Dark Tales of York

16/03/2025

On this day in 1190 one of the most terrible events in Yorks long history took place.
The massacre of the Jews.
Following an anti semitic riot the city’s entire Jewish community sought refuge from an angry mob inside the tower of York Castle. Sewing no way out many members of the community chose to commit su***de rather than be murdered or forcibly baptised by the attackers.
In total 150 people died on that dark day.

26/02/2025

The history of York is fascinating but some of it is not for the faint of heart.
Founded by Romans in 71AD the city's violent and volatile history – including Viking invasions, the Norman Conquest and the Civil War – makes it easy to understand why York has been called the most haunted city in Europe. 💀

Walk in the footsteps of history and discover the ghosts of the past.

01/01/2025

Well that's the first tour of 2025 done and it went rather well.
💀

22/12/2024

Well that's it. I'm closed for Christmas so I'll wish you all a happy Christmas🎄and see you in the new year.

05/11/2024

Happy bonfire night! 🔥

Today we remember the Gunpowder Plot of 1605, when Guy Fawkes and fellow Catholic conspirators attempted to blow up Parliament and assassinate James I of England.

Guy was born in York on 13th April 1570 but despite being involved in a Catholic plot to kill the king he was originally a protestant and only converted later in life.

He joined the Spanish army and changed his name to Guido, which is how he signed his confession.

Guy Fawkes’s future took a fateful turn when he met Englishman Thomas Wintour in Spain. Wintour was scouting around for allies to join a group of Catholic conspirators based in England, led by his cousin Robert Catesby.

Catesby’s plan was to blow up Parliament during its State Opening on 5 November, when James I, the Queen and his heir would also be present, and would be killed.

The plan very nearly succeeded. It was only thanks to an anonymous letter to the authorities, received in late October, that the King, his family and his Protestant ministers were not all murdered.

Guards searched The House of Lords at midnight and in the early hours of 5 November Fawkes was discovered in the cellars, with a fuse, a small lamp, a box of matches and 36 poorly-hidden barrels of gunpowder. When asked his name guy used the alias John Johnson.

Fawkes was brought to the Tower of London to be imprisoned and interrogated.
James I himself wrote the royal warrant: ‘If he will not other ways confesse, the gentler tortures are first to be used upon him, and then step by step you may employ the harsher, and so speede youre goode work.’

When the "so called" ‘gentler tortures’ failed, it’s highly likely that Fawkes was racked, probably in the White Tower dungeons.

The rack was a horrible device, designed to inflict excruciating pain as a prisoner’s limbs were pulled in opposing directions until the joints were dislocated or separated.

Fawkes held out bravely for several days, but eventually named his co-conspirators and signed a confession.

Fawkes was tried with the other surviving conspirators on 27 January 1606 and sentenced to be executed in Old Palace Yard, Westminster, on 31 January.

They were dragged behind a horse along the streets of London to Old Palace Yard, Westminster where, one by one, they were hanged, drawn and quartered.

Guy was the last to go up the gallows.
According to a contemporary account:

‘Last of all came the great devil of all, Guy Fawkes, alias Johnson, who should have put fire to the powder. His body being weak with the torture and sickness he was scarce able to go up the ladder, yet with much ado, by the help of the hangman, went high enough to break his neck by the fall.'

After hanging his privy parts were removed and burnt, he was disemboweled, beheaded and had his limbs removed.
The head was placed on London Bridge and the remains of the traitors were displayed in prominent places across the country to serve as a warning of the fate of traitors.

31/10/2024

Happy Halloween/Samhain.

28/10/2024

"I ain't afraid of no Ghost". busy week ahead for Team Dark Tales. Still taking bookings for the weekend... Spooky times ahead in York.

26/09/2024

Check out this month's edition of What's On .

12/07/2024

In case anyone wants to book I will not be running any tours during the races this weekend. 💀

08/07/2024

According to some research, a human head may remain conscious for up to 30 seconds after decapitation.

Imagine being aware when your head leaves your shoulders.

Many people lost their heads in York including Sir Thomas Percy, (whose headless ghost is still said to walk the night), and Richard Duke of York, father of Edward IV and Richard III. Both had their heads placed on spikes on Micklegate Bar.

07/07/2024

Visiting York? Not sure what to do?
Do you like tales of ghosts and horrible history?
Well, why not book a private ghost tour with five-star reviews?
Awarded the Viator badge of excellence.

07/07/2024

14/05/2024

At Kings Manor this tiny window used to be the outflow of a garderobe (a medieval toilet). It is said that Henry VIII was too fat to get into it (well he was over 20 stone).
When Henry visited York, he was constipated for two weeks.

29/04/2024

Another nice review.
It's always nice to get good feedback.

16/03/2024

History is full of unpleasant things.

The Black Death hit the country hard, from the thousands that died in London to the Plague Village of Eyam – whose townfolk sacrificed themselves to prevent the spread of the plague.

York, unfortunately, did not go untouched and was also infected with the plague.
York could not escape the northwards onslaught, first succumbing to the Black Death in May 1349.

The closely built dwellings and crowded lodgings, with little hygiene and no sanitation all helped the plague’s spread.

The city lost over half its population of around 15,000; it is thought up to 10,000 may have succumbed to the fatal disease.

The plague re-visited York many times including, 1361, 1369, 1375, 1378, 1390 and 1551. In 1604, 3,512 people died from the plague, a third of the cities population at the time.

15/02/2024

Many pubs in York are more connected to ex*****ons than most would like to think.
The Three Legged Mare is named after York's main Gallows but less well known is the Rook and Gaskill.
Messrs Rook and Gaskill were hanged on the 1st May 1676 for sheep rustling.
Their bodies are buried in St Johns church yard.
*****on

10/01/2024

My favourite review of January, so far.

01/01/2024

Wishing you all a happy new year!!