Seriously Spooky – Thrills and Chills at Fort Nelson this half-term - Friday, 14 October 2011
Prepare to be scared – head to the Royal Armouries at Fort Nelson this October half-term for a host of Halloween horrors.
From ghoulish craft activities to frightening fancy dress – and ghostly story-telling to Horrible Hands on History – the new-look museum has lined up a spooktacular programme to help beat the school holiday blues.
Kids can head to the Fort in Halloween costume and enjoy face-painting, pumpkin trails, make-and-take craft sessions, and spooky balloon sessions – with a touch of magic thrown in.
Events run from Monday, October 24, to Sunday, October 30 inclusive. Balloon-modelling sessions run as follows:
Monday (Oct 24) and Sunday (Oct 30) – Izzy Wizzy Witch
Tuesday (Oct 25) and Friday (Oct 28) – Nolan the Wizard
Wednesday (Oct 26) – Count Von Tall
Thursday (Oct 27) – Robbie the Wizard
Saturday (Oct 29) – Guy Heathcote and his spooky juggling and Diablo “devil sticks”.
Museum entrance is free and visitors can explore the 19-acre Victorian Fort, complete with underground tunnels, daily gun firings and brand new galleries, showcasing the national collection of big guns. There’s also the chance to visit the newly-opened Café 1871, offering a variety of hot and cold meals including children’s lunch bags.
Museum director Peter Armstrong said, “Fort Nelson is a fantastically atmospheric place to stage our Halloween events, thanks to the underground tunnels and the fully-restored Victorian buildings. Some local people are even convinced we have a few resident ghosts.”
Fort Nelson was officially relaunched in the summer, following a £3.5m redevelopment, supported by a grant of over £2m from the Heritage Lottery Fund.
With glass sides and high ceilings, the new Voice of the Guns gallery has guaranteed “wow factor” and showcases 14 of the most famous exhibits, including two sections of the infamous Iraqi Super Gun, two anti-aircraft guns used to defend the South Coast, and the Great Turkish Bombard dating to 1464.
There are also social history galleries, exciting new interactives, and a state-of-the-art new education centre and visitor centre.
Built in the 1860s, the Portsdown Hill Fort is home to the national collection of artillery and historic cannon, with over 350 exhibits from all over the globe. The museum’s new galleries tell the fascinating stories of the objects, their history and the people who used them.
The collection originated at HM Tower of London and has been on display in Hampshire since 1995.
Charges apply for some Halloween events – please visit www.royalarmouries.org for more details.
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Media contact
Joss Loader
Primary PR Ltd.
Tel: 07838 379599
Email: info@primarypr.co.uk
Notes to editors
- The Royal Armouries at Fort Nelson houses the national collection of historic cannon and big guns. The museum houses one of the world’s finest collections with over 350 cannon dating back over 600 years. The collection originated at HM Tower of London and has been on display in Hampshire since 1995.
- The Royal Armouries at Fort Nelson also tells the story of the Palmerston Forts, built to protect Portsmouth from a feared French invasion in the 1860’s.
- Fort Nelson is open every day except 24-26 December. April to October 10am –5pm (Wed 11am-5pm), November – March 10.30am – 4pm (Wed 11.30-4pm).
- Admission to the Royal Armouries is FREE.
- Admission charges apply to some events.
- Information line: 01329 233734
- Website: www.royalarmouries.org
- Email: fnenquiries@armouries.org.uk
- The Royal Armouries is the national museum of arms and armour with sites at Fort Nelson, Leeds, HM Tower of London and Louisville, Kentucky, USA.
- To support the work of the Royal armouries; make a donation at justgiving.com
- The Royal Armouries Museum should not be confused with Royal Armouries International plc, the private sector corporate hospitality business.
Download the PDF press release.