The Thackray Medical Museum in Leeds occupies a building with a long and sometimes dark history. Originally constructed in 1861 as the Leeds Union Workhouse, it housed the city’s poor and destitute under harsh conditions. Many inmates died here from illness, malnutrition, and neglect. In 1925, the building was converted into St James’s Hospital, where it continued to witness suffering and death for decades.

Paranormal activity reported at the museum is often linked to its past as a workhouse and hospital. Staff and visitors have described unexplained sounds, including footsteps, voices, and crying. Some claim to have seen shadowy figures moving through exhibits and corridors, particularly in areas that once housed hospital wards.

One of the most frequently reported apparitions is that of a Victorian-era doctor, seen walking purposefully through the building’s older sections. Others have described encounters with ghostly nurses and patients in period dress. The museum’s basement, which once contained the workhouse’s mortuary, is said to be particularly active, with reports of sudden temperature drops and feelings of unease.

A notable incident involved a museum employee who reported seeing a young girl in old-fashioned clothing standing in a doorway. When approached, the girl reportedly vanished. This sighting corresponds with historical records of high child mortality rates in the workhouse.

The operating theatre reconstruction, featuring authentic medical equipment from the building’s hospital era, is another hotspot for paranormal claims. Visitors have reported feeling watched and experiencing unexplained equipment movements in this area.