Boasting hundreds of recorded ghostly happenings, York is known as being the most haunted city in the UK.
If you’re looking at travelling the UK for hotspots of paranormal activity, York should definitely be on your list.
One of the spookiest sites York has to offer is the unassuming 35 Stonegate. Until 2014, 35 Stonegate was a haunted house attraction named “Haunted”, before its unfortunate assimilation into a high street shop.
Luckily I’ve managed to visit Haunted countless times before it closed. So, I thought I’d share memories and some of the photos I’ve taken of 35 Stonegate over the years.
The first time I ever visited Haunted was in 2010…
while travelling up to attend Whitby Goth Weekend. We stopped off in York on the way, and it was bitterly cold. At the time, Haunted at 35 Stonegate had an occult style shop front selling books, jewellery, herbs, oddities etc.
As would be the same for many visits that followed, we completed the tour of the house alone. You were left to walk the various rooms of the house at your own pace, guided by signs and motion activated narration.
Many of the rooms & stories were at worst, entertaining but a little corny. At best, extremely creepy. True – the fake screams and ‘spooky’ sounds in the pre recorded narration were unnecessary. The house itself was atmospheric enough.
Sitting in the darkness, you really could lose sense of time and become immersed in the tales.
Notable rooms were the mask room, the attic, the séance room & the cellar. Honestly, I can’t remember what the story for the cellar was anymore. It was dimly lit and filled with various junk. Lanterns hung from the ceiling of the attic, and if you looked closely there was a little doll inside the fireplace.
Both the séance room and the cellar had points in the pre-recorded narration where you were left in complete darkness.
Over time, the narration became unresponsive & glitchy. Eventually the cellar stopped being part of the tour altogether. The recording cut out and wouldn’t even start the last time I went in. That was years before the attraction closed fully. After the cellar closed, another room in the attic was opened up and an extra story was added. The story of room with a sloping floor & a ghost in the doorway.
(As I write this, my hairs stand on end. It’s exactly 3am. Yes, I’m a bit of a night owl. Especially when it comes to writing)
Despite the clunkiness, the atmosphere from being able to wander the house alone was unparalleled. I wish I’d had chance to take part in some of the ghost hunting activities that took place there.
Haunted at 35 Stonegate was one of few well themed attractions with amazing history. I miss it sorely. Attractions that are so uniquely historic and leave you to walk around by yourself are difficult to find. Particularly with scare attractions – there’s usually an urgency to hurry you along so you can’t scrutinize what’s happening. The only other experience I’ve had similar to Haunted is the Buda Castle Labyrinth.
In Haunted, it felt like the world was on pause. Every detail was ominous and amazing.
Did I have any paranormal experiences there myself? No.
While I’m skeptical, I’m certainly open to the idea of ghosts. There was definitely something about 35 Stonegate that would make me uncomfortable to sit in the darkness alone. One of the things that is genuinely creepy about the idea of ghosts, is the possibility of being approached by them while you’re by yourself. Or the only one awake…
*looks over shoulders* 🤣
In 2011, GNG Entertainment hosted a scare attraction inside 35 Stonegate, named “Haunted, Live & Xtreme”. This was one of the first scare attractions I’d ever attended, and I loved it. While GNG Entertainment are no longer active, some of the team are currently involved with Doncaster Fear Factory.
Currently 35 Stonegate has become an Oliver Bonas shop. If you can escape the pursuit of any harassing sales assistants, you are still able to admire most of the rooms, stained glass windows & fireplaces etc.
As this is a Grade II listed building, thankfully the historic beauty of 35 Stonegate should be preserved for years to come.
(All the photography featured in this article was taken by me.)
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