Though we have visited York many times,we had never been in The Treasurers House, Minster Yard, York. It had been pointed out to us, on a Ghost Walk, but we didn’t realise it was open to the public. It is a fine building, dating from Medieval times and is built over a Roman Road.
treasurers-house-kitchen-display
The twelve rooms which are open, each have their own guide, with their own story. Frank Green,who bequeathed the house to the National Trust, was a wealthy industrialist, who loved to collect antiques. This house became his ‘display cabinet’,: each room being given a different historical reference.
the-great-hall-treasurers-house
He seemed to be a pernickety sort of fellow. He insisted that slippers were to be worn by the workmen, and if you look closely at the floorboards in the rooms, you will find small studs enbedded in them. This was to ensure the furniture was placed just so! He did say that he would come back and haunt the place if this wasn’t done! This strange and generous man retired in 1930, leaving the house and its contents to the National Trust.
treasurers-house-ghostly-wall
The house, built in 1419 for the Treasurer,was divided in two in 1720 and has undergone many builds when Green bought part of it in 1897. He began systematically buying more pieces of it, until he owned it all. Alas, time did not allow for us to see the servants rooms in the attic, but we did get to see the main house and the cellars. An audio is available, but the guides themselves are most informative and are only too ready to chat and share little anecdotes.
treasurers-house-more-wall
The most famous ghost story associated with the house involves the sighting of a group of 20 Roman soldiers who marched through the walls, terrifying a young apprentice plumber Harry Martindale in 1953. Martindale is still alive to tell the tale (some of which is here).
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