Two Girls One Ghost – Episode 350: Guy Fawkes Inn Hauntings and History

Date: November 30, 2025
Hosts: Corinne Vien (C) & Sabrina Deana-Roga (B)
Location: Sabrina live from the Guy Fawkes Inn, York, England

Overview

This episode takes listeners deep into the heart of York, England, where Sabrina records live from the haunted Guy Fawkes Inn—the birthplace of the infamous Guy Fawkes. The hosts deliver a lively mix of heavy historical research, on-site observations, and first- and secondhand ghost stories. They weave the tale of Guy Fawkes’ historical rebellion, the layered history of York, and the alleged supernatural residents of the inn. Listener submissions and laughs tie everything together in classic Two Girls One Ghost fashion.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Sabrina’s On-Location Adventure

• Sabrina records live from the Guy Fawkes Inn, sharing her eerie experiences and technical glitches (flashlight failures, “spirits might not want to hear about themselves”) as possible paranormal interference.
  • [02:21] “I am in York, England, one of the most haunted, if not the most haunted towns in England. And I am within the bones of a very, very haunted spot called the Guy Fawkes Inn.” — Sabrina
• She references a recent live paranormal investigation streamed on Instagram.
  • [03:02] “There wasn’t a ton that happened aside from I chugged a beer… If the ghosts aren’t going to [put on a show], I will.”

2. York’s Magical, Historical Atmosphere

• Both hosts marvel at the centuries-old, crooked architecture of York, likening it to a “Christmas village”:
  • [09:37] “What you’re describing now is like, totally the vibe of these little Christmas houses.” — Corinne
• Discussion on the town’s alleged 365 pubs and the persistent myth versus the more accurate count (~263).
• Sabrina recounts historical details about York: its roots go back to 8000-7000 BC, through Celtic, Roman, Viking, and Anglo-Saxon eras.
  • [17:00] “The most important theme of this episode is how many layers upon layers there are here. Like, history just, like, on top of each other.”

3. Guy Fawkes: History & Folklore

• A dramatic retelling of Guy Fawkes’ failed Gunpowder Plot:
  • [04:32] “He stands beside 36 barrels of gunpowder. Enough to turn stone to ash. Enough to start a revolution... You might be wondering, who is this man? His name is Guy Fawkes. And if you recall middle school history class, you will remember, remember the 5th of November…” — Sabrina
• The complex history of religious strife in England: Catholic vs. Protestant rulers, violent crackdowns, and how this personal history shaped Fawkes.
• Details on Fawkes’ plan, capture, and infamous torture and execution (“hanged, drawn, and quartered”):
  • [37:09] “His signature is like beautiful, perfect. His handwriting after the rack appears shaky, faint, broken.”
  • [38:54] “He plummets to the ground and breaks his neck where he dies instantly so he doesn’t go through the torture of the rest of the killing.”
• The evolution of Guy Fawkes as folk hero, the symbolism of Bonfire Night/5th of November, inspiration for “V for Vendetta.”
  • [41:10] “He had good reasonings… over time he has kind of evolved into this folk hero and is a symbolism for rebellion and for standing up for your beliefs.” — Sabrina

4. Guy Fawkes Inn: History & Architecture

• Built in the 1700s, atop even older structures—with physical remnants embedded in walls.
• Claim to fame: Fawkes’ birthplace (supposedly Room 11); ongoing debate among historians.
• The inn is a protected historic building, featuring a pub and 13 guest rooms.
  • [14:51] “It has 13 en suite bedrooms that you can rent out… it is so stunning. Ugh, it’s so good. And the food… so good.”

5. Hauntings: Spirits, Shadows, & Strange Phenomena

• Guy Fawkes himself is not believed to haunt the inn; more likely, Sabrina suggests, he’d haunt the Tower of London.
• Staff reports include:
  • A cloaked, shadowy figure moving through corridors and the pub (maybe Fawkes, but also could be anyone from centuries past).
  • The hotly haunted Belfry Suite:
    • Reported hauntings: ghost children (believed to have died of cholera in the 1700s), shadow figures, sudden illnesses at night (notably waking guests at 3-5am with intense nausea), and hair-pulling aimed at new staff.
    • [49:00] “Late at night there’s an intense sadness that will overcome guests… in the middle of the night, a strange illness will overcome guests.”
    • [50:35] Staff often experience aggressive hair-pulling as a ghostly initiation.
    • Reports of newly cleaned rooms being found trashed, with no one entering in-between (caught on surveillance).
• Other spirits include a recurring “gray lady” and a priest, both seen around the main building.
• TripAdvisor reviews confirm multiple guests who have felt and seen strange presences.
• Paranormal investigations—sometimes with tons of activity, sometimes quiet—take place regularly.

6. Listener Submission: Dr. Ghost’s York Tale

• Corinne reads a story from “Dr. Ghost,” a PhD in ghost beliefs at York St. John University, detailing experiences at the haunted Treasurers House in York:
  • Descriptions of three main ghosts (James McToff, Isabel Issabli, Abigail Johnson) and up to 22 Roman ghosts and horses in the basement.
  • Uncanny, corroborated sightings of spirits, residual hauntings including a “gray lady,” and experiences in the cellar bathroom.
  • [63:06] “And while we were closing up the house… we heard a loud moan come from behind us in one of the rooms. It sounded exasperated, like ‘come on, it’s closing time. Time to go.’”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On investigating haunted sites:
  • [13:40] Sabrina: “There is something about being in this town where the spirits are begging you to reach out to them. Or perhaps they’re already reaching out…”
• On living history:
  • [14:02] Corinne: “Part of me is like, that is so cool because you get to peel back layers if ever they’re doing anything… but at the same time, part of me is like, how many inches of space have they lost just because walls are coming forward?”
• On the role of Guy Fawkes in culture:
  • [41:01] Sabrina: “He was fighting for something… for people whose voices for so long had been silenced and persecuted for their beliefs.”
• On paranormal investigations and staff stories:
  • [51:44] Sabrina, quoting staff: “Every new person who works here, he pulls their hair.”
  • [53:43] Sabrina: “Just an hour before we started recording, someone knocked on our door… she said that it all happens in the Belfry Suite. …they had cleaned the entire room, left, and about an hour later went back… and it was completely a mess.”
• On York’s layers of history:
  • [17:00] Sabrina: “History just, like, on top of each other.”
• Listener Intervention:
  • [58:20] Corinne, reading Dr. Ghost’s submission: “I just finished a PhD in ghost beliefs, so you can call me Dr. Ghost. My deadline for this PhD was Halloween. How appropriate, right?”

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [02:21] – Sabrina introduces the Guy Fawkes Inn from York, describes initial paranormal experiences.
• [04:02-06:32] – Dramatic retelling of the 1605 Gunpowder Plot and Guy Fawkes rhyme.
• [14:14] – Detailed architectural history of the inn and York’s layers of habitation.
• [24:09] – Discussion of the inn’s link to Guy Fawkes’ birthplace.
• [35:12-37:09] – Description of Guy Fawkes’ torture, confession, and the impact on his handwriting.
• [41:01] – Reflection on Fawkes as a folk hero and why the inn doesn’t celebrate Bonfire Night.
• [49:00-51:44] – Hauntings and ghost stories from the Belfry Suite, including guest and staff experiences.
• [58:20] – Listener submission from Dr. Ghost about the Treasurers House and York ghost lore.

Tone & Style

The episode maintains the hosts’ signature blend of researched storytelling, personal anecdotes, playful banter, and respectful curiosity toward the supernatural. Sabrina’s on-the-ground excitement gives immediacy and authenticity, while Corinne’s questions and commentary keep it relatable and light, even as the historical content gets gruesome.

Conclusion

This episode immerses listeners in York’s tangible layers of history, the mythos and reality of Guy Fawkes, and the vibrant, ongoing folklore of one of England’s most haunted inns. The hosts expertly connect the dots between past and present, legend and lived experience, history and haunting. Whether you’re a ghost enthusiast, a history nerd, or just love a good story, this episode is a journey you won’t want to miss.

Final Word:

“Thank you so much to our editor, Jamie Ryan, who edits and produces this podcast and helps with the delay because this is the first time in a long time we’ve recorded cross country, not even cross country, cross globe… Come stay at the Guy Fawkes Inn in York. It’s amazing, honestly.” — Sabrina [57:22]

Got a story? Email the show: 2girls1ghostpodcastmail.com
“We’ll see you on the other side!”