REVIEW: Fright night at Haddon Hall

Make no bones about it - a historic hall in Derbyshire is the scariest, spookiest place to be this Halloween weekend.
Haddon Hall fright night. Pictured left to right are  Richard Leivers, Alison Doram, Ellie Ward, Sarah Wynne Kordas and Susan Earnshaw.Haddon Hall fright night. Pictured left to right are  Richard Leivers, Alison Doram, Ellie Ward, Sarah Wynne Kordas and Susan Earnshaw.
Haddon Hall fright night. Pictured left to right are Richard Leivers, Alison Doram, Ellie Ward, Sarah Wynne Kordas and Susan Earnshaw.

I joined a bunch of brave souls last night on a ghost-hunting mission which required nerves of steel.

Our destination was Haddon Hall which had been transformed into a house of horrors populated by a ghost of a possessed child, gossipy servants and a vicar with a secret.

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The fear factor was there from the start as we were ushered into a small, dark room draped in cobwebs. Projected images of the walking dead slid up and down the walls like ectoplasm. A headless body, manic-looking characters with glowing eyes and eerie voices sent the shivers through us.

On to the chapel and that’s where the fireworks really started with blinding lights. bangs and crashes and a spooky child-like voice speaking from beyond the grave.

As we ventured around the hall, stumbling across uneven floors, navigating narrow steps and plunging into the bowels of the hall, we encountered a motley crew of characters who drew us into their story.

With various parties doing the tour at the same time, occasionally we heard bits of the predecessing scenes or footsteps above us, which see-sawed between intrusive and adding to the atmosphere.

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Got you scared? Well, there’s still time to join in the fun - and it is great fun. Performances take place this evening, Saturday, November 2, at 7.30pm, 7.45pm, 9pm, 8.15pm and 8.30pm.

Tickets are £20 and must be booked in advance; contact 01629 810912 (office hours) or online at www.haddonhall.co.uk

GAY BOLTON