James Gaston

Map of York

York Art Gallery

Ghostly gardens 14 Oct 2023 Ghostly gardens 14 Oct 2023 York UK --

The Yorkshire Museum grounds are quite beautiful. The trees, bushes, and flowering plants, like Rudbeckia, aster, cosmos, and sage, are arranged in a natural-looking manner. Many are still in full bloom. But if you look closely you will find the gardens sprinkled with eerie ghosts in honour of Halloween. The ghosts are creations of metal mesh and are somewhat transparent, depending on the light and the context.

The ghosts are related to historical denizens of the gardens. There is a ghostly astronomer atop a small observatory; a standing bear representing the bear that once frequented the gardens; a priest; a famous highwayman with his horse; a lady in a long dress; even a goose. Every time we pass through the gardens we spot another ghost.

Update: there are, we discovered, 39 ghosts scattered throughout the gardens of the city of York and we ultimately found 36 of them.

Lending a helping hand to groom

The groom who is pursuing his bride.

Lending a helping hand to groom

The groom who is pursuing his bride.

Lending a helping hand to groom

The groom who is pursuing his bride.

Leading the way

The bear

In 1831, the Gardens' resident bear got loose and chased two distinguished gentlemen (Professor John Phillips, Keeper of the Yorkshire Museum, and the Rev. Vernon Harcourt) into an outhouse.

The bear

In 1831, the Gardens' resident bear got loose and chased two distinguished gentlemen (Professor John Phillips, Keeper of the Yorkshire Museum, and the Rev. Vernon Harcourt) into an outhouse.

The bear

In 1831, the Gardens' resident bear got loose and chased two distinguished gentlemen (Professor John Phillips, Keeper of the Yorkshire Museum, and the Rev. Vernon Harcourt) into an outhouse.

The bear

Highwayman and his horse

Richard Turpin (21 September 1705 – 7 April 1739) was an English highwayman whose exploits were romanticized following his execution in York for horse theft.

Highwayman and his horse

Richard Turpin (21 September 1705 – 7 April 1739) was an English highwayman whose exploits were romanticized following his execution in York for horse theft.

Highwayman and his horse

Richard Turpin (21 September 1705 – 7 April 1739) was an English highwayman whose exploits were romanticized following his execution in York for horse theft.

Ghostly astronomer

The ghost of Thomas Cooke (8 March 1807 – 19 October 1868), a British scientific instrument maker based in York. He founded T. Cooke & Sons, the scientific instrument company.

Ghostly astronomer

The ghost of Thomas Cooke (8 March 1807 – 19 October 1868), a British scientific instrument maker based in York. He founded T. Cooke & Sons, the scientific instrument company.

Ghostly astronomer

The ghost of Thomas Cooke (8 March 1807 – 19 October 1868), a British scientific instrument maker based in York. He founded T. Cooke & Sons, the scientific instrument company.

The ghost of a goose

Ghosts in the gardens

Map of York

York Art Gallery