10 of the Most Haunted Buildings in Yorkshire

Full of haunted happenings, stories from these Yorkshire buildings have stood the test of time.

Shadows, footsteps, strange laughter… the most haunted buildings in Yorkshire have some seriously spooky stories to tell. Whether it be ladies dressed in white floating in mid air, apparitions of faceless men or glasses mysteriously flying off shelves, it’s no wonder that Yorkshire is considered one of the most haunted places in the UK. Take a look at these eerie locations across God’s Own County.

Treasurer’s House

Credit: David Bramhall licensed under Creative Commons for commercial use.

You’ll find Treasurer’s House in Minster Yard, directly to the north of York Minster. A Grade II-listed beauty, it’s owned by the National Trust and was built directly over one of the main Roman roads leading out of York. Cut to 1953, when 18-year-old apprentice Harry Martindale was repairing pipe work in the cellar.

From atop his ladder, Harry became aware of a series of repeated single trumpet-like notes, increasing in intensity – he glanced down only to see nine or ten pairs of Roman soldiers marching in formation. Want to check it out? Daily tours run in the same basement to this very day.

Treasurer’s House, Minster Yard, York, North Yorkshire, YO1 7JL.

Bolton Abbey

One of the only surviving examples of an Augustinian monastery in the country, over time Bolton Abbey crumbled to the spectacular ruins we know today – and it’s here that you may find The Black Canon lurking. Picture this – a man in his late sixties, with a heavily lined and wrinkled face, donning a black cassock and dark cloak.

Legend has it, this is the ghost of a monk who died just before the dissolution of the monasteries, and his soul has never been able to rest since. Take a trip to the abbey and you might just be able to hear the sound of his sandalled feet pattering around the rectory.

Bolton Abbey, Skipton, North Yorkshire, BD23 6AL.

Hodroyd Hall

Credit: John Rinder licensed under Creative Commons for commercial use.

The picturesque parish of Felkirk, just outside Barnsley, is where you’ll find Hodroyd Hall. A stunning, Grade II-listed country house which has existed in some form since the 12th century, it’s now used as three private dwellings – as well as being one of the most haunted houses in Yorkshire.

Visitors report seeing the apparition of a faceless man, a hunched over monk and dark shadows roaming the empty corridors. Perhaps the most disturbing of all is the apparition of a murdered kitchen maid, who was said to have been killed and burnt in one of the old fireplaces at Hodroyd Hall.

Hodroyd Hall, High Well Hill Lane, Felkirk, West Yorkshire, S72 9DQ.

The Black Swan

One of the most haunted pubs in North Yorkshire, The Black Swan dates back over 500 years and is a curious mix of the Tudor, Georgian and Elizabethan. Over the years, staff and visitors have borne witness to its resident ghosts that roam the corridors.

Venture inside and you might just see an old, well-dressed man wander past your table, or an unknown young blonde woman. A guest who stayed at the hotel even recalled hearing strange noises in her room – talk about things that go bump in the night, eh?

The Black Swan, Market Place, Helmsley, York, North Yorkshire, YO61 4BL.

Midland Hotel

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The Midland Hotel has stood proud in the centre of Bradford since the late 1800s – but did you know this hotel is one of the most haunted in Yorkshire? That’s right, Dracula author Bram Stoker visited in 1905 to see his friend Sir Henry Irving perform at the Theatre Royal, only for him to suffer a stroke after completing the show.

Dying before medical attention could arrive, it’s said that Irving is the ghost who haunts the hotel to this day. Some claim his apparition has been spotted in the room in which he slept the night before his death, surrounded by a smoky haze.

The Midland Hotel, Forster Square, Bradford, West Yorkshire, BD1 4HU.

Fountains Abbey and Hall

One of the best preserved Cistercian monasteries in the country, the 900-year-old ruins of Fountains Abbey are a sight to behold. It’s one of the most popular tourist attractions in Yorkshire, but did you know it’s also one of the most haunted?

Home to a whole host of ghostly visitors, people claim to have heard a choir chanting in the Chapel of Nine Altars long into the night. Other apparitions include the daughter of Stephen Proctor, who built the nearby Fountains Hall in the late 16th century, said to endlessly roam the corridors of the building for the rest of eternity.

Fountains Abbey and Hall, Ripon, North Yorkshire, HG4 3DY.

Bolling Hall

Credit: Phil Jackson, provided by Bradford District Museums and Galleries

Bolling Hall Museum is one of the oldest buildings in Bradford, and one of the most-haunted houses in Yorkshire. Now a museum and education centre, it was built back in the 14th century and served as a home for over 500 years – during which time there were at least 20 reports of ghosts.

Whether it be a child’s crib rocking back and forth on its own accord or the lady dressed in white seemingly floating in mid air, a trip to Bolling Hall is sure to make for a spine-chilling experience. Take a trip for yourself and see if you hear any disembodied voices, footsteps or heavy breathing.

Bolling Hall, Bowling Hall Road, Bradford, West Yorkshire, BD4 7RY.

The Fleece Inn

Want to enjoy a pint at what might be one of the most haunted pubs in Britain, never mind Yorkshire? Well, The Fleece Inn is the place to be. For over 400 years, the building has been a hotspot for paranormal activity, with reports of murders, secret tunnels and even headless horsemen.

The current landlady claims paranormal happenings occur at least twice a week, from glasses falling off shelves to members of staff getting a mysterious tap on the shoulder. Visit for a drink and you might just see faces popping up in the window or ghostly customers waiting to be served.

The Fleece Inn, Westgate, Elland, West Yorkshire, HX5 0BB.

Burton Agnes Hall

An Elizabethan manor house, Burton Agnes Hall was built in 1598. With its grand architecture and landscaped gardens, it’s a marvel to behold – but did you know that a ghost walks the corridors? Anne, daughter of Sir Henry Griffith who built the hall, was attacked and killed in 1620.

Before she died, she claimed she could never rest unless part of her could remain – and so, her head was severed and it was agreed it would stay in the hall forever. Many attempts have been made to get rid of the skull, only causing her spirit to make tremendous noise and upheaval.

Burton Agnes Hall, Rudston Road, Burton Agnes, Driffield, East Yorkshire, YO25 4NB.

Carbrook Hall

Credit: PJ Marriott licensed under Creative Commons for commercial use.

For centuries, Grade II-listed Carbrook Hall was one of the most haunted pubs in Yorkshire. Although recently transformed into a Starbucks, it’s still retained many of its original features such as 17th century oak walls, as well as its resident ghosts. One is said to be an elderly man who sits in the bar area, happily drinking a pint of ale – however, when approached or questioned, he disappears.

What’s more, children’s voices and laughter can sometimes be heard in the early hours of the morning, as well as loud footsteps coming from upstairs. Why not grab a coffee and check it out for yourself?

Carbrook Hall, 537 Attercliffe Common, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S9 2FJ.