About this Event
THIS EVENT IS OPEN TO PERSONS OVER THE AGE OF 16 HOWEVER ALL 16 AND 17 YEAR OLDS MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY A RESPONSIBLE ADULT (PLEASE SEE TERMS AND CONDITIONS).
Founded in 1768, The Leeds Library is the oldest surviving subscription library in the British Isles. It was established by a group including the renowned scientist Joseph Priestley, who served as its first secretary. Originally housed in the back of Joseph Ogle’s bookshop on Kirkgate, the library was created to provide a shared collection for members at a time when books were prohibitively expensive and public libraries did not exist. By 1808, it settled into its current home: a Grade II* listed Greek Revival building on Commercial Street, designed specifically for its needs.
The chilling history of The Leeds Library centers on the apparition of Vincent Sternberg, a former librarian who reportedly never left his post. The haunting first came to light in 1884 when the current librarian, John MacAlister, was working late and saw a pale, hairless figure in the stacks. Thinking it was a burglar, MacAlister pursued the man into a small room with a revolver, only to find the space completely empty.
Since that first encounter, Sternberg's presence has become a permanent fixture of the library’s lore. Staff and members frequently report disembodied footsteps on the iron galleries, the scent of old tobacco, and the eerie sound of "Sternberg’s gong," which he once used to summon assistants. These occurrences were so prominent in the late 19th century that a group of librarians even held a séance in 1885 to communicate with the spirit, during which he allegedly confessed to the "crime" of lending library books to friends without proper records.
Today, the library leans into its spooky reputation and we are so privileged to be able to investigate this awesome location with our fantastic guests, so book your place now!
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
The Leeds Library, 18 Commercial Street, Leeds, United Kingdom
GBP 22.38 to GBP 54.88
