The Golden Fleece

The Golden Fleece is a historic pub and inn at 16 Pavement in the centre of York, directly opposite the entrance to the Shambles. The establishment is mentioned in York records as early as 1503 and was historically associated with the nearby Merchant Adventurers’ Hall and York’s important wool trade, from which the name Golden Fleece derives. Although the establishment has early origins, the present Grade II listed building is largely the result of a reconstruction around 1840, with further refurbishment carried out in 1926. It continues to operate as a pub, restaurant and inn with guest rooms.

The Golden Fleece is particularly known for its reputation as one of York’s most haunted pubs. The best-known apparition is Lady Alice Peckett, wife of John Peckett, who owned the property and served as Lord Mayor of York in 1701–1702. The passage beside the pub, Lady Peckett’s Yard, is named after her. According to the longstanding ghost story, Alice has been seen walking through the corridors and on the staircases, while unexplained movement of furniture and other objects has also been attributed to her.

Several other recurring figures form part of the pub’s ghost folklore. One-Eyed Jack is described as a man wearing a red coat and carrying a flintlock pistol who is most often reported in the lower bar. Another apparition is known simply as the Grumpy Old Man, also associated with the lower bar. A young Victorian boy is said to appear elsewhere in the building; the accompanying story claims that he was killed after being trampled by horses outside the inn. Reports of Roman soldiers walking through the cellar have also become part of the collection of supernatural stories attached to the building.

Another frequently repeated story concerns Geoff Monroe, supposedly a Canadian airman who fell or jumped from an upstairs window while staying at the Golden Fleece during the Second World War. Guests have claimed to see a uniformed airman in the upper part of the building. However, later research into the story found no historical record of an airman named Geoff Monroe connected with the pub. Researchers traced the name to an American visitor who reportedly dreamed the name after staying there and subsequently contacted the pub. The airman therefore remains part of the modern folklore of the Golden Fleece rather than a documented historical death.

The pub also displays a replica skull representing Elizabeth Johnson, who was executed at York’s Knavesmire on 23 August 1800 after being convicted of using a forged £1 banknote. Johnson was the last woman executed at York’s Tyburn. The replica skull attracted national attention on New Year’s Day 2022 when it was stolen from its display case. North Yorkshire Police identified the thief through CCTV footage and recovered the skull later that month, returning it to the Golden Fleece.

The pub’s paranormal reputation has been promoted for decades and has attracted ghost tours and paranormal investigations. It was investigated by the television programme Most Haunted in 2005, further establishing its reputation among York’s many supposedly haunted buildings.