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Spooky scarecrows taking over Lotherton Hall for Halloween

Lotherton Hall Halloween event

By Jazmine Ella Blackah

VISITORS TO Lotherton Hall in West Yorkshire may be in for a big fright as the country home’s Spooky Scarecrow Trail is back once again – and this year it tells of the building’s frightening history.

Clues are set up around the house and estate in Aberford for visitors to follow and find all of the spooky scarecrows, and even see some skeletons climbing into the house.

The Halloween-themed family event is running over a two week period, until November 5.

Tom Hanger, 58, estate officer at Lotherton Hall, said: “The scarecrows are partly made by some of the house and estate staff.

“For this year there is a new scarecrow in one of the carriage sheds which is actually an Italian coach man.

“Some of the scarecrows are the same as last year but have been revamped.”

Lady Gascoigne trapped in a lift with her dog at Lotherton Hall

Grace Hawkesworth, 17, a catering assistant at the country house, said she remembers coming to this Halloween event when she was a child and the scarecrows have improved a lot over the years.

She added: “The figures are a lot better now than they were when I was young.”

Sas Yates, 45, a visitor assistant at the hall, said: “This year we have a different interpretation downstairs, which is linked to the house.”

She added the staff are trying to tell the history of the country house and the people who lived here.

This year there is a scarecrow of Lady Gascoigne, who lived in the country home with her husband Sir Alvary Gascoigne. The event tells the story of how she got trapped in a lift with her dog.

There is also a scarecrow of the Gascoignes’ butler who is polishing the silver forever.

Gascoignes’ butler polishing the silver forever

Mark Richardson, 37,who is also a visitor assistant at the country house, said the staff are aiming to appeal to families and break the stereotype of a country home being somewhere that would only interest elderly people.

He added: “People think of an old historic house as being somewhere where perhaps the older generation would visit.

“It is bringing younger visitors across to hopefully enjoy the event. A lot of the staff invest a lot of time into the event. I think they enjoy it themselves and that comes across with the activities.”

Tickets are free with normal admission to the house. For more information you can email lotherton.hall@leeds.gov.uk or call 0113 378 2959.

Tractor scarecrow at Lotherton Hall Halloween Scarecrow Trail

 

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