Exploring Haddon Hall’s new MAGIC Exhibition

25 Sept

Autumn is the season of the witch, and there’s no finer place to embrace it than Haddon Hall. Nestled in the folds of the Derbyshire landscape, this medieval house is enchanting at any time of year, but never more so than in the mellow light of autumn. It provides the perfect setting for their latest exhibition: MAGIC – Charms, Rituals and Superstition in Elizabethan England.

Last week, Rachel and I had the pleasure of experiencing the MAGIC exhibition before it opened to the public, and if you’ve ever been to Haddon Hall before, you know that feeling of excitement you get the minute you walk through the gates and you see the Hall perched upon the hill. The sense of atmosphere is hard to ignore, and that’s exactly what the exhibition plays on: the everyday magic that once threaded its way through Elizabethan life.

Throughout this exhibition, the building does a lot of the talking. In dimly lit corners, pay attention to the protective marks (often referred to as witchmarks scratched into woodwork - symbols carved by past residents to ward off evil, serving as a stark reminder of how entwined daily life and superstition once were.

Explore the Great Chamber, and you’ll find a Cabinet of Curiosities. Here, projection, lighting and carefully chosen artefacts come together to create a space that feels both scholarly and spellbound. You’ll find charms, protective tokens and the kind of oddities that spark curiosity - most of which discovered within the walls of Haddon Hall - and all presented with just enough theatricality to make you pause and wonder.

MAGIC isn’t about spectacle. It’s thoughtful, atmospheric, and rooted in the everyday world of Elizabethan England. A real example of how magic wasn’t always grand spells or fiery cauldrons, but something more humble: an attempt to make sense of an uncertain world. Walking from room to room, there’s a sense that you’re tracing the same footsteps as the people who once believed in these charms with every fibre of their being, and that feels so incredibly special.

If you’re after a day out that offers history with a dash of wonder, Haddon Hall this autumn is hard to beat. As the leaves turn and evenings draw in, there’s no better time to step into a little enchantment.

Planning Your Visit

Dates: 20th September – 31st October.
Tickets: Included in your admission to the hall and gardens (pre-booking recommended).
Allow time: The exhibition is best enjoyed slowly, with space to notice details - both the displays and the house itself.
Families: Half-term brings extra activities for children, including the Little School of Sorcery.

More details: Haddon Hall - A Haddon Exhibition – MAGIC: Charms, rituals and superstition in Elizabethan England