The Polite Tourist offers true crime walks through Victorian history. Through York, Scarboro’ and beyond.
Innovative, meticulously researched and inspired by true crime stories from the Victorian era – our walks are designed to offer an informative and unique experience with a professional and spirited storyteller.
Described as the bête noire of the long forgotten dearly departed – our storyteller, the Lady Brigante is a spiritual sleuth, sometime artist and a seeker of the dead.
‘River is time in water,
As it came,
So still it flows,
Yet never is the same.’
~ Barten Holyday
As the Summer Solstice Beckons, The Polite Tourist Presents an Evening Walk in YORK – Those Ghosts of a Watery Grave.
Through the stone arches of old bridges, well-worn steps and along the cobbles of a riverside path steeped in history AND heartache?
Why not come along and listen to the Lady Brigante one summer evening as she shares with you the tales of those ordinary folk including the tale of the disgraced bigamist, a young rivet heater, one desperate young mother and the tragedy of a quarrelsome soldier.
And ALL lost to history – until now!
Walk with us awhile every WEDNESDAY and THURSDAY throughout June, July and August from 7pm.
And with the door of an atelier closed for the day – it is possible to catch a glimpse of a celebrated miniaturist and storyteller clad in her distinctive black feline boots wandering through the snickelways and secret passages of York in a quest to wake the dead.
And for those of a curious and hardy temperament – why not come along to the ancient City of York and listen to the Lady Brigante as she shares with you the tales of the illustrious, the miscreants, artists, misfits and those ordinary folk who have ALL been lost to history – until now!
However, for those of a sensitive nature who are averse to real stories of tears, heartache and tragedy – a meander through the fascinating streets of York with Lady B may NOT be to your taste.
Situated on the exhilarating coastline of North Yorkshire and affectionately known as the ‘Queen of English watering places’ – Scarborough occupies a fascinating place within the history of seaside resorts.
And along with a history of besieged castles, dinosaur remains, literary prodigies, fishing ports, religious persecution, folklore, medicinal drinking waters, smuggling, and pirate radio – Scarborough enjoys an enduring charm.
THIS September, and as Autumn beckons – the Lady Brigante will be peeling back the murky shadows of a seaside town’s criminal past with a stroll through the old cobbled streets of Scarboro’ Old Town in search of the long forgotten dead.
“On a recent visit to England, this writer was delighted to make the acquaintance of a fellow devotee of the macabre: the Grande Dame of the Night, Lady Brigante.
The eloquent Lady turned out to be a fellow Necropolis Hunter, Grave Digger, and Browser through Dusty Archives; in short, a dark soul-mate.
Placing my trust in the erudition and resourcefulness of Lady Brigante, I allowed her to lead me on a walking tour through the dark, narrow, and labyrinthine streets of York; and I found myself spellbound by the Dark Lady’s tales of history, murder, and highwaymen.
After the tour, we enjoyed a nightcap at a haunted, historic pub. This cat is looking forward to her next opportunity of skulking the streets and graveyards of Yorkshire with Lady Brigante.”
Katherine Kerestman
Author Creepy Cat’s Macabre Travels
“Lady Brigante of the Polite Tourist led us astray down alleys with tales of gore of a long ago age.
I would definitely highly recommend this company.”
Diane Saxon
Best Selling Author
“If you are in York make sure you book a tour with the Polite Tourist on her wanderings through the dark side of the city. We did and it was fantastic!
The first time we went on a walk down Walmgate with her she brought the past to life with vivid accounts of the goings on behind innocent looking windows and doors.
Well worth it and it brought this ancient beautiful city into different, sinister but exciting, life and unlike some fantasy ghost walks her stories are real and true! A must!”
Stephen Barrett
Public Relations Guru for York Family History Society
“As you start to walk out on the way, the way appears.”
Rumi
Would you like to enjoy a unique and private stroll far from the maddening crowds through the secret passages and old snickelways of the City of York including a wander along the riverside?
Why not take A Mourning Walk with the Lady Brigante one evening and learn of the long-forgotten dead?
And there will also be the opportunity to learn something of an ancient city’s most infamous ghosts along the walk.
Curious much?
Hear the Lady Brigante one THURSDAY EVENING and learn of the tales of the flighty wife and the quiet couple.
As the minutes creep by on the close of another year – we now leave those Ghosts of Christmas Past to their rest.
Nestled among the glorious autumnal flora and fauna within the haunted City of York – a ghostly presence patiently awaits.
For all of the whispers from the archive of a celebrated seeker of the dead, and exciting discoveries about the unique walks, place of rendezvous AND ticket availability – step inside the twilight world of the Lady Brigante and subscribe to The Brigante Chronicles to bring forth EVERY snippet of chatter direct to your inbox!
From an Ancient City of Warring Armies, Restless Ghosts, Religious Persecution, Delicious Chocolate, and Infamous Outlaws – ‘Yorky Grit’ is THE Quintessential Memento from York!
From the shelves of The Polite Tourist emporium and designed by the Lady Brigante – this is an exclusive hand-made miniature from the City of York.
With a pinch of sand and locally sourced Yorkshire grit, and dressed in our exclusive recycled label – this little bottle will add a peculiar and perfect finishing touch to your cabinet of curiosities.
‘We’re All Stories, in the End’
~ Steven Moffatt
‘I am pregnant and have been suffering from severe sickness and have been living in a quiet area of York with my husband and our young son until things took a turn for the worse one chilly February evening.
As my post mortem examination revealed that I had died as a result of a brain haemorrhage caused by some kind of mysterious ingested poison – an inquest into my death was soon opened.’
‘What can POSSIBLY be told about a life of ONLY 5 weeks?
My death from parental neglect on Christmas Day in the year 1884 would shine a harsh and uncompromising light into the darkest crevices of York’s society as the pitiful story of my life unfolded…’
The Lady Brigante loves nothing more than shocking unsuspecting folk with the tale that she was abandoned at birth by gypsies and raised en famille with kindly mice in the crypt of an old church.
Alas! The truth is altogether more unremarkable for although blessed with an illustrious and extensive lineage – Lady B was in truth raised in genteel affluence in the ancient City of York.
Described as the bête noire of the long forgotten dearly departed – the Lady B is a storyteller, spiritual sleuth and a seeker of the dead.
For curious minds who are mindful to eavesdrop on the creative musings from an artist’s atelier or eager to discover the mysteries hidden within the Brigante Vault and the unquiet graveyards with their secrets of the long forgotten – why not become a Patron and step inside the twilight world of this celebrated miniaturist and storyteller?
‘Fac Quod Faciendum Est.’
The Lady Brigante most cordially invites curious minds and those of a discerning spirit to cross the threshold and step inside a twilight world rife with mysterious happenstance and feats of every egregious kind.
As each tale will unfurl a precious truth – a pseudonym, nom de plume or ananym will most certainly be employed within the pages of this site to protect those folk who enjoy something of a rather dubious reputation.
However, if a walking tour through this ancient city of warring armies, restless ghosts, religious persecution, delicious chocolate, and infamous outlaws is not possible for you – why not cross the threshold and into a little slice of the web to which the Lady B has since laid claim?
Step inside the twilight world of a celebrated storyteller and seeker of the dead and take a peek at the bundles of old documents, and hear the untold tales of nefarious deeds and suspicious deaths from the exclusive Brigante archives.
YOUR generosity of spirit is noted AND appreciated.
