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 Abbott, 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, or find out what upset the Duke of Bridgewater.

Outside, see the Gardener at work, tending the vegetable plots.  And there are a few smaller surprise 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. 

Join Mima Cornish from HedgeRose Healing for meditation in the beautiful surroundings of Norton Priory Museum and Gardens in Runcorn on select Saturday and Sunday mornings.

The sessions vary each week and take the opportunity to access the many different places and atmospheres at Norton Priory, both inside and out, to truly enjoy the present moment. All meditations will be guided, and any mindful activities will be gentle and relaxing, promoting a natural sense of peace. Suitable for all levels from beginners to experienced. Please bring a blanket.

Sunday 1st February, 9am - 10am 
Sunday 22nd March, 9am - 10am 
Sunday 12th April, 9am - 10am 
Sunday 17th May, 9am - 10am 
Sunday 14th June, 9am - 10am 
Sunday 12th July, 9am - 10am 
Sunday 16th August, 9am - 10am 
Sunday 13th September, 9am - 10am 
Sunday 18th October, 9am - 10am 
Sunday 8th November, 9am - 10am 
Sunday 13th December, 9am - 10am 

Join us on Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th February for a special gaming event, as part of the Phantoms at the Priory programme.  This event is included with General Admission tickets.

Explore three worlds of tabletop games, suitable for all ages:

Perhaps you will chose to venture into Norton Priory's past and and help Lady Katherine Brooke defend the house against royalist soldiers from Halton Castle.  You might even see her phantom during your visit...

Or, will a a spooky adventure in a haunted house catch your interest... if you are brave enough, of course...

Maybe, you'll be tempted to become a misbehaving bear, on a grand heist to steal Ranger Paul’s stores of honey.  

All sessions will be held in the Medieval Undercroft, with no prior knowledge required to join in.

This event is open to all ages, with games suited for younger and more experienced players. Our fantastic Game Masters will guide people to the best session for you.

Just bring yourself and your imagination!

Included in General Admission on the day. No need to pre-book. Adults £13.50, Children Free, Norton Priory Members Free. 

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. 

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. 

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.

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.
 

Experience the magic of pure vocal harmony with The Cheshire Chord Company!

 This versatile and vibrant ladies’ a cappella chorus – multiple award-winners and National champions – brings exciting high-energy performances to the Norton Priory’s stunning atrium.

From heartfelt ballads and jazz to contemporary pop arrangements and a host of upbeat numbers, their repertoire will ensure you are smiling and your feet are tapping!  Originally formed in 1993, the choir includes members from all walks of life, across the North of England.

Whether you’re a barbershop fan or simply love great, live music, this is a wonderful opportunity to immerse yourself in vocal harmony!

A hands-on workshop to learn about grafting fruit trees from an expert tutor. Graft a couple of small apple trees to take home using Norton Priory's heritage apple varieties. The session will be led by Katie Tonge from Heathfield Orchards.

Katie is the former Chief Executive of the Cheshire Landscape Trust and now manages and advises on orchards across Cheshire. She helps to maintain the orchards at Norton Priory and worked with us to create the new Oldfield Orchard.

Award-winning VML Drama bring you a script-in-hand production of a scary tale, as part of Norton Priory's 'Phantoms at the Priory' season. 

Be prepared for jump scares courtesy of special sound effects and the incredible talents of VML Drama's company, as they bring this to life in the presence of an audience. The performance will be narrated by the ‘Master of the Crypt’, who will guide the audience through the story.

The fabulous Norton Priory atrium will prove the perfect back drop for this evening of spine-chilling entertainment. Are you brave enough to attend in the company of the Phantoms of the Priory?

This performance is recommended for ages 12 and up. Doors to the performance space open at 6:30pm, with refreshments available from the Brooke Cafe before the performance and during the interval.

The Liverpool String Quartet returns with friends, to perform a very special evening of music, inspired by 'The Phantoms at the Priory' installation.

The 'Transfigured Night' programme is as follows:
P. I Tchaikovsky - Souvenir de Florence, Op. 70
Interval
Andrew Lloyd Webber - Music of the Night (from 'The Phantom of the Opera')
A. Schoenberg – Verklärte Nacht (Transfigured Night), Op. 4

The players (Liverpool String Quartet & Friends) are:
Roisin Walters – violin
Kate Marsden – violin
Dani Sanxis – viola
Sarah Hill – viola
Nick Byrne – cello
Mark Lindley – cello

Programme Notes
Tchaikovsky’s 'Souvenir de Florence', composed in 1890, is one of his most expansive and expressive chamber works. Written for string sextet, it combines symphonic breadth with moments of intimacy and lyricism, reflecting the warmth and vitality of the composer’s Italian experiences. 'Music of the Night' is the emotional centre of The Phantom of the Opera. In this arrangement for strings, the music takes on a more intimate and atmospheric character, emphasising its nocturnal quality and making a natural connection with the 'Phantoms at the Priory' installation. Schoenberg’s 'Verklärte Nacht', composed in 1899, is a landmark of late-Romantic chamber music. Inspired by a poem by Richard Dehmel, the work unfolds as a continuous narrative, moving from darkness to transformation through rich harmony and intense emotional expression. Though controversial at its premiere, it is now regarded as one of the great chamber works of its time.

About the Ensemble
Liverpool String Quartet & Friends brings together the Quartet’s core members with guest musicians for larger-scale chamber repertoire. The ensemble is known for its expressive playing and imaginative, context-led programming, and performs regularly in concert series, festivals, and special events across the UK and Europe. The Liverpool String Quartet is Ensemble in Residence at Norton Priory.

Treat someone special this Mother's Day with an extra special Afternoon Tea in Norton Priory's medieval Undercroft.

Indulge the senses in this atmospheric space as you are served a traditional afternoon tea, complete with sandwiches and a selection of homemade sweet treats, all served with a hot drink to accompany. The afternoon tea is created by Olive Tree Catering, who run our on-site Brooke Cafe and are award-winning caterers working at venues across Cheshire.

Other refreshments will be available to purchase on the day, including a range of soft drinks and, for that special treat, a selection of alcoholic beverages.

This is strictly only available by pre-booking, so don't delay!  If you're looking for something a little different, why not book tickets for Gav Cross's readings of Edith Nesbit Ghost stories, which will be held in the msueum's atrium from 6:30pm?  

Please advise us of any dietary requirements in advance. 

Featuring 'Man-Size in Marble' and more…

A timeless author of her age, Nesbit's writing for children will never be forgotten and will be eternally reprinted.

But this Mothering Sunday evening is not a time for the childhood pleasures of 'The Railway Children'…

Edith Nesbit was equally renowned in her day as the author of ghost stories and tales of the supernatural. With an overwhelming fear of the dark and the beyond, Nesbit poured that out into her hugely successful stories of the dead. Join Norton’s Narrator, Gav Cross for another evening of frightening tales told in the tradition of the Victorian Readings. Lose yourself to the joy of being read to once again in the atmospheric Norton Priory.

Enjoy a Mothering Sunday evening like no other in this historic place.

Surrounded by 900 years of history, it's a beguiling offer. Don’t wander too far though. The Phantoms will be watching you…

Audience Feedback for Norton’s Narrator:
“Gav is a remarkable storyteller in a brilliant setting”
“Entertained with live story-telling, delivered by an expressive storyteller.”
“Unique and atmospheric, entertaining and memorable.”

Feedback for Gav Cross:
“Like Jackanory for Grown Ups."
“A masterclass in storytelling!” NorthWestEnd.com
“It’s quite astounding how entertaining, funny and enthralling Gav Cross is.” Pound Arts, Wiltshire

A Book Club you don’t have to do the reading for.

We will read something unsettling to you.

Perfect for enjoyers of eerie tales, and those curious to know more about the stories that make their skin crawl... 

Join Norton’s Narrator Gav Cross and author John Reppion as they delve into the stories behind some of your favourite spine-tingling tales. Whether you’re a seasoned ghost story expert or a newcomer to the realm of creepy fiction, Haunted Book Club welcomes all new members with open (and possibly skeletal) arms.

Joining the Phantoms at Norton Priory we will be bringing 'The Curfew' by Lucy M. Boston. This haunted story of open graves and lost bell towers, is widely considered to be inspired by Norton Priory.  Lucy M. Boston, perhaps best known for her 'Green Knowe' series of children's books, lived on the estate before the final demolition of the house. Whatever you do. Don’t ring the bell on the way out…

Join in the conversation or sit quietly in the dark. Whatever you choose. Keep glancing over your shoulder…

Recommended for ages 12+, the performance will last 2 hours, including an interval.  Refreshments will be served by the Brooke Cafe.

You are invited to the Annual Collective Agatha Christie Awards Ceremony. This year's meeting is much more serious, for the chairwoman, the great Russian Agatha Christie fan, Ivona Mantakizanhug, was murdered last week. Now the coveted super sleuth prize is on offer to whoever can solve this all too real and particularly gruesome crime! 

Join the fun and meet France's foremost amateur detective, 'Hercule Parrot', and his arch English rival, 'Ms Jane Marbles'. 

Also here tonight are the newly appointed chairman, the renowned German detective, Clau Trapp and the brilliant American detective, Charlotte Angel. 

Come and join the party and discover that... being an Agatha Christie fan can be MURDER! 

Your evening will start with a glass of prosecco on arrival in the Wine Cellar, followed by a 3 course dinner with tea and coffee in the Medieval Undercroft. With fantastic entertainment from Absolute Murder, will you be a super sleuth or a defective detective? 

MENU
Starter
Leek, Spring Onion and New Potato Veloute 

Main Course
Sticky Beef 
24hr Braised Daube of Beef, Champ Potato, Seasonal Vegetables and a Rich Rioja and Redcurrant Jus 

Dessert 
Grown Up Brownie 
Belgian Chocolate Brownie and Baileys Chocolate sauce served with smooth Vanilla Ice Cream 

Any Dietary requirements will be catered for 

For more information contact alison@olivetreecatering.co.uk 01928 599992 

Plant Hunters' Fairs returns to Norton Priory on Sunday 31st May!

There will be a tremendous range of plants available for sale from a host of favourite specialist plant growers.

The fair is held next to the 2.5 acre Georgian Walled Garden, with entry to the fair priced at £1 per person. For an additional £5, visitors can wander through the Walled Garden itself, whilst Early Bird advance tickets for the whole site are priced at £9.00 per adult. Up to three children are permitted access to the whole site per paying adult.

This special price of £9 will not be available on the day. There is free car parking on-site and the Brooke Cafe will be providing refreshments throughout the day. Please note for this event the Fair and the Walled Garden are open from 10am - 4pm, and the museum and woodlands are open from 10am - 5pm.

Award-winning Immersion Theatre Company proudly presents an unforgettable adaptation of William Shakespeare’s iconic, 'Romeo & Juliet'.

This powerful story of forbidden love and bitter rivalry is brought to life in a visual spectacle infused with comedy, heart-break, and danger. Moving, funny, and tragic in equal measure, this beautiful production will see Immersion continue to build on their reputation for producing Shakespeare for all, be it the seasoned theatre-goer or budding literary enthusiast.

This is Shakespeare as it’s meant to be: interactive, fun, and highly accessible!

Recommended age: 10+ Approximate run time: Act 1 – 50 minutes / Interval / Act 2 – 40 minutes

This is an outdoor theatre performance. Please dress accordingly for the weather. In extreme weather, the performance will be moved inside.

This is a Culture 26 event, celebrating Halton's year of culture.

Immersion Theatre are thrilled to bring their trademark energy to their wildly entertaining musical adaptation of the Rudyard Kipling family favourite, THE JUNGLE BOOK!

Filled with original music, audience interaction, and a host of larger-than-life characters, you are invited to join Mowgli and his friends, Baloo the bear and Bagheera the panther, on a madcap jungle adventure as they meet and attempt to outwit a slithering snake, some cheeky monkeys, and the fierce tiger, Shere Khan!

Funny, exciting and wildly entertaining, this AOOO-some musical will have you howling with laughter: It’s the perfect treat for the whole family!

Recommended age: 4+ Approximate run time: Act 1 – 45 minutes / Interval / Act 2 – 40 minutes
This is an outdoor theatre performance. Please dress accordingly for the weather. In extreme weather, the performance will be moved inside.

Part of Culture 26, celebrating Halton's year of culture.