top of page

In the somber heart of Brighton, a place of antiquity and shadows stands steadfast, its name

whispered in hushed tones: Preston Manor. Oh, the tales that linger in the air, like tendrils of mist weaving through its halls, recounting an enigmatic history that stirs the senses and chills the soul. But dear reader, it is not just the dimly lit corridors and timeworn walls that beckon curiosity; it is the seance room, clad in leather wallpaper, where the lines between our world and the ethereal are blurred, where the whispers of the past echo with a resonance that defies explanation.


Picture, if you will, this room of secrets, where leather clings to the walls as if seeking solace as if trying to ensnare every whisper and tremor of the unseen. It is here, within these very confines, that the curious and the bold have convened to commune with the beyond. Seances, those rituals that straddle the veil between life and death, are enacted with bated breath and quivering hands. The table, a witness to the tides of fate, moves as if guided by spectral fingers, swaying to the rhythm of an otherworldly dance.


Yet, it is not just the table that becomes ensnared in this ethereal waltz. No, dear reader, in this

room of leather-bound memories, tables move with purpose, driven by an energy that defies explanation. The confines of the room prove feeble as the tables glide, not only across the worn floorboards but out into the corridor, as if guided by an unseen force that seeks to venture beyond.


Imagine the disquiet that must churn within the breast of the curious observer, as they watch the table's trajectory carry it along the long corridor, slipping through the threshold of other chambers. What ancient secrets does it whisper to those who linger in its path? What spectral hands guide its movements, and what enigmatic forces propel it on its journey?



And as the curious are drawn like moths to the flames of this enigmatic room, there lies another realm of uncanny events. Ascend the creaking stairwell to the upper chambers, where innocence and childhood reside. The nursery, a sanctuary of tender laughter and dreams, transforms into a theatre of the unexplained. In these sacred spaces, the laws of reality seem to blur, and the mundane surrenders to the mysterious.


Shadows dance upon the walls, contorting into shapes that defy the laws of physics. Footsteps, delicate yet distinct, reverberate in the silence, an echo from a spectral realm. The nursery's air is thick with the essence of unseen presence as if generations of memories are woven into the very fabric of the room.


In Preston Manor, Brighton's silent sentinel, every corner teems with the weight of history and the touch of the unknown. The seance room, shrouded in leather-clad secrets, pulsates with spectral energy, tables moving as m

essengers between realms. And the nursery, where innocence meets the ethereal, bears witness to shadows that dance to a rhythm known only to the past.


Dear reader, as you wander these halls and chambers, know that the tales whispered in these walls are not mere echoes of the past, but living entities that beckon you to unravel their enigma. The spirits of Preston Manor yearn to share their stories, to guide you into the realm where the mundane blurs into the uncanny, and the heart of the unknown beats with an eerie resonance.






51 views0 comments


In the greenest of our valleys

By good angels tenanted,

Once a fair and stately palace—

Radiant palace—reared its head.

In the monarch Thought’s dominion,

It stood there!

Never seraph spread a pinion

Over fabric half so fair!


Banners yellow, glorious, golden,

On its roof did float and flow

(This—all this—was in the olden

Time long ago)

And every gentle air that dallied,

In that sweet day,

Along the ramparts plumed and pallid,

A wingèd odor went away.


Wanderers in that happy valley,

Through two luminous windows, saw

Spirits moving musically

To a lute’s well-tunèd law,

Round about a throne where, sitting,

Porphyrogene!

In state his glory well befitting,

The ruler of the realm was seen.


And all with pearl and ruby glowing

Was the fair palace door,

Through which came flowing, flowing, flowing

And sparkling evermore,

A troop of Echoes, whose sweet duty

Was but to sing,

In voices of surpassing beauty,

The wit and wisdom of their king.


But evil things, in robes of sorrow,

Assailed the monarch’s high estate;

(Ah, let us mourn!—for never morrow

Shall dawn upon him, desolate!)

And round about his home the glory

That blushed and bloomed

Is but a dim-remembered story

Of the old time entombed.


And travellers, now, within that valley,

Through the red-litten windows see

Vast forms that move fantastically

To a discordant melody;

While, like a ghastly rapid river,

Through the pale door

A hideous throng rush out forever,

And laugh—but smile no more.

7 views0 comments

In the shadowy depths of England's chilling City of York, where phantoms and specters are whispered to outnumber the living, fear, and terror grip those brave enough to wander its haunted streets.

Affectionately referred to as 'the City of 1000 Ghosts,' this eerie place sends shivers down the spine of any soul who dares to pay a visit. The air is thick with an otherworldly atmosphere, and the city's historic buildings and landmarks stand as silent witnesses to bygone ages, drawing visitors into a haunting embrace they will never forget.


Let us delve into the darkest corners of York's most haunted locations!


YORK CASTLE MUSEUM

Within the confines of York Castle Museum lurks one of the city's most infamous ghostly tales. In the year 1953, a caretaker named Mr. Jonas made a chilling encounter with a little man, draped in the eerie attire of Edwardian times.


As twilight descended, Mr. Jonas and his wife locked up the Museum after closing, retreating to their abode in the foreboding basement. Yet, as they sought relaxation, ominous footsteps echoed from the museum above, beckoning Mr. Jonas to investigate.


Upstairs, he stumbled upon the man, pacing the floor, seemingly trapped within the museum's confines. Attempting to reach out, he dared to touch the mysterious figure, but in an instant, the phantom vanished into the void!


The unsettling apparition didn't stop there; on another occasion, witnessed by Mr. Jonas and a colleague, the ghostly enigma resurfaced, leaving them haunted by the chilling presence. The identity and intentions of this spectral being remain an enigma, buried within the shadows of time.


BLACK SHEEP BREWERY, COLLIERGATE


The York Brewery, once a morgue and a vicarage, now stands as the notorious Black Sheep


Brewery, where a malevolent spirit prowls the labyrinth of aged rooms, dating back to the 18th century. Amidst the heavy footsteps and the inexplicable movements of tables, this tall and thin entity, donning a tall hat, looms over the inn, sternly guarding its eerie dominion. Welcoming no intruders into its spectral realm, it delights in unleashing chilling cries and slamming doors, terrorizing all who dare to trespass.




YORK MINSTER


The imposing presence of York Minster, the grandest Gothic cathedral in Northern Europe, conceals a multitude of phantoms from ages past, rendering it one of York's most haunted spectacles.




Among the many ghostly tales, one story stands out, recounting a spine-tingling encounter in the 1820s. Two members of a tour group found themselves wandering alone through the hallowed halls when a man in naval uniform materialized before them.


Whispering cryptic words to one of the ladies, the man revealed himself to be her deceased brother, honoring a pact they had forged in life. Having

passed away at sea, he returned from beyond the veil to fulfill his promise and confirm the existence of an afterlife.


Besides this spectral sibling bond, Dean Gale, a young man who perished at the tender age of 26 in 1702, is said to still attend sermons, his ghostly presence haunting the pews.



THE GOLDEN FLEECE


Nestled amidst the chilling tales that waft through the air of York's haunted past, The Golden Fleece stands proudly as the city's most haunted hostelry.


Skeptical bar managers swiftly learn the truth when confronted by an array of ghostly apparitions.



From an enigmatic figure gliding across the bar and vanishing into walls, to the eerie sound of


footsteps and rattling keys, and a bone-chilling ice-cold hand sending shivers down their spines, the staff bears witness to an unsettling parade of supernatural events.


Among the haunted guests, a ghostly woman roams the corridors and staircases in the dead of night. Identified as Lady Alice Peckitt, the wife of a former Lord Mayor of York, her spectral presence lingers from her former residence next door to The Golden Fleece, once a coaching inn.


A Canadian Airman, tragically falling from the upper windows, joins the spectral congregation permanently, while the infamous One-Eyed Jack materializes in a

crimson 16th-century coat, brandishing a

menacing pistol.


The Golden Fleece hides many more spectral secrets beyond the veil, beckoning those who crave chilling encounters to venture inside.



YE OLD STARRE INNE

In the heart of York's spectral landscape lies one of the city's most infamous haunted pubs, the Ye Olde Starre Inne, a venerable coaching inn from the year 1644, boasting cellars of even older origins.


Within these dark and mysterious cellars, the wailing echoes of Royalist soldiers reverberate through the ages. Once makeshift hospitals during the English Civil War, these caverns bear witness to the tormented souls that still roam their ancient confines.


Yet, the phantasmal presence doesn't stop there. The figure of a 'workman,' reminiscent of a somber Charlie Chaplin, can be seen haunting the bar, anxiously waiting as if anticipating an imminent arrival. Abruptly traversing from room to room, this ghostly presence often fades away, leaving a lingering sense of trepidation.


Another ethereal figure, a young woman in a flowing white dress, stands mesmerized by the fireplace, her appearance seemingly morphing with every eyewitness account, shrouded in an air of enigmatic mystery.




THE TREASURER’S HOUSE


Within the walls of The Treasurers' House, a fabled encounter with spectral Roman soldiers takes center stage in York's haunted chronicles. In 1953, a plumber named Harry Martindale, amidst his work of installing central heating in the chilling cellars, heard a distant horn, initially dismissing it as trivial background noise.


However, as the haunting sound swelled closer, a nightmarish spectacle unfurled before his eyes. Emerging from the cellar wall, a phantom carthorse charged forth, accompanied by an entire legion of Roman soldiers, their bodies curiously appearing truncated.


The enigma unraveled later when Harry discovered the ancient Roman road that lay 15 inches below the cellar floor, distorting the soldiers' appearance and sealing the cellar's place as a portal to the past.


Since then, numerous witnesses, including staff members and contractors, have borne witness to the ethereal presence of these ancient Roman warriors.


The Treasurer's House stands resolutely atop the list of York's most haunted dwellings, a domain where time intertwines with the spectral.




35 STONEGATE


Over the passage of time, 35 Stonegate has earned its infamous reputation as York's most haunted

abode, drenched in history and steeped in an unnerving atmosphere.


Its dark secrets seem to surge to life, stirred by the extensive renovations conducted in the late nineties.


Within these haunted walls, at least 14 distinct apparitions are said to dwell, though many whisper that the number extends beyond imagination.


Among them, the enigmatic figure known simply as "Tom" occupies the second floor, a specter that transcends the boundaries between worlds.















BLACK SWAN HOTEL, HELMSLEY


From a historic inn to a boutique hotel, The Black Swan Hotel weaves together three distinct buildings, each holding its own spectral secrets. The Elizabethan part stands upon the site where the inn's ancient foundations once stood, echoing with the footsteps of past guests, including the renowned poet William Wordsworth.


Yet, among its worldly charms lurks a resident ghostly presence. Staff and guests alike have recounted eerie encounters with a well-dressed elderly man, his spirit haunting the halls. Alongside him, a young blonde woman adds to the spectral ensemble, and occasionally, a pair of legs without a body make their eerie appearance in the private quarters.




BLACK SWAN INN, PEASHOLME GREEN


In the eerie district of Peasholme Green, the Black Swan Inn, an ancient half-timbered residence

dating back to the 15th century, bears witness to countless ghostly legends. Among the most peculiar sightings is that of a 'workman' donning a bowler hat, reminiscent of the enigmatic Charlie Chaplin.


This spectral figure can be seen standing at the bar, exhibiting impatient gestures as if awaiting someone's arrival. Crossing from room to room, his presence fades like a chilling specter from the netherworld.


Additionally, a young woman, draped in a flowing white gown, stands entranced by the bar's fireplace. Witnesses recount varying descriptions of her appearance, with long, radiant hair, or alternatively, long, dark locks obscuring her face in an enigmatic veil.




NUNNINGTON HALL, NUNNINGTON



Nunnington Hall, a regal 17th-century country house nestled in the village of Nunnington, north of York, boasts a myriad of ghostly inhabitants. Among them, Lady Nunnington's ethereal presence reverberates, her unseen form leaving the faint sound of her dress brushing against the staircase.


The haunting whispers of child spirits resonate throughout the grand halls, their disembodied voices echoing within the attic's shadows. Witnesses have reported witnessing a dark, shapeless mass traversing the panelled room, emanating from the very walls, traversing the bed, and fading into the void.


In the depths of York's haunted enclaves, where fear and terror weave an intricate tapestry, these spectral locations beckon daring souls to witness the chilling dance between the realms of the living and the dead.





16 views0 comments
bottom of page