Haunted Places in Hull and East Yorkshire: Ghost Stories, Legends, and Spectral Encounters
Hull and East Yorkshire have centuries of history woven through their streets, manor houses, and windswept coastline — and where there is history, there are ghost stories. From the medieval lanes of Hull's Old Town to the lonely chalk cliffs of Flamborough Head, this region has an uncommonly rich tradition of the supernatural. Whether you are a committed believer, a curious sceptic, or simply a lover of a good story, these are the most haunted places in Hull and East Yorkshire.
Ye Olde White Harte, Hull Old Town
Hull's Most Famous Haunted Pub
No account of haunted places in Hull begins anywhere other than Ye Olde White Harte. This timber-framed inn on Silver Street, in the heart of Hull's Old Town, dates back to the late sixteenth century and is steeped in both history and legend.
The pub's greatest claim to historical fame is the Plotting Parlour — an upstairs room where, in April 1642, the Governor of Hull Sir John Hotham is said to have made the decision to bar King Charles I from entering the town, an act of defiance widely considered one of the first acts of the English Civil War. The room survives today, largely unchanged, and is said to be the epicentre of the pub's supernatural activity.
Staff and visitors have reported a woman in a dark period dress seen standing by the fireplace in the Plotting Parlour, only to vanish when approached. Others have described the sensation of being watched, sudden drops in temperature, and objects moving of their own accord. A small child has reportedly been heard crying in the upper floors when the building is otherwise empty.
Visiting: Ye Olde White Harte is a functioning pub and free to visit during opening hours. The Plotting Parlour is accessible to customers. The pub serves Samuel Smith's ales at very reasonable prices.
Hull's Old Town Ghosts
A Haunted Quarter With Stories Around Every Corner
Hull's Old Town — the medieval core bounded by the River Hull, Whitefriargate, and the former town walls — is arguably the most haunted square mile in East Yorkshire. The concentration of ancient buildings, former religious houses, and sites of human drama has generated an extraordinary density of ghost stories.
Wilberforce House, High Street
The birthplace of William Wilberforce, the great anti-slavery campaigner, is now a museum dedicated to his life and the history of the transatlantic slave trade. Staff have reported unexplained phenomena including doors opening and closing on their own, shadowy figures seen in peripheral vision, and the distinct sound of footsteps on the upper floors when the building is closed. One recurring account describes a tall figure in Georgian dress seen standing at the top of the main staircase.
St Augustine's Gate and the Old Town Alleys
The narrow medieval lanes and passageways of the Old Town — known locally as gates and entries — have their own spectral inhabitants. The area around St Augustine's Gate, Land of Green Ginger, and Scale Lane has generated reports of cloaked figures, disembodied footsteps on cobblestones, and the sounds of horse-drawn carts long after the last one passed through these streets.
The Land of Green Ginger, with its wonderfully evocative name, has a particular reputation. Some local accounts describe a monk-like figure seen in the shadows of the narrow lane, thought by some to be connected to the dissolved religious houses that once stood nearby.
The George Hotel, Land of Green Ginger
This former coaching inn, one of the oldest buildings in the Old Town, has a long-standing reputation for paranormal activity. The upper floors, which once served as guest rooms, have reportedly been the scene of numerous unexplained incidents — lights turning on and off, the sensation of unseen presences, and a persistent cold spot in one particular corridor.
Beverley Friary
A Medieval Ghost in East Yorkshire's Georgian Gem
Beverley, for all its genteel charm, has its share of ghost stories. The Dominican Friary, established in the thirteenth century and dissolved by Henry VIII, left behind fragments that are incorporated into later buildings in the Friary area of town. Monks have reportedly been seen walking in the area of the former cloisters, described as grey-robed figures who appear briefly before fading from view.
The Friary Youth Hostel, which occupies restored medieval buildings on the site, has generated reports from guests and staff over the years. Accounts typically describe the sounds of chanting, footsteps in empty corridors, and a palpable sense of unease in certain rooms — particularly after dark.
Visiting: The Friary area is a public part of Beverley and freely accessible. Beverley Minster and the town centre are a short walk away, making it easy to combine a ghost hunt with a day exploring this beautiful market town.
Burton Agnes Hall
The Skull That Must Never Leave
Burton Agnes Hall, the magnificent Elizabethan manor house between Driffield and Bridlington, is home to one of the most enduring ghost stories in East Yorkshire — and one of the most famous haunted houses in Yorkshire.
The story centres on Anne Griffith, one of three sisters who built the hall in the early 1600s. Anne loved the house passionately, and as she lay dying after being attacked by robbers, she begged her sisters to keep her skull in the hall forever. Her sisters, understandably reluctant, buried her normally in the churchyard. What followed was said to be terrifying — doors slamming, screams echoing through the house, and objects hurled across rooms.
In desperation, the family exhumed the skull and brought it into the hall. The disturbances ceased immediately. Over the centuries, several attempts have reportedly been made to remove the skull, each time accompanied by a resumption of supernatural chaos. The skull is said to remain in the hall to this day, bricked into a wall to prevent any further interference.
Visitors to Burton Agnes have reported seeing a woman in Elizabethan dress in the upper rooms and corridors, widely believed to be Anne Griffith still watching over her beloved home.
Visiting: Burton Agnes Hall is open to the public from April to October, with the house, gardens, and grounds all accessible. There is an admission charge. The hall is well signposted from the A614 between Driffield and Bridlington.
Eppleworth Manor
A Private Haunting in the East Yorkshire Countryside
Eppleworth, a small hamlet between Cottingham and Skidby, is the site of persistent local reports of a haunted manor. The stories vary in detail but consistently describe a grey lady seen in and around the grounds of the former manor house — a silent figure who appears at dusk and is gone by the time anyone approaches.
The identity of the grey lady is unclear, though local tradition connects her to a former resident who met a tragic end. The hamlet itself is quiet and atmospheric, tucked into a fold of the Wolds edge, and it is easy to see how the landscape itself feeds the imagination.
Visiting: Eppleworth is a private hamlet with limited public access. The stories are best enjoyed from the nearby footpaths that cross the surrounding countryside.
Flamborough Head Phantom Ship
A Ghost Story From the North Sea Cliffs
Flamborough Head, the dramatic chalk promontory that juts into the North Sea north of Bridlington, has been the scene of countless shipwrecks over the centuries — and at least one spectral one. Local legend tells of a phantom ship seen offshore in stormy weather, its sails set and its deck illuminated, sailing silently toward the cliffs before vanishing.
The most commonly cited version of the story connects the phantom ship to the Battle of Flamborough Head in 1779, when the American privateer John Paul Jones engaged the British warship HMS Serapis and its escort in a ferocious sea battle. The wreckage and the dead drifted ashore for days afterward, and some say the ghostly ship is a re-enactment of that terrible night, playing out again and again across the centuries.
Fishermen working the waters off Flamborough have reported seeing unexplained lights on the cliffs and the silhouette of a vessel where no vessel should be. Whether these accounts represent genuine supernatural phenomena, trick of light on sea mist, or simply good storytelling is, of course, a matter of personal conviction.
Visiting: Flamborough Head is freely accessible and managed in part by the RSPB and Yorkshire Wildlife Trust. The clifftop walks are spectacular, with or without ghosts.
Warter Priory
The Ruins That Whisper
Warter, a remote estate village deep in the Yorkshire Wolds between Pocklington and Huggate, was once the site of an Augustinian priory founded in the twelfth century. The priory was dissolved in 1536, and little remains above ground — but the site has a persistent reputation for strange occurrences.
Visitors to the area have described the sound of bells ringing where no bells exist, and a general sense of unease around the site of the former priory buildings. The church of St James, which incorporates some priory stonework, has its own tradition of shadowy figures seen near the chancel.
The village itself is one of the most atmospheric in the Wolds — quiet, immaculately maintained by the estate, and surrounded by deep valleys and ancient woodland. On a grey winter afternoon, it is not difficult to believe that something lingers from the centuries of prayer and devotion that once filled this place.
Visiting: Warter is accessible by minor roads from Pocklington or Huggate. The church is sometimes open to visitors, and footpaths cross the area of the former priory.
Burton Constable Hall
A Stately Home With Spectral Residents
Burton Constable Hall, the great Elizabethan and Jacobean house near Sproatley in Holderness, is one of the most impressive country houses in East Yorkshire — and one of the most haunted houses in Yorkshire, according to those who know it best.
The Constable family occupied the hall for over 400 years, and staff and visitors have reported multiple ghostly encounters over the decades. A woman in white has been seen in the long gallery, a man in period costume has reportedly been spotted in the grounds, and unexplained sounds — footsteps, music, conversation — have been heard in the house when it is empty.
The hall's collection of curiosities, which includes a cabinet of natural history specimens assembled in the eighteenth century, adds to the atmosphere of a place where the past is never far away.
Visiting: Burton Constable Hall is open to the public, with the house, grounds, and lakes all accessible. There is an admission charge. The hall hosts occasional special events, and its grounds are popular for walks.
Ghost Walks and Tours in Hull
Experience the Haunted Places First-Hand
For those who want a guided introduction to Hull's supernatural heritage, several ghost walks and tours operate in the city. These typically take in the Old Town, covering Ye Olde White Harte, the Land of Green Ginger, Wilberforce House, and other haunted locations, with a knowledgeable guide providing the stories and history behind the hauntings.
Ghost walks in Hull run regularly, particularly in the autumn and around Halloween, though some operators offer year-round tours. Evening tours — conducted after dark for maximum atmosphere — are the most popular and typically last between one and two hours. Booking in advance is recommended, especially for October dates.
Several Hull ghost walks are family-friendly, with toned-down stories suitable for older children. Others are aimed squarely at adults and lean into the darker, more disturbing tales from the city's history.
How to book: Search for Hull ghost walks online, or check with the Hull Tourist Information Centre for current operators and schedules. Prices are typically modest — around ten to fifteen pounds per person.
The Psychology of East Yorkshire's Ghost Stories
It is worth reflecting on why East Yorkshire has such a rich tradition of ghost stories. The region's history — from Viking invasions and medieval monasteries to the English Civil War, the whaling industry, and the devastating Hull Blitz — has left deep marks on the landscape and the collective memory. Many of the ghost stories are, at their heart, a way of processing that history, keeping the memory of the dead alive, and making sense of places that have witnessed extraordinary events.
The landscape itself plays a role too. The empty Wolds, the windswept coast, the ancient streets of Hull's Old Town — these are places that feel old, places where the boundary between past and present seems thinner than usual. Whether that translates into genuine supernatural activity or simply a heightened sensitivity to atmosphere is, as always, for each visitor to decide.
What is certain is that the ghost stories of Hull and East Yorkshire are part of the fabric of the place — as much a part of its heritage as the Minster, the Humber Bridge, or the chalk cliffs of Flamborough. They deserve to be told, and retold, for as long as there are people willing to listen.