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LATE AT THE SOCIETY

Phantasmagoria

Join us for a night of ghouls and ghosts at the Society for a programme of show & tell sessions, tours, workshops, and performances exploring our collections of witchcraft and sorcery.

Collections to be shown in the Library include 16^th-century creepy broadsides, a book of spells attributed to King Solomon, books on occult philosophy mentioned in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, a Physician’s notebook on how to examine a Witch and counter arguments proving compacts and contracts of witches with devils are imaginary. Artist and Assistant Librarian Frank Waterton will bring our collections to life by creating a Phantasmagoria, using illustrations from our early printed material and there will be a screening of scenes from Benjamin Christensen 1922 movie Häxan: witchcraft through the ages.

Author and Professional Storyteller Wendy Shearer will share Caribbean folklore and stories about the enchantress La Diablesse, whose name means ‘female devil’. In this talk, you will find out how some witches do not always wait for darkness to use their sinister powers, some appear right beside us during the day. La Diablesse can easily be mistaken for a beguiling woman dressed in clothing familiar with the French Antilles. But her true nature is hidden beneath her long skirts and behind the patois rhythm of her duplicitous spells.

You will have the opportunity to make personalised Witch Mark badges with Artist and Finance Officer Esther Heyhoe, using the 17^th century magic symbols carved into the walls of Kelmscott Manor.  You can purchase Halloween themed cocktails throughout the evening.

Each activity will last approximately 20-minutes and all together will run for 1 hour.  The programme of activities will be repeated on the hour throughout the evening to give people plenty of time to experience what is happening at the Geological Society and Linnean Society.

Please note:

• Tours will start on the hour, each hour. Places are limited to 20 and these will be allocated on a first come, first served basis, regardless of if you’ve registered to come.
• This event is not suitable for children.

For those with accessibility needs, the activities in our Library can be reached via our lift, which can fit one standard wheelchair inside it, without a carer.

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