St Mary’s Guildhall will captivate guests with ghoulish medieval mysteries and unearth history dating back to the 14thcentury.

St Mary’s Guildhall is offering a string of Halloween events exploring real history and historic ghost stories in the heart of Coventry’s Cathedral quarter this October half term.

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.

Discounted entry rates apply, for Coventry residents with a valid GOCV card. To apply your CVGO discount online for Ghostly Guildhall please selected the ticket type you require, from the ticket drop down list.*

*Proof of validity required at time of admission.