DRUNKEN COLLEGE

This is St William’s College, next to York Minster. The College was built in 1465 for the Chantry Priests from York Minster. They were a community of around 24 fellows, who received advance payments for praying for the souls of their deceased benefactors. Their behaviour, which often included drunkenness, had previously brought embarrassment for the Archbishop of York and he deemed they should have their own residence.

The timber-framed building is said to be haunted. The main door has a mouse carving by Robert Thompson, the famous ‘Mouse Man of Kilburn’.