The tour took us underground where we were led on a guided tour into rooms, each with an actor who told or showed us tales from the cities dark side. We did not know in advance that audience participation was required and I found myself in a powder keg of vipers as Hilda, Queen of the Vikings. Thankfully I was not the one found guilty and burned at the stake as a witch! There was just enough humor to tell the stories and legends with causing nightmares.

We did not expect any such activity from our visit to the Treasures house. Originally the home of the treasurer of the York Minster in 1091 the house passed through many private owners until it was acquired by the National Trust at the request of the last resident Frank Greene. Greene had the house restored included much of the furnishing to the way he believed it would have looked in the 17th -19th centuries. He was VERY specific about the arrangement of the furnishings, even having studs put in the floor to indicate where the legs of the furniture should go after the floor was cleaned. Upon his death he threatened to come back and haunt anyone who moved any item in the house from where he had placed it. Bold talk but apparently no action. While there are no reports of Frank Greene coming back (possibly because the furniture is placed correctly), Yorks’ most famous ghosts are said to occupy the cellar of the house. https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/features/by-the-look-of-you-youve-seen-the-romans
Happily the cellar was both optional and an extra charge so we did not have any disturbing encounters.

We also managed to miss any activity in The Golden Fleece, advertised as the most haunted place in York.,( a claim shared with other pubs like the Snickleway Inn, the Black Swan and Ye Olds Starr Inn). Are any of these places really haunted? I am happier not knowing.