Tudors, barn owls, and supernatural guests to visit historic venue for ghoulish Halloween activities

One of Coventry’s most haunted venues is inviting families to get stuck in to seven centuries of ghostly happenings this Halloween – with a seldom-seen guest joining the fun.

St Mary’s Guildhall, the 700-year-old venue famed for its ghost sightings and bewitching tales, has recruited the help of one of its oldest supernatural residents for its Ghostly Guildhall events, running from Saturday, October 28 until Sunday, November 5.

Gertie the Guildhall Witch is brimming with spooky tales and spellbinding fun, and is in need of curious guests to help find her missing cat.

Visitors must follow the Halloween-themed paw print trail which will include rhyming clues that will be left throughout the ghoulish medieval building in the hope to find her feline friend Tap. The Meet Gertie experience is available from Saturday, October 28 until Tuesday, October 31.

There will also be hands-on activities in the Guildhall’s medieval kitchen, hosted by the Guildhall’s  Tudors, including making cloth pumpkins and willow wands that can be taken away and used to get into the Halloween spirit.

Young visitors can also find out about ‘grime and punishment’ from centuries gone by. Children were treated no differently to adults with some unpleasant punishments, and guests can learn about the scold’s bridle, tussy mussy, and why a bath once-a-year was a good idea.

Superstitions and top tips to ward off evil will also be shared, with ‘WhatsIt’ the barn owl, otherwise known as a ‘ghost owl’, dropping by on Saturday October 28 to Friday November 3.

Guests will tread the same ground as historical figures such as Mary Queen of Scots and Frederick Douglass and hear about the centuries of gripping history that unfolded in Coventry though an immersive digital tour.

A children’s Halloween-themed afternoon tea is also available in the acclaimed Tales of Tea restaurant at St Mary’s Guildhall – with fancy dress encouraged.

Abi Moore, Heritage and Venue Manager at No Ordinary Hospitality, which operates St Mary’s Guildhall, said: “Gertie has plenty of stories to tell from across the years at St Mary’s, and is sure to bring family-friendly fun and excitement to all this Halloween.

“With discounts available for GO CV card holders, and so many activities to choose from, our Ghostly Guildhall programme is a great opportunity to get the whole family in the Halloween spirit while exploring our historic venue.” 

The recent major package of restoration and refurbishment at St Mary’s Guildhall has been made possible through the Cultural Capital Investment Fund resourced by Coventry City Council, Arts Council England, and the Government’s Getting Britain Building Fund through Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership, and with the support of The National Lottery Heritage Fund, thanks to National Lottery players. 

For more information visit www.stmarysguildhall.co.uk