Fitz

Once, twice, they make their ghoulish dance, growing faster and more frantic with each pass, until, on the third circuit, the soul of the deceased sailor rises up from his grave and steps on to the phantom carriage. Their task complete, the horses thunder off, the carriage clattering down the 199 steps and all along the haggleith.

Once, twice, they make their ghoulish dance, growing faster and more frantic with each pass, until, on the third circuit, the soul of the deceased sailor rises up from his grave and steps on to the phantom carriage. Their task complete, the horses thunder off, the carriage clattering down the 199 steps and all along the haggleith.

then plunging straight into the waves of the North Sea, the ocean depths reclaiming the soul who had spent his life's work sailing upon it. In some versions of this story, the carriage contains a skeletal crew. In others, there's no driver at all. In still others, the horses are headless, lending an even spookier twist to the tale.

then plunging straight into the waves of the North Sea, the ocean depths reclaiming the soul who had spent his life's work sailing upon it. In some versions of this story, the carriage contains a skeletal crew. In others, there's no driver at all. In still others, the horses are headless, lending an even spookier twist to the tale.

But many think that there may be a more practical reason behind this particular legend, and that is smugglers. It wouldn't be a seaside town, after all, without a history of smuggling, and Whitby was certainly no exception.

But many think that there may be a more practical reason behind this particular legend, and that is smugglers. It wouldn't be a seaside town, after all, without a history of smuggling, and Whitby was certainly no exception.

Many people think that the legend of the Bargeist coach was invented by smugglers who thought the tale was a fantastic way to keep people away from their illicit activities, because the coffin of a sailor fresh off a boat would make a very handy place to stash illegal wares that could be dug up later away from the beady eyes of the authorities.

Many people think that the legend of the Bargeist coach was invented by smugglers who thought the tale was a fantastic way to keep people away from their illicit activities, because the coffin of a sailor fresh off a boat would make a very handy place to stash illegal wares that could be dug up later away from the beady eyes of the authorities.

In fact, some even say that certain bands of smugglers went as far as to enact the Bargeist coach haunting, donning fearsome and grisly costumes and even painting their horses to sell the legend and maintain their cover. But did they invent the story entirely? Or did they employ an existing legend to suit their nefarious purposes?

In fact, some even say that certain bands of smugglers went as far as to enact the Bargeist coach haunting, donning fearsome and grisly costumes and even painting their horses to sell the legend and maintain their cover. But did they invent the story entirely? Or did they employ an existing legend to suit their nefarious purposes?

We may never know, but I certainly wouldn't want to be in St Mary's graveyard in the dark of night and hear the jangle of harnesses and the clatter of hooves heading towards me.

We may never know, but I certainly wouldn't want to be in St Mary's graveyard in the dark of night and hear the jangle of harnesses and the clatter of hooves heading towards me.

Mina describes in her journal that the seat they so often frequented was set upon a gravestone laid flat like a slab, which bore the words, The fact that they were sitting on a grave didn't seem to perturb them in the slightest, however.

Mina describes in her journal that the seat they so often frequented was set upon a gravestone laid flat like a slab, which bore the words, The fact that they were sitting on a grave didn't seem to perturb them in the slightest, however.

I think Victorian ladies must have been made of sterner stuff than they're typically given credit for because they weren't put off their favourite spot, even after Mina witnessed something looming malevolently over Lucy on the seat during her sleepwalking adventure.

I think Victorian ladies must have been made of sterner stuff than they're typically given credit for because they weren't put off their favourite spot, even after Mina witnessed something looming malevolently over Lucy on the seat during her sleepwalking adventure.

I could understand this, perhaps, but when their friend Old Mr. Swales was found sprawled across the very same seat with a broken neck, I think that might have been the point where I gave up on the favoured spot, no matter how spectacular the view was. But did that dissuade Mina and Lucy? No.

I could understand this, perhaps, but when their friend Old Mr. Swales was found sprawled across the very same seat with a broken neck, I think that might have been the point where I gave up on the favoured spot, no matter how spectacular the view was. But did that dissuade Mina and Lucy? No.

The very same day that Mr. Swales was found dead upon it, as Mina writes, with a look of fear and horror on his face that the men said made them shudder, they were back at the seat, standing on it to get a better view of the funeral proceedings of the Dead Sea Captain of the Demeter. If Bram Stoker is to be believed, those Victorians certainly seem to take death in their stride.

The very same day that Mr. Swales was found dead upon it, as Mina writes, with a look of fear and horror on his face that the men said made them shudder, they were back at the seat, standing on it to get a better view of the funeral proceedings of the Dead Sea Captain of the Demeter. If Bram Stoker is to be believed, those Victorians certainly seem to take death in their stride.