Fitz

At the end of one tour, one of his patrons approached and told him that the group had been followed for the whole tour by the spirit of a man wearing a flat cap. and he informed the guide there could be found a picture of this man in the Black Horse pub.

At the end of one tour, one of his patrons approached and told him that the group had been followed for the whole tour by the spirit of a man wearing a flat cap. and he informed the guide there could be found a picture of this man in the Black Horse pub.

The tour guide had heard this kind of thing before, and whilst he didn't discount it, he didn't think much more of it, until something even stranger happened at the end of a ghost walk with a different group some months later.

The tour guide had heard this kind of thing before, and whilst he didn't discount it, he didn't think much more of it, until something even stranger happened at the end of a ghost walk with a different group some months later.

On this occasion the tour guide was finishing up the walk in front of Sander's yard as usual and was rather taken aback by the unexpectedly enthusiastic round of applause that he received. Unsure what had been deserving of such a lively response his bafflement was soon answered when a patron approached him and asked How did you do that? Do what? replied the confused guide.

On this occasion the tour guide was finishing up the walk in front of Sander's yard as usual and was rather taken aback by the unexpectedly enthusiastic round of applause that he received. Unsure what had been deserving of such a lively response his bafflement was soon answered when a patron approached him and asked How did you do that? Do what? replied the confused guide.

The patron explained that the group had seen an old man wearing a flat cap walk out of the shadows at the end of the tour and stand behind the guide as though listening to his speech. Then, just as the guide was wrapping up, the figure vanished into thin air before everyone's eyes.

The patron explained that the group had seen an old man wearing a flat cap walk out of the shadows at the end of the tour and stand behind the guide as though listening to his speech. Then, just as the guide was wrapping up, the figure vanished into thin air before everyone's eyes.

The delighted crowd had just assumed it was a theatrical effect, added to give the tour a spooky flourish, and erupted into appreciative applause. but of course the guide had seen nothing of what they had witnessed and had no idea what they were talking about. Except that whatever had occurred, he had had nothing to do with it.

The delighted crowd had just assumed it was a theatrical effect, added to give the tour a spooky flourish, and erupted into appreciative applause. but of course the guide had seen nothing of what they had witnessed and had no idea what they were talking about. Except that whatever had occurred, he had had nothing to do with it.

If that hadn't rattled and befuddled the tour guide quite enough for one night, the patron, having congratulated him on achieving the best special effect he'd ever seen, had one more bomb to drop when he asked, ''Did you put a picture of that man in the cap behind the bar of the Black Horse pub on purpose?''

If that hadn't rattled and befuddled the tour guide quite enough for one night, the patron, having congratulated him on achieving the best special effect he'd ever seen, had one more bomb to drop when he asked, ''Did you put a picture of that man in the cap behind the bar of the Black Horse pub on purpose?''

The guide can only gape and wonder over the irony that his ghost tour may have been attended by an actual ghost, and he missed it completely.

The guide can only gape and wonder over the irony that his ghost tour may have been attended by an actual ghost, and he missed it completely.

Shortly before ten o'clock, the stillness of the air grew quite oppressive, and the silence was so marked that the bleating of a sheep inland or the barking of a dog in the town was distinctly heard. and the band on the pier, with its lively French air, was like a discord in the great harmony of nature's silence.

Shortly before ten o'clock, the stillness of the air grew quite oppressive, and the silence was so marked that the bleating of a sheep inland or the barking of a dog in the town was distinctly heard. and the band on the pier, with its lively French air, was like a discord in the great harmony of nature's silence.

A little after midnight came a strange sound from over the sea, and high overhead the air began to carry a strange, faint, hollow booming.

A little after midnight came a strange sound from over the sea, and high overhead the air began to carry a strange, faint, hollow booming.

This scene has become so famous not only because it is a superb example of gothic horror writing but also because of the tantalising fact that much of it is true. In 1885 there really was a great storm that lashed Whitby's shores and there really was a schooner that miraculously made the safety of the harbour during the tempest only to wreck on Collier's hope.

This scene has become so famous not only because it is a superb example of gothic horror writing but also because of the tantalising fact that much of it is true. In 1885 there really was a great storm that lashed Whitby's shores and there really was a schooner that miraculously made the safety of the harbour during the tempest only to wreck on Collier's hope.