Treasurer’s House York is famed for its Roman ghost sighting, but decades of reports suggest the hauntings go far beyond one chilling encounter
In 1953, an 18-year-old apprentice plumber named Harry Martindale was working in the cellar of Treasurer’s House in York when he heard a strange, repeated horn-like sound.
Moments later, Roman soldiers passed through the wall and marched across the room, visible only from about the knees upwards.
It remains one of the most famous ghost sightings in Britain.
Treasurer’s House stands beside York Minster on ground that was once part of the Roman fortress of Eboracum.
Excavations later confirmed a Roman road beneath the cellar, which helps explain why the soldiers appeared below floor level.
Treasurer’s House: The Hauntings
The Roman soldiers are the best-known story, but they are far from the only reports linked to Treasurer’s House.
Visitors and staff have described repeated experiences in specific rooms, often without knowing previous accounts.
One of the strangest stories is of a cat seen in the basement café.
People have reported seeing it clearly among the tables, even though no cat is kept there.
Other experiences include sudden cold spots, moving curtains, mist and the feeling of being pushed.
A member of staff has said she often senses a male servant working in the old kitchen.
In 2016, visitors reported seeing a small dog moving through several rooms within a short period.
Children appear in several accounts.
Two girls have been seen playing marbles in the Great Hall, while others have described children running through the building.
The “grey lady” is also frequently mentioned, especially near chairs.
Some children have said they were told to get down by a woman no one else could see.
Frank Green, who restored the house, is said to linger too.
He reportedly claimed he would return if anything was changed, and unexplained cigar smoke is sometimes linked to him.
An earlier Roman sighting was reported before 1953.
A guest once said she was stopped in the cellar by a man dressed as a Roman soldier, suggesting the story was not new.
Treasurer’s House: Harry Martindale’s Sighting
Harry Martindale’s experience remains the most detailed.
He described the soldiers as tired and unpolished, carrying round shields and wearing green tunics.
They were visible only from the knees upwards.
He said he kept quiet for years because he thought people would not believe him.
In 1969, excavations confirmed a Roman road beneath the house. This did not prove the sighting, but it matched his description.
In 1957, housekeeper Joan Mawson also reported seeing Roman soldiers and hearing horses’ hooves in the cellar. She did not speak about it at the time.
Visiting Treasurer’s House
Today, Treasurer’s House is open as a National Trust property in central York.
Visits are usually by guided tour, and booking is recommended.
The house is known for its interiors and its long history, but it is the ghost stories that draw most attention.
The National Trust does not allow ghost-hunting equipment.
The focus is on the building itself and the experiences people report.
Treasurer’s House remains one of York’s most talked-about haunted locations.
Visit the National Trust page on Treasurer’s House for more information on opening times.
