Shadows of Townend: Folklore, Fear, and Farmhouse Magic

An exclusive candlelit night tour of National Trust's Townend exploring the superstitions, remedies and dark folklore of the 17th-century Browne family.

This Halloween-season guided tour takes visitors around Townend after dark by candlelight, led by a costumed guide. It offers a rare look at the farmhouse's archive of commonplace books, which record the Browne family's gruesome remedies, blood-writing rituals and references to a philosopher's stone. Along the way visitors can see witches' circles scratched into woodwork and horseshoes nailed to doors and hidden under floorboards, placed to ward off witches and evil spirits. Suitable for children aged 11 and over, with tours running on Saturdays during the season.