A newly renovated Coventry venue has launched a spooktacular half term event programme to captivate guests with ghoulish medieval mysteries and unearth history dating back to the 14th century.
St Mary’s Guildhall is inviting visitors to explore real history and ghost stories in the heart of Coventry’s cathedral quarter this half term from October 22 to 30 as part of Ghostly Guildhall.
Visitors can join the ghosts and ghouls of St Mary’s Guildhall and prepare for a Halloween brimming with spooky tales and superstitions with a range of ghoulish activities made possible thanks to support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Over the years, dozens of tall tales have survived alongside the history of the guildhall, and organisers have launched the venue’s first Halloween event since reopening to immerse visitors in the fact and fictions preserved in its walls.
Guests will tread the same ground as historical figures such as Mary Queen of Scots and Frederick Douglass and hear about seven centuries of gripping history that unfolded in Coventry.
A Halloween-themed ghost tour of St Mary’s Guildhall is available daily at 11am and 2.30pm. Visitors will hear about the history of Halloween, stories of resident ghosts and other mysterious happenings at the Guildhall.
Guests in the newly unveiled Medieval kitchen can discover weird and wonderful traditions and superstitions believed to keep spirits at bay, including searching for witch marks, soul cakes, willow wand crafting and charm making.
The medieval building, which dates back to 1352 and miraculously survived the 1940 blitz, offers a rare window into Coventry’s early history as it played host to royalty, before later being used as a soup kitchen to feed the Victorian poor. Stories of ghostly encounters from across these periods exist to this day.
Abi Moore, heritage and venue manager of St Mary’s Guildhall, said: “Our half term Ghostly Guildhall activities have been designed to connect people with the significant history that can be found at St Mary’s Guildhall, while catering to all ages with a mix of family-friendly activities and experiences for friends, couples and work colleagues who are looking for unique things to do this October.
“We are also thrilled to be able to offer a poetry workshop with Coventry’s first ever Poet Laureate, inspired by ‘Animals of the Guildhall’, as well as story time and book mark making activities for younger visitors.
“All visitors are invited to join us in our Tales of Tea restaurant, where we will be offering a Halloween-inspired afternoon tea for children to enjoy, whether after exploring the Guildhall on one of our ghost tours or simply popping in with the rest of the family this half term.”
St Mary’s Guildhall is offering an Autumn Animal Story Time session for primary and preschool children and their families, as well as a bookmark making workshop on Monday, October 24.
Coventry’s Poet Laureate, Emilie Lauren Jones will be holding an ‘Animals of the Guildhall’ children’s poetry workshops on October 26-28. Prebooked tickets, which include entry to St Mary’s Guildhall and are available online, are advised.
A children’s Halloween-themed afternoon tea will also be available in Tales of Tea, the newly opened restaurant at St Mary’s Guildhall. For more information, to book tickets and to reserve your table for Tales of Tea visit www.stmarysguildhall.co.uk.
Ghostly Guildhall entry is from £2.50 per child for daytime entrance for Coventry Residents with a valid GOCV card. Further details can be found at www.stmarysguildhall.co.uk
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.