Hosted by Aaron Blanchard, York After Dark is a collection of true stories from ghosts to madmen, and the strange happenings hidden just beneath the surface of Europe’s most haunted city.
We're taking you inside the quiet beauty of Museum Gardens in this episode of York After Dark. Stripping away the picturesque view of St. Mary’s Abbey ruins, Aaron uncovers the violent destruction of the monastery in 1539 under King Henry VIII. Discover how one of the wealthiest Benedictine abbeys in Northern England was smashed, burned, and looted, and why park wardens, night workers, and visitors still report seeing faceless monks fleeing through the trees and hearing phantom Gregorian chants echoing across the empty lawns.
9 Oct 2026
Mad Alice of Lund's Court | Alice Smith
Aaron Blanchard takes you into the narrow shadows of Lund’s Court. Stripping away the modern charm of this popular York snickelway, Aaron uncovers the tragic true history of Mad Alice Lane and the horrific domestic abuse, mental breakdown, and 1825 execution of Alice Smith. Discover why shop workers, evening pedestrians, and tourists still report seeing a pale, sorrowful face staring down from upper windows, phantom footsteps echoing along the cobblestones, and disembodied whispers crying out in the dark.
2 Oct 2026
The 4 Gateways to York - York's Bars
Aaron takes you on a journey around York’s ancient defensive gateways in this special collective episode of York After Dark. Stripping away the postcard view of Monk Bar, Micklegate Bar, Bootham Bar, and Walmgate Bar, he uncovers centuries of siege warfare, public executions, and the horrifying practice of spiking rebels' severed heads above the arches. Discover the weeping spirit of Micklegate Bar, the restless poltergeist child inside Monk Bar, the phantom medieval guard of Bootham Bar, and the ghostly echoes of brutal hand to hand combat trapped within Walmgate's famous barbican.
25 Sept 2026
Drinking With Ghosts | The Golden Fleece
We're taking you inside the sinking doorway of the Golden Fleece, officially documented as York's most haunted pub. Stripping away the cozy tourist exterior, Aaron explores five centuries of death, disease, and tragedy buried within the tilting timber building. From the ghost of Lady Alice Peckett inspecting upstairs guest rooms at 3:00 AM to the dangerous, hostile entity guarding the pitch black mortuary cellars, and the tragic spirit of a WWII Canadian airman who fell to his death, discover why this historic inn remains a hotbed of terrifying paranormal activity.
18 Sept 2026
Stand and Deliver | Dick Turpin
Dashing rogue or cold-blooded killer? In Episode 8 of York After Dark, Aaron strips away the romantic myths surrounding Britain's most famous highwayman, Dick Turpin. From violent house invasions in Essex to his downfall in a York jail cell over a unpaid letter, we trace the bloody real history of "John Palmer" and the ghostly encounters still reported across York today.
11 Sept 2026
Chains, Fire and Shadows | Clifford's Tower Pt 2
Beyond the 1190 massacre, Clifford’s Tower holds a bloody history of civil war, public executions, and a catastrophic gunpowder explosion. In Part 2 of our deep dive on York After Dark, we uncover the gruesome story behind how the tower got its name, the blast that gutted its interior, and the phantom figures still seen walking the stone ramparts late at night.
4 Sept 2026
The Castle Massacre | Clifford's Tower Pt 1
Perched atop its iconic grassy mound, Clifford’s Tower looks like a peaceful historic landmark. But in March of 1190, it was the site of one of the most horrific anti-Semitic massacres in medieval history. In Part 1 of this two-part series on York After Dark, we explore the terrifying mob siege, the tragic fire inside the wooden keep, and the chilling legend of the stone walls that "weep" blood on the anniversary.
28 Aug 2026
The Yorkshire Witch | Mary Bateman
In 1806, a charismatic "wise woman" named Mary Bateman terrorized the countryside around York, using psychological fear, fake mystics, and deadly arsenic to rob and murder her victims. In this episode of York After Dark, we dive into the chilling true crime story of "The Yorkshire Witch," her gruesome public trial at York Castle, and the bizarre afterlife of her skin and bones.
21 Aug 2026
Bodies in the School | Bedern
Beneath the quiet cobbles of Bedern lies one of Victorian York's most horrific true-crime secrets. In this episode of York After Dark, we uncover the dark history of the Bedern Ragged School, the murderous neglect of schoolmaster George Pinder, and the phantom children who still reach out from the shadows to touch the hands of unsuspecting passersby.
14 Aug 2026
Phantom of the Theatre | The York Theatre Royal
Beneath the bright lights and velvet seats of the York Theatre Royal lie the 12th-century ruins of a medieval monastic hospital. In this episode of York After Dark, we explore the heartbreaking story of a young nun sealed alive behind a stone wall, and the phantom "Grey Lady" who still watches performances from the quiet shadows of the Dress Circle.
5 Aug 2026
The Ghost at the Bar | The Black Swan Inn
At 1:30 AM, long after the front doors were locked, a night-shift bartender at The Black Swan Inn heard footsteps behind the bar. What she saw standing in the shadows left her paralyzed with fear—a man with a hollow eye socket pointing an antique pistol directly at her chest.
In this episode of York After Dark, we explore the 15th-century timber pub on Peasholme Green, a secret sibling blood pact that defied death, and the chilling legacy of "One-Eyed Jack."
30 Jul 2026
The Legion in the Mud | The Treasurer’s House
Long before the National Trust took over the grand Edwardian manor behind York Minster, its eccentric owner issued a chilling warning: If you ever alter this house, I will return from the grave and haunt you...
But the owner's spirit isn't the most unsettling thing lurking beneath the floorboards. Join us as we uncover the story of Harry Martindale, the eccentric legacy of Frank Green, and the ancient Roman bypass road hidden 15 inches beneath the cellar floor.
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