Candle-lit tours bring eerie taste of the past for Halloween workhouse

Visitors to the Workhouse Museum in Ripon are being given the chance to explore the candle-lit venue with torches on Saturday evening in an atmospheric event.

Actors dressed in period costume will be waiting to confront visitors to give them an idea of the people who would have lived in the workhouse.

The museum's learning and access officer, Sue Mackay, said: "We wanted to do something of an alternative Halloween event, while also trying to show the history of the actual workhouse.

"It will be quite eerie when the visitors are allowed to make their way around the museum, and we hope it will give them a fascinating insight into the building's long history."

Other events are being staged at the museum during this week, including book-making sessions between 10am and 4pm today and tomorrow. Shadow puppet making workshops will be held during the same times on Saturday and Sunday, and all the events cost 2.

The half-hour Night at the Workhouse tours also cost 2 and will start at 7.30pm and 8pm on Saturday. Booking is essential, and more details are available on 01765 690799.