We’ve been to the sea today – well, we’ve been near the sea. We’ve visited Whitby Abbey and Scarborough Castle. The views have been breathtaking, the climbs steep and again the feet sore. Tonight we’re in West Yorkshire near Halifax.
These photos are from York where we visited yesterday.
St. Mary’s Abbey
Strangely Pagan artwork from the abbey:
Just around the back there were these stone coffins:
Down one of the streets in York there’s a small church amongst the shops with this little grotesque keeping guard:
This is Cliffords Tower which is part of what remains of York castle. It’s about 800 years old but before the stone building there was a wooden keep on the site. In 1190 the Jews of the city took refuge from a mob in the wooden keep. They were under seige and rather than give themselves to the angy mob they committed suicide. Very sad.
There’s not a great deal to see in the tower but a certain little girl did find the stocks!
This is the view from the top of the tower:
We walked from here to the Treasurer’s House behind York Minster. This is one of the most haunted houses in the country (but then so many make that claim!).
This is the house where a plumber in the 1950s was working in the basement when he saw a ghostly legion of Roman soldiers march through the wall infront of him. This house is built on a Roman road. You can tour the basement but we couldn’t because Tabitha is too young. We did get to walk about on these stairs though where mysterious blood stains come and go:
I took other photos of the staircase, some from above. Paul and Tabitha were down the bottom and had left me with my camera at the top. As I was taking photos I heard foot steps behind me but there was no-one there!
York Minster is next to the Treasurer’s House:
It’s a gargoyle and grotesque lovers dream. They’re everywhere:
This street is known as the Shambles. It’s the oldest street in York (has been there since at least the Domesday Book) and the best preserved medieval road in all of Europe!
That’s it for York! Stay tuned for Whitby and Scarborough Castle.
i so have to go there at some point…such beauty!
blessings
~*~
aaaw! im in total awe and envy!
I just may have to get over my fear of flying (ummmmm, meaning ingest 5 or 6 xanax until I'm comotose) get on a plane and check this place out. Magical seems to be an understatement.
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Lyn and mimulux, The Goth Aesthetic. The Goth Aesthetic said: “@wizardandwitch: New Blog Post: York, Gargoyles and Ghosts http://www.witch-blog.com/2010/08/york-gargoyles-and-ghosts/” [...]
wow- absolutely beautiful. Lemme know when innastar comes out- we can have a bloggers get together. I want to hang out in haunted castles and check out gargoyles.
I've never been to York but we have a visit planned, and I'd like to see that house. I've heard the story of the guy who saw the legion of Roman soldiers march through on the old road which used to be there, but had forgotten where it was!
Lovely photos.
[...] Lyn likes Yorkshire [...]
Im so glad you like York. I lived there for a year and my friend got married in the Treasurers House – it is really stunning. Theres always loads to explore there and I never get round all the bookshops I want to – glad you liked it!