An excerpt from the Diary of Professor Matthias Jeremiah Braithwaite; a Victorian investigator of the paranormal, on his travels around York, a city most haunted.
“I have been informed of a series of events of grave significance involving curious happenings of most malicious and threatening intent, in the old North facing gateway to the City. Reports of doors being blocked or slammed - in one instance crushing a young man’s hand causing fingers to break; of lamps being smashed and objects placed in such a way as to cause injury; of sightings of a diminutive white form, scurrying underfoot, causing persons to lose their footing.
I conversed with a willowy young gentleman, with a bandaged hand, so badly bruised that he winced in pain with every movement and I bade him leave no detail unsaid.
“On a pleasant early - evening stroll around the Northern parts of these Walls I planned to sit and smoke a pipe of my favourite tobacco. At the Monk Bar stair, as I tipped my hat to two young ladies, a small, white being dashed beneath my feet and caused me to stumble, only saving myself from injury by grasping the doorframe. This door slammed upon my hand, as though moved by a gust of wind, although the night was still. I did spy a white being behind the door similar to that glimpsed beneath my feet just moments before, but much larger in size. There was an eerie sound of laughter but no footstep was heard.”
Determined to investigate further, I waited with my clockwork lantern. The first apparition was small, resembling a dog, with a white shroud suspended a few inches in the air. Behind the door I sighted a second ghostly figure, sizeable and burly, with an arrow protruding from its upper part. The hem of its shroud appeared to change colour with a pattern of reds, greens and yellows. In an instant they vanished, as if aware that I observed. An ominous feeling of a presence watching from afar made my skin crawl with fear and a chill of unease swept over me.
Upon studying the history of Monk Bar, I learned of the “Scot Knocker.” Surveillance from this watchtower ensured no undesirable visitor might gain entry and any Scot, vagabond or other rascal was required to use the knocker to enter the city. A deposit was requested and permission granted to visit a single establishment, due to the damage they reputedly caused. Distrust of Scots dated back to the days of that scoundrel William Wallace, who, although never invading the city, did attempt to lure out its leaders to pay ransoms for Northumbrian nobles taken hostage, in a ruse to kill them. A decree was thus passed, which to my knowledge is still in place, allowing any Scot to be shot on sight with a crossbow.
I can only assume the figure I saw was that of an unfortunate Scot who had fallen foul of this law and was now exacting his revenge. Henceforth I shall call him “Douglas” and his blue-collared dog, “Dash” - which seems to appropriately describe the manner in which he moves at such speed. Although dogs are clearly prohibited from the bar walls, these rebellious spirits seem determined to cause havoc.”
M.J. Braithwaite
The print is presented in a black mount with outer dimensions 18x12" - this large format was produced as an artist's printing proof, and so only a small number are available.
The diary entry, printed on parchment effect paper, is in the reverse.
Also available in colour and a special 'enchanted' edition.
Our favourite frame choices for this picture are distressed pastel black or small linear black. The prints are framed on demand in the gallery's workshop - if the print is in stock, we can frame it! Do contact the gallery if you need help with framing, as we stock many other frames in this size.
© The Artist
