What are the opening hours?

Monday 10am - 5:30pm Tuesday 10am - 5:30pm Thursday 10am - 5:30pm Friday 10am - 5:30pm Saturday 10am - 5:30pm Sunday 10am - 5:30pm

http://www.yorkghostmerchants.com/

York Ghost Merchants, York (2026)

15/10/2026

For this year’s Ghost Week, it has been our privilege to collaborate with Burleigh Pottery. There will be a full preview tomorrow of “Poppy”, our 30th Black Box Edition Ghost.
The short film “Shards in the earth” has been made to introduce Poppy. Written by Iona Grey, read by Andrew Bloodworth, filmed by Mr Appleyard and with thanks to Burleigh Pottery 1851. The full version of the film is available to view in the MOVING PICTURES section of the LIBRARY & ARCHIVE on our website and on our YouTube channel. You can access it by clicking a link in our bio.

Burleigh have been making underglaze tissue transferware since 1851. Once practiced by countless makers across Stoke on Trent’s pottery industry, Burleigh’s 12 skilled transferrers are now the last remaining artisans of this craft, working in the same building, using the same method that has been in operation for over a century and a half.
Burleigh’s factory has changed little over the years. It is a building where history is present and heritage is celebrated. At its heart, the Archive room is a treasure house of hand-engraved copper cylinders bearing the distinctive designs which have appeared on tables across the world, from cottage kitchens to fine dining establishments, each telling their own part of Burleigh’s rich story. Hidden amongst them, Poppy remains something of a mystery. Dating back to the late 1800s, no record exists to show that it was ever used or explain why it was commissioned. And so, having waited over a hundred years, it appears for the first time on our Ghost.
Each Poppy Ghost is hand slip-cast and passes through over 30 pairs of skilled hands as it is smoothed & sponged, fettled & fired. The Poppy pattern is applied using the delicate tissue-transfer process, meaning each Ghost is unique; some cloaked in decoration, others more sparingly patterned. Each is a continuation of 175 years of tradition and a testament to the 65 skilled craftspeople working at Burleigh today, as well as generations of their predecessors. Including, of course, the unknown, long-ago workers who designed and etched the Poppy pattern, who would surely be delighted to see it brought to life in

14/10/2026

Ghost Week VII News.
In ten days, Ghost Week will begin and we want to take the opportunity to update details about our Auction and share some Partner Event information with you.
Tickets for The Ghost Merchants Auction are already sold out. However, there are five Charity lots on which absentee bids may be placed. The Auction Catalogue may now be viewed digitally on The Ghost Week page of our website, please go to the GHOST WEEK tab at the top of the page, if you hover over it a drop down will show GHOST MERCHANTS AUCTION, clicking on this will take you to the catalogue. On this page you will also find full details on how to place absentee bids as well as the form to place your bid(s). Absentee bidding will close at 12pm BST on Wednesday 21st October.
In the images above you will see a taster of things to come;
1/ A small selection of Ghosts available at the Auction ( see the online Catalogue for all the Lots )
2/ The Prize Ghost for the winner of the Sine Dominis Challenge at Fairfax House
3/ The Prize Ghost for the winner of the Mischief Night Trail at The Mansion House.
4/ Printing in progress for the Ghost Merchants Limited Edition Letterpress Print.
5/ A first glimpse of one of the Thin Ice Press Ghost Week posters, hot off the press.
6/ An example of the tavern mug which can be made at Clay Space during one of their Ghost week workshops.
Do remember that there are a whole host of Partner Events that make up Ghost Week this year as well as the six York Ghost Merchants events. Please visit the Ghost Week page of our website where you will be able to view full details of every event. Please note that due to high demand some events have already sold out, this is indicated on the event listing.
Tomorrow we will give our first glimpse of “Poppy”, our 30th Black Box Edition Ghost. A film entitled “Shards in the earth” will be available in short on Instagram and in full on our website and YouTube channel. There will be a preview of Poppy on Friday

07/10/2026

As Autumn turns golden, we reveal the third tranche of Carte Blanche Ghosts;
The first versions of The Ghost of Ruins Collection [ St Maty’s Abbey ] and the second Culpepper Ghost [ Quercus ].
The Ghost of Ruins- collection will all feature buildings in a state of disrepair and decay.
The first of the series have been inspired by the ruins of St Mary’s Abbey, located within York’s Museum Gardens. The Grey Ghosts have been illustrated with fine line and washed with a watery black ink. The darker base is part of the Ghost itself and serves to inform the final work. £66
The Culpeper collection #2 Quercus
This Ghost has been stained before painting to create a rougher, parchment-like effect and as such, small marks and imperfections should be expected as an intentional part of the design. Painted oak branches span the body of the Ghost over a burnt cream, heavy with acorns, detailed in sepia ink. £70

Guild Room visitors are permitted to buy one of each type.
Unlike Black Box Ghosts the Carte Blanche Ghosts are not limited editions. Instead, they will be illustrated in batches from the small workshop above the Shambles shop. The Ghosts within each range will all be different but will be clearly identifiable as a part of a particular Carte Blanche Ghost collection.
From October onwards, they will be introduced into the Guild Room as a collection for the three months relating to the Guild Room booking quarterly booking calendar before being superseded with a new collection for the next quarter. Ghosts not sold in the previous quarter will not be carried over into the next. The base of every Carte Blanche Ghost made by Mrs Humphreys will be stamped with a black kraken, signed & year dated. There is also a CB monogram on the reverse of the Ghost above our crest.
We intend to release a small number of extra Guild Room dates for the Christmas Period this year, further details will be made available in due course.
We politely remind all Guild Room guests not to arrive more than five minutes before their appointment time as queuing is not permitted on St Saviourgate. Thank you.

11/09/2026

Friday Preview: Online release – The Watchman (Original size). Batch of 5,000. £23 + postage. The Bowler Hat entry period will be from 10am Monday 14th to 10am Tuesday 15th September
Before the establishment of the organisedPolice force in 1829, Watchmen were employed to patrol the towns and cities after dark to protect property & maintain public safety. Urban nights are ablaze with artificial light; it’s hard to imagine how dark & sinister the streets would have been before gaslight and electricity became abundant. The Watchmen became commonplace in 18th century, walking the streets with lanterns on sticks, attempting to prevent the mischief of the night.
The Watchman is plain pale yellow which glows bright green in dark. After being irradiated by artificial light or daylight, the Ghost stores the light energy and slowly releases it as fluorescence. Each Ghost is accompanied by a randomly selected card from The Alphabet of People, Professions & Places.
If you would like to be in with a chance to purchase, please visit The Bowler Hat page on our website between the specified times and click on the image of the Ghost which will take you to a form where you can enter your details. Simply visiting the page will not enter your details for the draw. Not all who enter the draw will be successful, notification either way will be received by the end of Wednesday 16th Sept., please check your spam and junk folders if you are unable to see your email in the inbox. Those successful will receive a single use payment link and have 48 hours to make the purchase. We are unable to accept expired payment links. More information on the process can be found on The Bowler Hat FAQ page on our website.
THE DETAILS YOU ENTER WITH WILL BE USED FOR SHIPPING. ERRORS WITH ENTRY ADDRESSES AND EMAILS CAN LEAD TO DELIVERY ISSUES- Please check auto filled details and update these as needed.
These Ghosts will take up to 5 weeks to be made and sent in order of purchase, your order will be marked ‘Pending’ until we dispatch. We hope will arrive in time for All Hallows’ Eve, although this cannot be guaranteed.
Watchmen for sale in the both our shops during Ghost Week from Saturday 24th October.

27/08/2026

GHOST WEEK 2026 INFORMATION

Ghost Week VII Saturday 24th October - Sunday 1st November.
We take pleasure in announcing the full programme details of this year’s Ghost Week. With over 20 events this year it will be our biggest to date.
Please follow the link in our bio and story which will takes you to the updated Ghost Week page of our website.
We have added all the information to this page in event subheadings, click on the event and it will open up the details. There will be some further updates made in the forthcoming weeks and into October so please do revisit the Ghost Week page. Ghost Week maps will be available to pick up from the Shambles and Dispensary as well as participating venues and selected businesses from mid-October.
Certain events are by ticket only so please check the details carefully and prebook where necessary from the dates advertised. Some tickets are available right away & rather limited in number, so we do recommend booking early to avoid disappointment. If you have any questions about the Partner events, please contact the host of the event rather than TYGM. If you have specific questions about Ghost Week or Ghost Merchants events, please use email - [email protected]
There will be Bowler Hat release in early September, all Ghosts sold will be dispatched prior to Ghost Week.

07/08/2026

Friday Preview: Online release - The Vintner (Original size). Batch of 5,000. £19 + postage. The Bowler Hat entry period will be from 10am Monday 10th to 10am Tuesday 11th August.
In England, a vintner historically referred to a w**e merchant rather than a grape grower or w**emaker. These merchants were powerful figures who controlled the import, regulation, and distribution of foreign w**es—especially claret from Gascony and Bordeaux in the Middle Ages. They formed one of the Great Livery Companies of the City of London, known as the “Mistery of Vintners,” established during the reign of King Edward II.
The Vintner is made in tones of green with traces of yellow, the colours and patterns are fluid. No two Ghosts are the same and some of the variants are shown in the images.
Each Ghost is accompanied by a randomly selected card from The Alphabet of People, Professions & Places which is a series of 24 collectible cards.
If you would like to be in with a chance to purchase, please visit The Bowler Hat page on our website between the specified times and click on the image of the Ghost which will take you to a form where you can enter your details. Simply visiting the page will not enter your details for the draw. Not all who enter the draw will be successful, notification either way will be received by the end of Wednesday 12th August, please check your spam and junk folders if you are unable to see your email in the inbox. Those successful will receive a single use payment link and have 48 hours to make the purchase. We are unable to accept expired payment links. More information on the process can be found on The Bowler Hat FAQ page on our website.
THE DETAILS YOU ENTER WITH WILL BE USED FOR SHIPPING. ERRORS WITH ENTRY ADDRESSES AND EMAILS CAN LEAD TO DELIVERY ISSUES- Please double check auto filled details and update these as needed.
These Ghosts will take up to 5 weeks to be made and sent in order of purchase, your order will be marked ‘Pending’ until we dispatch.
There will be Ghost Week news at the end tif the month.

05/08/2026

In the high summer of August, we unveil the second tranche of Carte Blanche Ghosts.
The first versions of The Butterfly Collector and The Culpepper Collection Ghosts will be sold through the Guild Room from today.
Butterfly Collector/Pearl Bordered Fritillary - Polished black body, handprinted butterfly in waterproof ink. £76
Culpepper Collection/Hollyhock - Bone white body, hand painted Hollyhocks in an assortment of flower colours. £70
Unlike Black Box Ghosts the Carte Blanche Ghosts are not limited editions. Instead, they will be illustrated in weekly batches in the small workshop above the Shambles shop by Mrs Humphreys. The Ghosts within each range will all be different but will be clearly identifiable as a particular Carte Blanche Ghost collection. They will be introduced into the Guild Room as a collection for a number of months before being superseded with a new collection. The base of every Carte Blanche Ghost made by Mrs Humphreys will be stamped with a black kraken, signed & year dated. There is also a CB monogram on the reverse of the Ghost above our crest.
The intention is to offer more variants of collections and new styles over time and with older styles being reintroduced.
From 3rd August Guild Room guests will be able to buy one of each style if they wish, this is on top of the current restriction of three rare & unusual Ghosts. Carte Blanche prices will vary according to size, design & complexity. This month we will also have Cartogrophers and Shipping Forecast Ghosts in Tye Guild Room while stocks last.

29/07/2026

Ghost Week VII, Saturday 24th October - Sunday 1st November.
We are pleased to announce this year’s programme of events.
The list of all events has been published to the Ghost Week page of our website. This is a list of the dates & times of each event. See the link in our bio.

On 27th August we will update the page with full event details with prices, ticketing links (if applicable),age suitability guidelines, and accessibility information. Tickets will be on sale for certain events from the end of August through event partners directly.
Accessibility appointments for the Shambles and Dispensary will be made available on the booking calendar on Tuesday 1st September. There will be no Guild Room appointments on Wednesday 28th October during Ghost Week.
We have some wonderful events and some beautiful Ghosts on offer this year and we very much look forward to welcoming new visitors and seasoned Ghost Week veterans alike.

17/07/2026

Friday Preview: Online release -The Dipper (Little size & polished). Batch of 2,500. £15.50 + postage. 5x3x2cm. The Bowler Hat entry period will be from 10am Monday 20th to 10am Tuesday 21st July.
Picking pockets was a widespread Victorian crime, which was known as ‘buzzing’ or ‘dipping’. A pickpocket was a ‘dip’ or ‘dipper’, a ‘wizz’ ,’buz’, or ‘foist’. There was a hierarchy of pickpockets – a basic sneak thief was a ‘gonoph’, and a more skilled one was a ‘tooler’, and their accomplice, was a ‘stickman’.
The Dipper is a little polished Ghost in more muted tones of oxblood & blue which merge together. As with all of our releases, no two Ghosts are ever the same and some of the variants are shown in the images. Each Ghost is accompanied by a randomly selected card from The Alphabet of People, Professions & Places which is a series of 24 collectible cards.
If you would like to be in with a chance to purchase, please visit The Bowler Hat page on our website between the specified times and click on the image of the Ghost which will take you to a form where you can enter your details. Simply visiting the page will not enter your details for the draw. Not all who enter the draw will be successful, notification either way will be received by the end of Wednesday 22nd July, please check your spam and junk folders if you are unable to see your email in the inbox. Those successful will receive a single use payment link and have 48 hours to make the purchase. We are unable to accept expired payment links. More information on the process can be found on The Bowler Hat FAQ page on our website. On the last release we experienced some issues with sending emails to some Microsoft linked accounts (Hotmail, Outlook and Live addresses), we have been assured that this problem has been fixed and payment links should be received by all those who are successful.
THE DETAILS YOU ENTER WITH WILL BE USED FOR SHIPPING. ERRORS WITH ENTRY ADDRESSES AND EMAILS CAN LEAD TO DELIVERY ISSUES- Please double check auto filled details and update these as needed.
These Ghosts will take up to 4 weeks to be made and sent in order of purchase, your order will be marked ‘Pending’ until we dispatch.

26/06/2026

Preview -Charity Raffle: Dia de los Mu***os Ghosts, 2020 Prototypes.
Raffle tickets are now on sale ,48-hour early bird ticket bundle incentives.
These two very rare hand painted Ghosts were made as experiments/prototypes in a batch of three by Mrs Humphreys in the summer of 2020. We decided that they were not quite right as production Ghosts but feel they are the perfect Charity Ghosts to release in this searing summer heat. There are two Ghosts as prizes for the two selected winners of the raffle. They are painted in gouache and sealed, both are dated, signed & stamped on the bases. There are some small marks on both Ghosts as there were made as prototypes.
The “Raffalls” are open to people outside of the UK although if an overseas winner is selected at random then they will be responsible for covering any shipping costs. UK winners receive free postage (or collection) from our offices if appropriate.
Multiple ticket purchases have equal opportunity for success as ticket numbers are selected from the entire range of tickets purchased, including individual tickets purchased as part of a bulk buy. Tickets are available now, go to www.raffall.com and search “Dia de los Mu***os” or click the link in our Stories. We are not responsible more conducting the draw, winners are selected completely at random on the Raffall platform.
Winners will be notified by Raffall immediately after the draws are made on Friday 3rd July. For the funds to be released to the charities, all winners must press the ‘accept’ button located on their Get Prize screen that is accessible via the claim button located on their winning tickets. We are raising money through this raffle for The Gathimba Edwards Foundation, they are a small, registered charity based in Scotland (Registered Charity No. SC044869 ) They are building brighter futures by improving the quality of life for children and their families in Kenya and north-east Scotland throught education, shelter & wellbeing.
86% of money raised will go directly to the charity (after the 9% Raffall commission & 5% Ghost Merchants apportionment). Thank you as always for your support, kindness and generosity.
Good fortune
TYGM

York Ghost Merchants

15/10/2026

14/10/2026

07/10/2026

11/09/2026

27/08/2026

07/08/2026

05/08/2026

29/07/2026

17/07/2026

26/06/2026

Address

Opening Hours

Telephone

Website

Alerts

Contact The Business

Shortcuts

Share

Listing takedown request

Monday	10am - 5:30pm
Tuesday	10am - 5:30pm
Thursday	10am - 5:30pm
Friday	10am - 5:30pm
Saturday	10am - 5:30pm
Sunday	10am - 5:30pm