|
The Treasurer's House: (York) ~
Minster Yard, York, YO1 7JL
Phone: 01904 624247
Elegant town house dating from medieval times.
Originally home to the treasurers of York Minster and built over a Roman road, the house is not all that it seems. Nestled behind the Minster, its size, splendour and contents are a constant surprise to visitors – as are the famous ghost stories. The house was carefully restored between 1897 and 1930 by one remarkable man, wealthy local industrialist Frank Green, with rooms presented in a variety of historic styles.
Open. The Treasurer's House and cellar open each day, Ghost cellar tours daily except Friday
Opening times. The Treasurer's House is open each day (except fridays), 16 March till 31 October, from 11:00am - till 4:30pm.
Treasurer's House, York
Credit : National Trust Photographic Library/Nick Meers
The building has undergone alteration over the centuries, and as with any old structure it has required much maintenance work. In 1953 such work was being carried out in the cellars.
An apprentice plumber, was working alone, was installing a new central heating system in the cellars of the Treasurer's House. But on this day, he was in the basement room. He was suddenly startled by the sound of a horn nearby. He thought little of it after a few moments and so returned his attention back to his work. A short while later he heard the sound again. This time it was much closer, seemingly in the cellar itself. The young man looked up, and as he did so he saw something rather unexpected.
A horse stepped into view through the wall of the cellar, and Harry fell off his ladder in shock. On the animals back was a man, helmeted and armoured in what appeared to be the style of a Roman soldier. As the horse and rider walked across the cellar, they were followed by a column of soldiers, all helmeted and wearing some sort of red kilt and carrying round shields and dressed in rough green tunics, carrying carrying short swords or spears. One soldier carried a long trumpet, which looked very battered and worn instrument. This was obviously the source of the noise heard moments earlier.
They all looked down in a dejected manner as they continued towards the Minster, as the soldiers walked across the floor, they seemed to be very short in stature. The young man then noticed that the men were apparently marching within the floor as from the knees down, their legs were hidden by the floor of the cellar.
however, as they crossed the room, they passed across a recently excavated area and it became clear that they were walking on the old Roman road buried 15 inches below the surface. The young man could clearly see their lower legs and feet as they emerged from the wall of the channel.
But perhaps the most extraordinary aspect noted by this young man is that the men looked weary and miserable. They were small, dark men. They appeared unkempt and dirty, shuffling along like an undisciplined rabble. Some looked ill, even wounded.
Persons would normally expect to see a line of Roman soldiers marching along in gleaming armour with long flowing cloaks. It is thought if anybody would make up a story of having seen Roman soldiers, who shuffled along looking dirty, scruffy and wounded. With this we are left with the thought that, maybe he actually did see Roman soldiers.
Harry scrambled frantically up the cellar steps to the ground floor. Here he was met by the house's curator. Sadly, the cellar is not open to the public, so further sightings seem unlikely, although they have set up a CCTV near the cafe, so you can still see the area.
As a point of interest, Harry later became a policeman.
Beneath the Minster, Roman foundations have been found, and York was inhabited by the 9th Legion of Rome, later to go missing and never found. The mystery of what happened to them still continues.
Accommodation in York.
Find a Hotel
Adverse Credit Homeowner Loans