
Originally Posted by
The Lurker In The Shadows
This is "The Stalls of Barchester", based on the M.R. James short story, adapted and directed by Lawrence Gordon Clark for the 1970s series of one-off dramas, "A Ghost Story For Christmas". Clive Swift is the historian, Dr Black, who opens the trunk of documents and reads how Archdeacon Haynes, played by Robert Hardy, was affected by the carvings in the ends of his cathedral stall after his predecessor has an unfortunate "accident".
It's not available on DVD, unfortunately (the BBC really should release all of the Ghost Stories for Christmas), but it's often on BBC4 at Christmas time.