Events

'Phantoms at the Priory' is Norton Priory's latest art installation.  Following last year's successful 'Mars at the Museum', we're delighted to welcome the phantoms to the museum.

Commissioned specially for Norton Priory by the team behind York's hugely successful 'Ghosts in the Garden', this installation allows visitors to come face to face with some of the characters who have shaped the 900 year history of this remarkable place.

Meet an abbot, take a selfie with a canon, and see a kneeling knight.

Spend some time with Brooke family members, welcome a guest arriving for a summer ball, and find out what upset the Duke of Bridgewater.

Outside, see the Head Gardener at work, tending the vegetable plots.  And there are a few smaller surprises to discover as well.

Come and see the 'echoes of the past' for yourself.  We're open from 10am - 4pm (closing at 5pm from Mothering Sunday). No need to book, pay on arrival at the museum. 

Create your own shadow puppets and bring the Phantoms at the Priory to life! In this fun, drop-in workshop, children of all ages can explore the art and history of Norton Priory while designing and crafting their very own puppets. Little ones (under 5) will need a helping hand from an adult. Once the puppets are ready, participants can perform a mini shadow show, letting their phantoms dance and tell stories in a magical display. 

No booking needed. Included in general admission prices on the day. FREE for Children. FREE for Norton Priory Members. 

Using photographs of Norton Priory, along with drawing materials and your imagination, you will create an image that captures a phantom. You'll begin by drawing your own phantom, then place it on acetate over a photograph to reveal the hidden ghosts of Norton Priory - almost as if you;re creating a photograph of a 'real' phantom. 

This workshop is for all ages and anyone interested in creativity. It's a chance to invent your own baclstory for a phantom exploring Norton Priory, or to take inspiration from the Phantom Sculptures. 

No booking needed. Included in general admission prices. FREE for Children. FREE for Norton Priory Members. 

With Phantoms at the Priory on the loose, this February half-term at Norton Priory Museum and Gardens is looking a little different...

So, if there's somethin' weird and it don't look good, who're we gonna call?  The Ghostbusters, of course!

Come along and see our (friendly) phantoms and have the opportunity to see a replica of ECTO 1 from 'Ghostbusters'.  This genuine 1959 Cadillac commercial chassis ambulance has been converted to be a Ghostbusters Ecto 1 replica, complete with working lights and sirens.

This car was used by Ernie Hudson (Winston) and Jennifer Runyon from the 1984 Ghostbusters film and was also the car of choice for Sony during the UK 2021 Ghostbusters Afterlife film premiere.  It was also used in the UK interviews with the directors Ivan Reitman and Jason Reitman who have both sat in this car. 

As a bonus, a Jurassic Park jeep will also be visiting on the same day!

Included in General Admission prices (£13.50 for adults, up to three children per adult go free).  Admission is free for members of Norton Priory.

No need to book. 

Learn to Draw Phantoms with a World-Class Illustrator!

Join us at Norton Priory for a spooktacular, hands-on drawing workshop for all ages — perfect for curious kids, creative adults, and families who love to make art together.

Leading the session is Stu Harrison, an award-winning illustrator and cartoonist whose work you’ve almost certainly seen before. Stu has illustrated children’s books and comic strips, worked extensively with The Guardian, and created artwork for hugely popular titles including Go Jetters, My Little Pony, Transformers, Dinoboy and Swashbuckle.

His client list reads like a who’s who of global brands — BBC, Disney, Nike, Kelloggs, Tesco, Marks & Spencer, McDonald’s — and fun fact…  Stu illustrated the original box artwork for the iconic Colin the Caterpillar cake at M&S! He also created all the animated assets for the BAFTA winning “Level UP” website for the BBC. Other animation projects include creating the characters and backgrounds for “Comical Spill”, a teen comedy series, for Youtube. www.stu-art.biz 

In this special workshop, Stu will guide you step-by-step as you learn how to create your own phantoms and spooky characters, sharing tips, tricks and behind-the-scenes insights from his career in illustration, comics and animation.

No experience needed — just imagination!

What to expect:

• A fun, relaxed drawing session suitable for children and adults
• Learn character-drawing techniques from a professional illustrator
• Create your own phantom artwork to take home
• A rare chance to meet and learn from an artist with international credits

Tickets are limited — book now to avoid disappointment!

Following on from their acclaimed show A Brief History of Music, GreenMatthews bring you a new show which explores our rich history of witty wordplay and melodic mirth.

Chris Green (piano, guitar, accordion) and Sophie Matthews (early woodwinds, flute, saxophone) bring four centuries of chromatic comedy to life.  With pieces ranging from bawdy Restoration ballads to stinging Sixties satire, this is a historic musical journey like no other! 

Featuring songs by Noël Coward, Tom Lehrer, Flanders and Swann and a host of other lesser-known songwriters, this fun and fast-moving revue will have you rolling in the aisles!

This is an exclusive chance to see this show live, in-person, in 2026, so we expect demand for tickets to be high!

The show comprises two 45 minute sets, with a 25 minute interval.  

This performance is recommended for ages 8 and up.  Doors to the performance space open at 7:00pm, with refreshments available from the Brooke Cafe before the performance and during the interval.

Come and join Woolyback Crafts at Norton Priory this half term and make your very own phantom! We will be using earthenware clay and handbuilding pottery techniques to make an ornamental ghost figurine to haunt your home! This workshop is suitable for all ages, no prior experience necessary!

This is a one hour workshop suitable for all ages. Please book places in advance. 

The artworks produced will be taken away to be fired and glazed. Participants will be contacted when items are ready for collection. 

Multi award-winning A Place For Us Theatre and Norton Priory invite you to an unforgettable evening celebrating some of the most iconic musical theatre ever written.

As part of Norton Priory's 'Phantoms at the Priory' installation, the ghosts of revolution sing again…

Echoes of the Barricade is a candlelit concert inspired by Victor Hugo’s 'Les Misérables', featuring beloved numbers including 'I Dreamed a Dream', 'Bring Him Home', 'On My Own', and 'Do You Hear the People Sing?'.

Performed by A Place For Us Theatre’s young musical theatre company and accompanied on piano by Corey Gerrard, this is a rare opportunity to experience the passion, drama, and enduring power of a music that has moved generations, brought to life in an atmospheric and historic setting.