From the Quill of The Lady Brigante. The Bête Noire of the Long Forgotten Dead.
‘The Truth is Rarely Pure and Never Simple.’
~ Oscar Wilde
The Bête Noire of the Long Forgotten Dead. Wanderer Among Unquiet Graves. Mistress of The Foppotee. Weaver of Tales for The Polite Tourist.
With Quill and Ink By Candlelight. ‘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.
Panel 1
The Bête Noire of the Forgotten Dead
‘Twixt Night and Morn!
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!
Described as the bête noire of the long forgotten dearly departed – the Lady B is a storyteller, a sleuth of infamy and seeker of the dead.
The truth is altogether more unremarkable for although blessed with an illustrious lineage – Lady B was in truth raised in genteel affluence in the City of York.
As dawn broke one chilly February morning – a local tinsmith walked from his workshop in Fossgate towards the notorious passageway known as Black Horse Passage.
With the door of an atelier closed for the day – it is possible to catch a glimpse of a celebrated storyteller wandering through the unquiet streets and secret passages in a quest to wake the dead.
Katherine Kerestman was visiting England to research her second macabre travel book. She had not known that she was fated to meet a new friend on her first night in England – THE Lady Brigante.
For all of the whispers from the archives and unquiet graveyards of a celebrated seeker of the dead – sign up to ‘The Brigante Chronicles’ and step inside a twilight world rife with mysterious happenstance and feats of every egregious kind.
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A Mourning Walk?
“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.
“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.”
‘The ONLY clear picture history affords me is that of my death by poisoning one morning in May in the City York – despite the best efforts of our Lady Brigante!
For a scroll though our parish records and census returns will only add to the mystery of WHO I am , WHERE I have come from and HOW I have managed to live independently well into my sixth decade!’
A Discreet Spinster?
‘I am a soldier with the 10th Hussars and on a chilly January morning in 1889 – I was found hanging from a pole in the stable block of the York Cavalry Barracks.
On the day following my death the city coroner opened the inquest at our military hospital and as a succession of witnesses stepped forward to offer testimony – my tragic story would unfold.’
Privately Unwell?
Panel 4
Waking the Dead of York and Beyond
With the coming of dusk…
As nightfall beckons – it is possible to catch a glimpse of a celebrated storyteller and infamous sleuth clad in a distinctive black coat wandering through the unquiet streets and secret passages of the City of York, Scarborough, Leeds and beyond in a quest to wake the dead.
ordinary folk. extraordinary deaths.
And for those of a curious and hardy temperament – why not come along to the ancient City of York, Scarboro’, Leeds or beyond and listen to The Polite Tourist as they share 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 walk through the unquiet streets and secret passages of the City of York, Scarborough, Leeds and beyond with The Polite Tourist may NOT be to your taste.
Who or What is The Polite Tourist?
The Polite Tourist offers true crime walks through Victorian history. Through York, Scarboro’, Leeds 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.
Browse the shelves of our emporium for the deliciously unusual or become a fellow taphophile on the forum Beneath Thy Feet to quench those unanswered questions or dispel gossip from truth!
