With Halloween around the corner, we’re super excited to announce our brand-new FREE event for October half-term, The Witches of Chelmsford
We’ve teamed up with the amazing Chelmsford For You to bring you a weeklong discovery of Chelmsford’s dark and spellbinding Witch history in a family friendly way.
Bring your little witches and wizards and follow our trail across the city centre, discovering why well-known objects like cauldrons, broomsticks, and black cats became familiar symbols of witchcraft. Track down the items, learn the facts and uncover the magic spell word. Alongside the trail, there’ll be a programme of magical, hands-on activities to both entertain and educate!
Pop-Up Museum
Monday 27th October to Sunday 2nd November, 10am to 4pm @ Shire Hall
Our pop-up museum will be in the lobby of the Shire Hall in Chelmsford during October half term!
Come and learn about life during the witch trials, why Essex was known as ‘Witch County’, and the difference between the Cunning Folk and witches!
We’ll be on hand to answer all your questions about witches, from stereotypes to modern witchcraft.
Witches Brew Beer Tasting
Tuesday 28th October, 7pm @ Radio City Social
Be among the very first to taste Witches Brew, a brand-new craft beer created by Radio City Beer Works exclusively for The Essex Witch Museum.
This special tasting event will also feature two additional locally brewed beers, offering you the chance to explore a small but exciting range of beer styles being crafted right here in Chelmsford.
🔞 18+ only
🎟️ Booking Required – Get your FREE tickets now!
The Original Essex Girls: Recalling the Witch Trials in Chelmsford
Wednesday 29th October, 7pm @ Patch Chelmsford
Join Patch’s wonderful panel to discuss the history of the Witch Trials in Chelmsford and how they connect to the present day.
The discussion will be chaired by Natalie from Blatella films and our guest speakers are: Syd Moore (Novelist and founder of Essex Girl’s Liberation Front), Emma (Essex Witch Museum), Lora Aziz (Artist, storyteller and herbalist) and Elly Prizeman (Chelmsford Witches Walks).
The conversation will be woven around themes including:
- Historical background and facts – What actually happened here?
- Why were people labelled and tried?
- Women’s knowledge and craft – How has it been marginalised here and elsewhere?
- Connects to present day issues/witch hunts – What are the parallels?
- How can we learn from these events and share these stories? As a community, and with an Essex Girl perspective
🎟️ Booking Required – SOLD OUT!
Gossip: Film Screening and Q&A Session
Thursday 30th October, 6.15pm or 9pm @ Voodoo Keller Bar
Step down into the historic cells of Chelmsford Prison, now transformed into the atmospheric Voodoo Keller Bar, for an intimate screening of Gossip, a short film exploring community, power, and resistance in the 16th century.
This short tale reimagines the untold stories of so-called witches—not as villains, but as midwives, healers, and women with knowledge and power.
Produced by Hannah Renton, an East London writer/director and graduate of the National Film and Television School’s MA in Directing Fiction, Gossip reflects her interest in tender, subversive storytelling that explores care, intimacy, and resilience.
- 17-minute film screening
- 30-minute Q&A session with the filmmaker
🔞 18+ only
🎟️ Booking Required – SOLD OUT!