Ghosts in the Gardens event returns with trail through York

Forty-five of the translucent wire-mesh sculptures have been placed throughout the city centre to form a trail.

York BID and York Museums Trust are behind the project, named Ghosts in the Gardens.

The idea behind the free trail is to encourage the public to explore York’s rich tapestry of historical figures – from famous eighteenth-century highwayman Dick Turpin to lesser-known tales like the bear that escaped from the Museum Gardens menagerie in the early 1800s.

The ‘ghost’ of a horse in Museum Gardens as part of the trail (Image: Dylan Connell)

This year features six new ghosts, including a female stone mason at the Church of Holy Trinity, in Goodramgate, inspired by Mary Ann Fisher, who worked as a stone mason in the early 1800s.

Many of the sculptures stopped members of the public in their tracks on Sunday (September 22).

“We were wondering what they were,” said Mark Sorokan after having a closer look at the sculpture of a man with a telescope next to the observatory in Museum Gardens.

Mark and Barbara Sorokan next to the sculpture in Museum Gardens (Image: Dylan Connell) He and his wife Barbara were visiting York from Ottawa, in Canada, and said they were drawn to the area for its history.

“They’re very unique,” Mark thought of the ghost sculptures. “I’ve never seen them in any other city.

“I think they’re very well done and neatly placed; it drew our eye to them.”

Ghost sculptures outside Treasurer’s House as part of the trail (Image: Dylan Connell) Also in Museum Gardens are sculptures of a jilted groom chasing after his bride – and even Dick Turpin, as well as his horse.

Meanwhile, in Shambles a butcher can be seen emptying his slop bucket into the street.

The ‘ghost’ of a butcher emptying his slop bucket into Shambles (Image: Dylan Connell) He’s doing so above Harry Potter gift shop The Shop That Must Not Be Named as a nod to the street’s history of being lined with butcher shops.

Ghosts can also be seen fishing in the River Foss by the Merchant Adventurers’ Hall and, equipped with arrows, ready to protect the city from invasion on top of Clifford’s Tower.

New event will bring sculptures together for showcase

New for this year is the Ghosts After Dark ticketed event in Museum Gardens, showing all 45 of the ghostly sculptures at once.

For four nights, from Thursday, November 7, to Sunday, November 10, the ghosts will be lit against a background of smoke and sound.

A ‘ghost’ violinist playing outside Merchant Adventurers’ Hall (Image: Dylan Connell) Carl Alsop, operations manager at York BID, said Ghosts After Dark is a “unique chance to see all sculptures in one atmospheric environment, with entertaining storytelling areas and all-important photo opportunities”.

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“With ever-increasing prices for family-friendly attractions, this is set to be a great value experience for everyone, and we’re committed to supporting local businesses during the colder winter months.”

For more information and tickets (£7.50 per adult and £1 per child), visit the Yorkshire Museum website.

A ‘ghost’ fishing in the River Foss by the Merchant Adventurers’ Hall (Image: Dylan Connell)