Bakewell Old House Museum dates back to the reign of Henry VIII, when a tax collector's cottage was built at the top of the hill overlooking what was then a small village. Ralph Gell of Hopton, near Wirksworth, had recently took over the collection of tithes (a tenth of all produce that was owed to the Church) and he needed a place for his steward Christopher Plant to live. It was here that people in Bakewell and the nearby villages would bring their taxes to be checked and collected. They would walk into a room known as the Parlour Closet, which was a cloakroom for visitors and tenants to remove their coats and boots before proceeding to pay their rent, taxes and tithes to Christopher Plant.

 

In 1549 the house was enlarged as the tax and tithe collecting business grew with prosperity, and during the reign of Elizabeth I the house was converted into a gentleman's residence. The central room had a large fireplace built for cooking most of the food during the late Tudor and Elizabethan periods, and an internal toilet was fitted in called a Garderobe, a luxury to have in 16th Century England.

 

The year is 1608, and the trend of witchcraft over the past 5 years has run rampant across the country thanks to James I. A new tenant had arrived at a cottage in Bakewell owned by two ladies, and one night he heard noises from downstairs. He saw through a crack in the floorboard the two ladies chanting a witch's charm before they disappeared, to which he repeated. He woke up bare in a cell in London and later told in court that the two ladies were witches. The two ladies were arrested, tried for witchcraft, and hanged in Derby. While the Old House isn't the same witches cottage as in this story, the Old House was around at the time of the Bakewell Witches, and features witch markings dating around this time. Some say on a cold, clear night, the ghosts of the Bakewell Witches come back to haunt the town.

 

In 1777, Sir Richard Arkwright who founded the modern-day factory, purchased the house and divided it into five separate cottages for his workers at the local mills. They provided suffice accommodation and were great for living in at that time and for the next 170 years, but by 1950 the cottages were condemned as uninhabitable and unfit to live in. The Old House scheduled for demolition, but was saved at the last moment by the Bakewell & District Historical Society, who converted the house into a museum to which it remains today.

Bakewell Old House Museum is renowned for its paranormal activity and ghostly encounters, with these walls holding many secrets of centuries gone-by.

 

The ghost of a gentleman has been seen walking around the Old House on several occasions. No one knows who this male spirit is, but he has been seen dressed in mill worker's clothing with his sleeves rolled up, as he walks from room to room and vanishes.

 

During the day when the building is empty of visitors, staff have reported hearing phantom footsteps walking along the floor above. When they run up to see if someone has snuck in, they discover no one is about. The resonating audible of children laughing is also a common phenomena noted in this location.

 

The ghost of a young girl has also been sensed and reported in this house, and again no one knows what her name is or from what time she is from. Does this young girl feel trapped here or does she enjoy entering into our earthly realm to greet visitors?

 

Reports of other paranormal activity include strange tapping sounds, disembodied voices, the smells of cooked food and loud thuds which have all been experienced here.

DATE: Saturday 6th June 2026

 

TIMES: 7:00pm - Midnight (Arrive 15 minutes early. Please wait patiently outside until a member of our team greets you at the door)

 

LOCATION: Bakewell Old House Museum, Cunningham Place, Bakewell, Derbyshire DE45 1DD

 

PARKING AT EVENT: There's a few parking spaces outside the Museum, but local street parking is highly recommended. Please note parking charges may apply.

 

REMAINING BALANCE: Needs to be paid FOUR WEEKS prior to the event date. Failure to pay your remaining balance(s) before this deadline will result in you forfeiting your place(s) and your place(s) will be sold on. Deposits are NON-REFUNDABLE!

 

WHAT TO BRING: A torch, a warm coat/jacket, sensible footwear, any equipment you wish to bring along (your responsibility), your positive and open-minded energies.

 

PLEASE NOTE: Bringing alcohol or illegal drugs to this event is strictly prohibited. If anyone arrives at the event under the influence of alcohol or illegal substances, they will not be allowed to stay for the night and will be asked to leave immediately, NO REFUNDS!