The Roman Ghosts of Treasurer’s House

In 1953, apprentice plumber Harry Martindale witnessed one of Britain’s most significant ghost sightings: a troop of Roman soldiers marching through the cellar of Treasurer’s House in York. His detailed account has been corroborated by later witnesses and archaeological evidence.

The House

Treasurer’s House stands on the site of the Roman principia, the headquarters of the Roman fortress of Eboracum. The present building dates from medieval times, built for the Treasurer of York Minster. It is now a National Trust property.

The 1953 Sighting

Harry Martindale was working alone in the cellar when he heard the sound of a trumpet. A Roman soldier emerged from the wall, followed by approximately twenty others. They marched across the cellar and disappeared into the opposite wall.

The Description

Martindale described the soldiers in detail: helmets, shields, and short swords. Crucially, he could only see them from the knees up. They appeared exhausted, walking with heads down. The horses accompanying them were small and shaggy.

The Confirmation

When Martindale reported his sighting, he was mocked. However, later excavation revealed a Roman road fifteen inches below the cellar floor, exactly the depth that would explain why the soldiers appeared cut off at the knee.

Later Witnesses

Subsequent witnesses have reported similar experiences in the cellar. Some have seen individual soldiers; others have heard marching and trumpet sounds. The National Trust no longer dismisses these reports.

Assessment

The Treasurer’s House soldiers represent one of the most evidential ghost cases on record. The consistency of descriptions, the archaeological confirmation, and the multiple witnesses create a compelling case for genuine supernatural phenomena.