Claire loves York spooky house so much, she’s had it tattooed across her back

9:14am Friday 14th September 2012 in News Photograph of the Author By Jennifer Bell, jennifer.bell@thepress.co.uk

Claire Sloan at 35, Stonegate, the “haunted house”, a picture of which is tattooed on her back Claire Sloan at 35, Stonegate, the “haunted house”, a picture of which is tattooed on her back

A TATTOO-mad tourist loves a York attraction so much that she has had an image of the building inked on her back.

Claire Sloan, 38, who lives in Newcastle, regularly visits York to take part in the ghost tours and vigils operated at The Haunted, at 35, Stonegate.

She said: “I love the history and the whole atmosphere of the place. There is just something about it and all the gruesome tales connected with it.”

While waiting for a ghost hunt outside the property, Claire suddenly became overwhelmed and emotional.

“I looked up and thought, I really love this place,” she said.

“As daft as it sounds, I felt this is what I wanted to do with my life. I had been going through some family traumas, but since that night, my life has taken a major turnaround.”

As the property became a special place for her, Claire took photos of it to a nearby tattoo parlour.

Working from these pictures of the building, tattoo artist Ronnie Wylie produced the work pictured here. People in Claire’s home city not only comment on the tattoo, but recognise the house as a replica of the York site.

After those reactions, Claire decided to add several other feature rooms to the design, as well as the knocker on the side door.

“I also love the mask room, so I might add that in the future,” she said. Following from her participating on ghost hunts around the country, Claire has now set up her own company, Shadows Of The Night, specialising in paranormal investigations.

Comments(24)

dodgydavereturns says...
9:19am Fri 14 Sep 12

Nutter alert!

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witheryjack says...
10:20am Fri 14 Sep 12

That's helpful. If the building ever burns down or is destroyed by a meteorite it can be reconstructed using Claire's back as a blueprint.

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idlehousewife says...
10:34am Fri 14 Sep 12

Utterly tasteless!

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goodfellow says...
11:28am Fri 14 Sep 12

classy birds of York - part one

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PKH says...
11:31am Fri 14 Sep 12

goodfellow wrote:
classy birds of York - part one
She's from Newcastle if you read the article

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Anotherslownewsday says...
11:47am Fri 14 Sep 12

Thank you York Press for making my morning. It isn't even April 1st.

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IkonAndDiva says...
12:13pm Fri 14 Sep 12

I really love Ben and Jerry's ice-cream but I'm hardly going to have a 500ml tub of cookie dough tattooed on my back. That space is reserved for a life-size portrait of Jennifer Bell..."“As daft as it sounds"

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pedalling paul says...
12:23pm Fri 14 Sep 12

Now then, what should I have tatooed on my back.....?

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capt spaulding says...
1:16pm Fri 14 Sep 12

pedalling paul wrote:
Now then, what should I have tatooed on my back.....?
Do not recucitate

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Harshbutfair says...
1:39pm Fri 14 Sep 12

pedalling paul wrote:
Now then, what should I have tatooed on my back.....?
my actions spoke for themselves?

I should be barred?

I wheelie love bikes?

I'm out

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Trustmeiknoweverything&every1 says...
1:46pm Fri 14 Sep 12

The york's historic tourism's blown her mind.

she'll be getting bar wall's next

n there after be standing with wolly hat infront of her claiming her share of the scene.

Makes me laugh `ghost tour` i stumbled across bloke in town last weekend with his phone light on searching ground he lost the keys. + he had cheek to tell me to take care duno why though we all know what happend to the other ghost tour guy

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Stupidyorkpeople says...
1:59pm Fri 14 Sep 12

Stupid Witch !

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hifive says...
4:44pm Fri 14 Sep 12

Leave her be! It's not something I'd do but each to their iwn and all that....

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hifive says...
4:45pm Fri 14 Sep 12

*own* d'oh....

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Theendoftheworld says...
4:49pm Fri 14 Sep 12

I've got a family of rabbits tattoed on my head. From a distance they look like hares!

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A Geordie says...
6:41pm Fri 14 Sep 12

You shouldn't judge a book by its cover back off man althought I don't know the lass personally rumour has it her ghost hunts are really popular in Geordie land ya have to book up in advance coz they are well attended she travels all over the country so she must be canny good! Maybe some of you are jealous she's a Geordie and not a Yorkshire lass.

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Digeorge says...
6:42pm Fri 14 Sep 12

What?

And she went to the Press over this!!!!

A psychiatrist is needed.

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yorkborn66 says...
7:24pm Fri 14 Sep 12

Good on her, at least she is not hurting anyone. Sounds like she maybe making a few quid back in Geordie Land. She may appear rather eccentric, but harmless, live and let live I say.

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Woody G Mellor says...
10:29pm Fri 14 Sep 12

So. The majority of comments on todays reports are just a bunch of 'people' slagging off one women.

Hope you all feel very proud of yourselves.

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capt spaulding says...
9:28am Sat 15 Sep 12

Woody G Mellor wrote:
So. The majority of comments on todays reports are just a bunch of 'people' slagging off one women.

Hope you all feel very proud of yourselves.
And a well known promoter of cycling.
Tut Tut.

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Rockmamma says...
9:58am Sat 15 Sep 12

Good on ya lass! It's nice to see a Geordie girl coming here and actually soaking up some of our York culture instead of just getting $H1T faced on a tacky hen night. Your inkage is fab Claire, and don't you forget it! xXx

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Boadicea says...
11:15am Sat 15 Sep 12

If this gives her pleasure then why shouldn't she have it.

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Woody G Mellor says...
3:33pm Sat 15 Sep 12

capt spaulding wrote:
Woody G Mellor wrote: So. The majority of comments on todays reports are just a bunch of 'people' slagging off one women. Hope you all feel very proud of yourselves.
And a well known promoter of cycling. Tut Tut.
Yes. I must admit they are very funny.

Sorry Paul.

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brett89 says...
3:25pm Sun 16 Sep 12

the fact that she has the house tattooed on her doesn't bother me. though this is one of the worst tattoos i have seen in a long time, its been done very badly with very little skill or artistic ability. if your going to get tattooed, then at least get the from someone good.

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