Cryptic headstones mark Halloween at Witley Court

Saturday 20 October - Sunday 4 November 2012

With the October half term holidays nearly upon us, staff at Witley Court & Gardens, near Worcester, are preparing for its Halloween celebrations in macabre-style, creating tombstones for its graveyard-theme family fun tour, running Saturday 20 October to Sunday 4 November 2012.

For a full week, visitors to the English Heritage site will be greeted by an assortment of witches and wizards, as Witley Court’s staff throw themselves into the Halloween season with fun activities for all the family, and on 27, 28 and 31 October, swapping their uniforms for Halloween costumes!   The education room will be transformed from schoolroom into crypt, complete with cobwebs, whilst all around the site itself, younger visitors will be invited to try and solve a cryptic trail of clues, each of which is found on a specially-made tombstone.

“Halloween is my favourite time of the year, so I am determined that this is going to be the best ever October for our visitors,” says site manager, Ella Harrison. “Alongside the fun trails, we’ll have themed activities in the Education room, whatever the weather throws at us!”

Admission prices to Witley Court & Gardens are £6.50 for adults, £5.90 for concessions and £3.90 for children. A family ticket, valid for two adults and up to three children, is £16.90. English Heritage members get in free. The site is open daily from 10.00am to 5.00pm until 4 November, and then every weekend from 10.00am to 4.00pm throughout the winter.

Meanwhile, if the rubber bats that dress the Halloween-themed rooms are not sufficiently realistic, visitors to Witley Court’s behind the Scenes Tour, taking place on Friday 9 November, hoping that the real bats will not be flying around the cellars, which are included on the tour when the nocturnal residents are not active! The tour also includes over areas not normally accessible to the public, including the Stable Block.

The especially extended tours last for four hours, from 11.00am to 3.00pm, including lunch. Tickets are £25, or £20 for English Heritage members, and booking is essential as places are limited. To book, please call 0870 333 1183.

For further information, please call 01299 896636 or visit www.english-heritage.org.uk/witley. You can also follow Witley Court on Facebook.

ENDS

For further media information, please contact:

Jay Commins

PRO - English Heritage (West Midlands)

Tel:         0113 251 5698

Mob:     07810 546567

Email:    jay@fim.org.uk