Halloween at Herstmonceux’s Haunted Castle

Ghosts, gravestones and ghouls invaded Herstmonceux Castle on Sunday 29th October to celebrate its final day of the 2017 season.

Children of all ages were invited to carve a pumpkin, get their faces painted or follow the spider trail around the grounds, while parents, grandparents and older siblings could enjoy the beautifully serene gardens of the historical site. The success was clear from the crowds of toddlers and children that swarmed the grounds and castle corridors as well as the screams of surprised delight.

“It was a fantastic event for younger children in particular,” said Seth Thompson, who lives in the village.

The staff of Herstmonceux castle, headed by enterprise director, Julie Ryan, pulled together to provide spooky entertainment for families across East Sussex. “The day was a huge success,” said Ms Ryan. “People don’t tend to go to places on their doorstep, but this Halloween has topped expectations. The volunteers have been brilliant.”

The castle has a packed programme of events, ranging from the bunny hunt earlier in the year to weddings, which are popular and frequent all year long. The success of this year’s Halloween spectacular has guaranteed it a place in the calendar next year. “We’ll certainly be running it again,” said Ms Ryan.

The gardens of the 15th century castle, which is one of the most popular historical attractions in East Sussex, and will reopen to the public in Spring 2018, though there will be a series of indoor events to celebrate the upcoming Christmas season.

Emily Thompson - Heathfield Community College