If you’re familiar with the occult and all things mysterious, you’ll know that October (especially Halloween) is the time when the veil between our world and the afterlife is said to be at its thinnest. This means that spirits and otherworldly beings can walk more freely.
With such a long and vibrant (and sometimes gory) history it’s no shock that Leeds is home to some of the most haunted places in the UK. The city has been around since 1626 and being the industrial capital of Yorkshire, we’ve got spooky mills, universities and museums.
Jason Austerfield is the founder of the West Yorkshire Paranormal Society and has been running it for over 10 years now. After seeing Ghostbusters as a child he felt compelled to help others with their ghoulish grievances.
Always putting an emphasis on finding rational explanations first, they document their paranormal journey online.
Jason and his team have investigated locations all around the UK in search of evidence of the paranormal - from castles and mills to homes. Offering support where needed, even having been called to a church at one point.
He tells us about his first eye-opening ghostly experience at Sunderland Air Museum. “I was walking around the hangar by myself, I looked out the tram window and in the passage was a man in a blue hat and uniform but without a lower body.” He added, “he just vanished before my eyes.”
Jason says there are several places in Leeds that are haunted, from Kirkstall Abbey the Thackray Medical Museum. "Armley Mills looks a little spooky during the day. Never mind when the lights go out!"
"We were also lucky enough to investigate Leeds Library on Commercial Street, we had some good stuff there."
5 of the most haunted places in Leeds
Armley Mills
The mill turned museum lies on the border between Burley and Armley and built in 1805, over 200 years ago. Some know it for being the largest woolen mill in England, some know it for its mysterious past.
The mill was burned down in the middle of the night and since it’s rebuilding there have been countless reports of slamming doors, people being forcefully pushed, apparitions of a figure in a top hat and a women in a black Victorain gown. Some investigators believe it was the spektors who caused the blaze.
Temple Newsam
This 500 year old Tudor-Jacobean building has a few skeletons hidden away in the closet as well as a more than decent collection of ghoulish sightings. Two ghosts, more notably, like to make themselves known and roam the beautiful, large halls.
The Blue Lady is thought to be Lady Mary Ingram, the daughter of Sir Arthur Ingram who bought the estate and whose family kept it until 1922. She sadly died in a state of delirium and haunts the place still.
The second is the ghost of Phoebe Gray, a murdered nursemaid who has been spotted roaming through the estates.
City Varieties Music Hall
One of the last remaining examples of Victorian theatres. There have been a number of strange rales, with an influx happening after its refurbishment in 2011. The in-demand theatre has a number of strange tales.
From the Leeds City Varieties' piano playing well into the night on it’s own, to banging and knocking at the main bar and a red-haired woman who patrols the theatre when performances are playing. It’s said if she is seen, it's a sign that the show will be successful.
Perhaps the most perplexing rumour is the paranormal stories associated with the paintings. It’s said that they become warped and the subjects become fraught.
Kirkstall Abbey
The abbey has stood proudly in the bottom of Kirkstall since the 12th century and still stands today, albeit in ruins. Built in 1152, it’s one of Leeds most historic spots, it still holds a spooky past.
The grounds of the Abbey itself are believed to be home to a woman named Mary who had witnessed her husband commit murder, eventually turning him in. She has been seen roaming the grounds wallowing in guilt.
The museum next to the ruins has had witnesses come forward about spotting the former Abbott of the Kirkstall Abbey, who can be seen wandering around, checking in on things even now.
Leeds Beckett University’s Headingley Campus
This campus stretches back to 1908 - that is a lot of history. It’s well known to the teachers and students just how haunted this place is. There have been murmurs of strange noises coming from the corridors of the James Graham Building, which was a World War One hospital. The oldest building on site, The Grange, is so overrun with paranormal activity that their cleaners have refused to go in alone.
So what should you do if you find yourself with an unwanted presence in your home or work? The West Yorkshire Paranormal Society have some advice. “First of all, don’t panic. Try to get a log of dates, times, what happened, where it was, who saw it. It all helps us determine if it’s a one-off or a regular occurrence.
“From there, don’t be afraid to approach your local church or paranormal team for advice. We always try to help, even if it's not paranormal. It’s your safe place and you shouldn't feel like that.”
Have you had an experience? Let us know in the comments below.
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