The Leeds Library, founded in 1768, is the oldest subscription library in Britain still operating in its original building. Located on Commercial Street in Leeds, the library has occupied its current premises since 1808. The Georgian building, with its distinctive façade, houses a vast collection of books, including many rare and antiquarian volumes.

Over the years, the Leeds Library has become known for its ghostly occurrences. The most famous spectral resident is said to be Vincent Sternberg, the library’s first librarian who served from 1768 to 1782. Staff and visitors have reported seeing his ghostly figure, dressed in 18th-century attire, wandering among the bookshelves or sitting at a desk.

Another recurring paranormal phenomenon is the sound of mysterious footsteps echoing through the building when no one else is present. Some have described hearing the rustling of pages turning in empty rooms, as if an unseen reader were perusing the books.

In the 1930s, a librarian reported seeing books flying off shelves unaided, an incident that has been repeated in subsequent years. Staff members have also experienced unexplained cold spots and sudden temperature drops in various areas of the library.

During World War II, the library’s cellar was used as an air raid shelter. Since then, people have reported hearing muffled voices and the sounds of people moving about in the basement, even when it’s empty.

The library’s clock, dating back to 1680, has been known to chime at odd hours, sometimes even when it’s not wound. Some believe this is connected to the building’s supernatural activity.