The York Guildhall was once used as a Court of Justice for
the infamous trial of Margaret Clitherow - who was put on trial for practising
Catholicism in 1586. It is a majestic looking building and plays a major part
in York's history today.
The current Hall dates from the 15th Century
but it is actually built on the site of an earlier “Common Hall” which was
referred to in a charter from 1256. Thought to be one of the oldest buildings
in the city of York, it served the guilds as a meeting place. Set in one of the
most reputedly haunted cities in the UK - the York Guildhall has a reputation
of housing a plethora of ghostly sightings and experiences.
During the Second World War the Guildhall was damaged
by German Bombs during the Baedeker Raid in 1942. It wasn’t until 18 years
later that the stone shell of the building was restored again complete with a
new stained glass window which was re opened by Queen Elizabeth, the Queen
Mother in the 1960’s.
Amazingly the stone walls of the building escaped
total destruction and now form the frame of the reconstructed hall. A single
tree trunk was used for each oak pillar, the originals coming from the Forest
of Galtres. The inner room of the Hall also survived during the raid and
remained intact – along with its panelled walls, masons marks, hidden stairways
and a ceiling decorated with old bosses.
With so much history it comes as no surprise that the
Guildhall is reputedly haunted with many ghosts and spirits within its very
foundations.
There are said to have been reported sightings of the
full apparition of a spirit man whose loud ghostly footsteps have been heard in
various parts of the building. Mutterings and whispering spirit voices have
also been reported by the many visitors to this location.
ONE OF THE ROOMS
As you can imagine I was excited to be here, especially after hearing from other ghost hunters how active their nights have been here.
As soon as we entered the base room, Michael felt the presence of a man and so did I! This was going to be an active night, we could tell !
The guests arrived and after an initial walk around went off to investigate in small groups with equipment.
We then split into two groups, with Jess and I conducting calling out vigils and table tipping and Michael concentrating on the pendulums and Ouija board.
In group one, we soon felt the presence of an over-bearing man in the old court room areas. Several people picked up that he wasn't a very pleasant man who didn't like women very much. A lady in white was also picked up on and one young man, initially sceptical, actually began to see spirit around him!
Then the physical things began to happen - lots of small blue, green and yellow spirit lights, mists, bangs and taps and then one incredible, massively bright light ! We checked and double checked and we cannot explain where it came from.
Stranger still, we had the exact same phenomena in the second group ! The second group also decided to sit around a large board-room like table in the ante-rooms and amazingly this table actually moved, and at one point a large thud was heard - like a man banging his fist down hard in the centre of the table.
This was enough for us, and we concluded the evening. This has to be in my top 10 venues, and I can't wait to return, Thanks to guests Sally, Maxine and Seb, Adam and all the others who worked so hard to make it a great night.
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