Annus Horribilis – Ghost Week

It is 1763 and despite finally being able to move into their newly built opulent townhouse, Viscount Fairfax and his daughter Ann’s fortunes are at an all-time low. Ann is sick and melancholic, suffering with wild imaginings and unable to lift the dark clouds which have enveloped her. Friends and strangers desperately try to console her, whilst her cousin, Madame I’Apothecaire, offers a dizzying array of quack concoctions.    

 The Viscount too is bereft, the last decades saw eight of his children and his dearly beloved wife die, leaving him without a male heir to continue to Fairfax line. Money troubles plague him, whilst scrounging relatives apply pressure for financial help of their own. He has had to dismiss his Chaplain, his family’s spiritual guide, for ‘immoral behaviour’ and his one solace, a good glass of Burgandy, has been soured by his most recent delivery of wine being completely unpalatable.    

 To lift their spirits Ann and the Viscount are opening up their townhouse to the good people of York. The Fairfaxes love to entertain their guests and so throughout the house have left a series of challenges and clues, based on their Annus Horribilis for you unpick. You’ll need to have a keen eye and sharp wit to be in with a chance of winning – as the Viscount would say Bon Chance!   

So, join us at Fairfax House this Ghost Week for the chance to win one of the exclusive Ghost Merchant’s Black Box Edition No. 22. The Ghost was gifted to Ann Fairfax in 1763 by the skilled house painter and decorator Samuel Carpenter. Carpenter gave the Ghost to Ann as a token of compassion and to help lift her spirits during a time of particular distress. The Ghost has special poignancy for Ann as it features the exquisite block printed wallpaper, which includes peacocks and peonies, Carpenter used to decorate her new bedroom at Fairfax House.  

 To be in with a chance of winning this beautiful and delicate gesture of goodwill, you will need to step back in time to 1763 and discover Fairfax House’s Annus Horribilis: The Horrible Year. The house is full of clues to scrutinise, challenges to solve and ghosts to count, requiring all your senses! You will have to investigate carefully and guess correctly to be in with a chance of winning.  

Click here to pre-book your tickets.

Early bird special: book in September with promo code ‘1763’ to get 10% off your tickets!

You can visit Fairfax House and be in with the chance to win the ghost from 26th October until 3rd November.

Adults are £9.50, concessions are £8, and kids always go free!

During ghost week we will be open from 10am-5pm every day except Sunday, when we will be open from 11am-4pm. Last admission will be 4:15pm every day except Sunday, when last admission will be 3:15pm.

We are also holding this event on select evenings, by candlelight – click here for more information.

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