Surrey’s Haunted History

Released on 09 October 2012

From 6 October - 22 December 2012 Surrey Heath Museum will be displaying its latest exhibition Ghosts and Ghouls. Using past newspaper cuttings, local stories and well known ghostly apparitions, the museum has discovered 17 local ghosts, which are featured in the displays. Using museum objects and past archival material the museum brings historical relevance to the apparitions.

On display is a skeleton of a human hand, found in the museum store, natural history material, and historic costume relating to two ghostly sightings, 'Old Ostler', a 1700s man seen at the White Hart, Frimley and Mary Ann Watt's ghost, a local girl who drowned herself, seen in a housing estate near Tomlin's Pond.

A phantom coach being chased by Highwaymen has been seen several times on Portsmouth Road, Diamond Ridge and College Ride echoing back to the days of stagecoach travel and the Highwaymen which roamed the area. Ghosts and Ghouls features a cut out of the coach which visitors can pretend to be travelling in plus a special display by the local Bat group on ghosts. The exhibition is interactive, informative and fun for all ages.

A number of events have been organised to complement the exhibition:

• Sat 20 October 10.30am-12.00 noon
  Ghostly Capers Toddler's Session
  Free fun and activities at the museum for the under 5's: make your own ghost to take home
  
• Wed 31 Oct to 3 Nov, museum opening hours
  Half Term activities
  Ghost trail in the museum with a competition to design your own Surrey Heath Ghost
  
• Wed 31October 10.30am to 12.00 noon
  Make a Halloween Bat
  Children's drop in workshop at the museum
  £2.50
  
• Thurs 7 Nov, 7.30pm
  The Paranormal, A Sceptics View
  Talk by Marq English, writer of 'Paranormal Surrey' at the Ian Good Child Centre, Knoll Road.
  £3.00
  
• Thurs 15 Nov 2.00pm - 4.00pm
  Bats and their Habitats
  A talk at the museum by Bernard Baverstock, Chairman of the Camberley Natural History Society and member of Surrey Bat Group.
  Tickets £2.50, all proceeds going to the Bat Conservation Trust.
  
• Thurs 6 Dec 2pm - 4pm
  Ghosts and Ghouls talk and tour
  Senior Museum Officer Gill Barnes-Riding leads this event at the museum.
  Free of charge.

To find out more see www.surreyheath.gov.uk Opens in a new window or call the museum on 01276 707284