Halloween has been used this week to educate visitors about Leicester’s past.
The city’s museums have incorporated the seasonal celebration into its programme of events.
Hannah Blake, 19, from Sheffield, visited The Guildhall, amongst other museums in the city as part of the Fright Trail that has put on in the run up to Friday October 31.
Miss Blake, a History student from Sheffield College, said: “My sister and I wanted to do something fun during our half term and we saw on the internet that Leicester wasn’t too far away on the train.
“There were some spooky events going on in the days before Halloween, which is one of my favourite times of the year.”
The Guildhall is well known for being the town’s most haunted building due to the 200 year old cells that remain in the site.
“I haven’t really heard much about Leicester’s history, the atmosphere at The Guildhall is so eerie due to the prison cells and the fact it was the original police station.
“What with the spooky festive decorations and the gruesome history here, you would expect to be on ‘Most Haunted’ or ‘Horrible Histories’,” added Miss Blake.
Miss Blake visited the city in October, when Abbey Pumping Station gave ghostly tours of its underground engine house.
This was to educate visitors about the death of engineer Robert Richardson in 1890 whilst he was working at the pumping station.
Miss Blake said: “We are going to the Abbey Pumping Station this afternoon for The Ghostly Engineer tour, it looks so much fun but I think Sarah, my little sister is a bit frightened!
“I think the city and its museums do right in using Halloween to promote the attractions and get people through the doors.
“It is important for children and young people to know about the past of their city and what better way to get children wanting to learn than using ghosts and ghouls.”
Georgina Baker
