Haddon Hall's enchanting new exhibition shines a spotlight on everyday magic in Elizabethan England

Magical folklore, rituals, fears and superstitions that were an everyday part of life in the 16th century will be explored in an exhibition at Haddon Hall, inspired by the hall’s remarkable ‘witchmarks’.

The witchmarks are carved into doorways, protective grotesques overlooking and courtyards and ancient poems scratched into glass. These apotropaic marks will be highlighted in the exhibition MAGIC which will include objects hidden by past occupants of the hall to ward off harmful influences.

Haddon Hall will host a new exhibition titled MAGIC: Charms, rituals and superstition in Elizabethan England, from September 20 to October 31, 2025.

placeholder image — Haddon Hall will host a new exhibition titled MAGIC: Charms, rituals and superstition in Elizabethan England, from September 20 to October 31, 2025.

Fear of the supernatural in Elizabethan society and the steps people took to protect themselves from dark magic, especially the perceived threat from witchcraft, will be covered in the exhibition which opens in September 2025.

Haddon’s famously unspoilt medieval, Tudor and Elizabethan rooms will host beautifully-curated and interactive displays telling the story of everyday magic, from food folklore in the kitchens and the natural wisdom of ‘cunning folk’ in the Parlour to herbology in the State Bedroom.

Witchmarks or apotropaic marks or numerous throughout Haddon Hall and were inscribed during the 16th century to ward off dark magic.

The tapestry- lined Great Chamber will be transformed into a magical Cabinet of Curiosities, mixing Haddon artefacts with more ‘fantastical’ finds. Elsewhere, imaginative displays, exhibits and projections will add to the enchantment.

Lady Edward Manners, whose family live at Haddon Hall, said: “The word that is used most by anyone visiting Haddon is ‘magical’. Whether friends new or old, long-time devotees or first-time visitors, children or grown-ups – all are impacted by the essence of magic that imbues every stone in this remarkable house. Haddon is an enchanting place to visit at any time of the year, but I am particularly excited to welcome visitors this autumn to explore the practices, rituals and superstitions that were an everyday part of life in Elizabethan society.”

Set in acres of ancient medieval parkland with a backdrop of the rolling Derbyshire hills, Haddon;s magical turrets and battlements have inspired writers, artists and film-makers for centuries. With over 900 years of history, Haddon’s medieval, Tudor and Elizabethan interior is remarkably untouched by time.

Haddon was left empty for more than 200 years from the beginning of the 18th century, its rooms lying quiet and untouched – a true ‘sleeping beauty’ – the magic of the hall’s Elizabethan heyday perfectly preserved. There can be no better setting to tell the important role of everyday magic in Elizabethan society.

Haddon Hall's new exhibition, MAGIC, will feature curated and interactive displays telling the story of food folklore in the kitchens, the natural wisdom of ‘cunning folk’ in the Parlour and herbology in the State Bedroom.

Visitors to MAGIC will be able to imagine how the hall’s Elizabethan occupants lived their lives with an acceptance of, and respect for, the supernatural.

MAGIC: Charms, rituals and superstition in Elizabethan England opens at Haddon Hall on September 20 and runs until October 31, 2025. For more details or to book tickets to visit the hall, go to https://www.haddonhall.co.uk/