Events

Discover Sundays

Our 'Discover Sundays' programme brings extra value to visits to Norton Priory Museum and Gardens on Sundays.  Activity will be included in the ticket price on Sundays in 2024 from the end of February until the end of October, and on selected Sundays during the autumn and winter. 

The activities will vary from week to week, and will include drama performances, workshops, craft sessions for children, tours, music performances and many more. 'Discover Sundays' have been made possible thanks to Arts Council England as part of Norton Priory joining the National Portfolio.

If you want to make the most of your day out at Norton Priory Museum and Gardens, this is a great way to make for a truly special and memorable day.   Don't forget, our best ticket prices are online (sales end at 11:59pm the day before) and can be found by following the 'Buy Advance Tickets' link which you'll find at the top of most of the pages on this website.

For really great value, why not consider an annual membership?  Adult memberships are £35 per person, Joint memberships (for 2 adults) are £60.  Up to three children are admitted free of charge on any adult membership.  Ask at reception for more information or check out the 'Membership' page on this website.  Members also receive a 10% discount in the museum shop and money off in the Brooke Cafe.

Coming up in October 2024:

• 6th October: Community Apple Juicing Day
• 13th October: Quince and Apple Weekend Sunday
• 20th October: Walk and Talk by Paul Quigley : The Battle of the Bridgewater Canal
• 27th October: Halloween craft activities

Join Mima Cornish from HedgeRose Healing for meditation in the beautiful surroundings of Norton Priory Museum and Gardens in Runcorn on select Saturday and Sunday mornings.

The sessions vary each week and take the opportunity to access the many different places and atmospheres at Norton Priory, both inside and out, to truly enjoy the present moment. All meditations will be guided, and any mindful activities will be gentle and relaxing, promoting a natural sense of peace. Suitable for all levels from beginners to experienced. Please bring a blanket.

Current Dates for Autumn 2024: 

• Sunday 29th September
• Saturday 5th October
• Sunday 20th October
• Sunday 3rd November
• Sunday 17th November

During Autumn 2024, Norton Priory is pleased to be partnering Halton Family Hubs for 'Holding Time' at the Georgian Walled Garden.

Holding Time is a socially engaged feminist art project, aiming to create a portrait of breastfeeding across different areas in the UK by photographic artist Lisa Creagh in collaboration with a team of creatives and local mothers who generously shared their breastfeeding experiences in video interviews, live events and a photo shoot.

Across audio, video, animation and stills, they discuss breastfeeding in all its complexity, sharing their views on the many barriers that still mean women who want to breastfeed often stop before they are ready.

For the Halton Family Hubs exhibition, breastfeeding portraits are displayed at Family Hubs across Runcorn and Widnes and as an Audio Tour in the walled garden here at Norton Priory.

This Audio Tour displays podcast interviews with mothers from the project where mothers discuss the personal challenges and triumphs of their breastfeeding journeys.

As part of the exhibition, Halton mothers participated in six weeks of creative writing workshops with writer Rachel New at Halton Lea library in spring of 2024.

You can use the QR codes on the exhibits to listen to their moving performances of poetry and prose, sharing their personal breastfeeding experiences. 

You can find out more about the whole project at www.haltonfamilyhubs.co.uk

You can also listen to a podcast about the workshops here: https://youtu.be/S7a6C82ptNY

This Halton Family Hubs exhibition is the latest development of the Cheshire and Merseyside project, an NHS commissioned initiative funded by Improving Me, the Women's Health and Maternity Programme (WHaM) and Arts Council Lottery Funds. This project was shortlisted by the Royal College of Midwives ‘Excellence in Public Health’ award in 2023.

info@holdingtime.org 

https://linktr.ee/holdingtimeproject 

The exhibition will run until the Walled Garden closes at the end of October 2024.  

It’s 1889, and American journalist Nellie Bly thinks she can travel the world in less time than Jules Verne’s famous novel ‘Around the World in 80 Days’. There’s only one problem – she’s a woman. While writing the notes of her adventures, Nellie gives us an insight into her journey, the people she meets, and her determination to prove that if a man can do it, so can she.  Based on the real journals of this remarkable woman, Around the World in 72 Days promises to tell Nellie’s story, in her own words, with her memory of others filling the gaps.

Originally written as a 20-minute devised piece based around Nellie Bly’s book and journals, ‘Around the World In 72 Days’ was first performed at Guildford School of Acting in December 2021, and was shortlisted and performed in May 2022 in St Luke’s Bombed Out Church as part of the Little Liverpool Theatre Festival and was written and performed by Rebekah McLoughlin.

The performance takes place with the stunning Victorian Porch in the Atrium as its backdrop. The performance starts at 7:00pm, doors open at 6:00pm to allow patrons to explore the Museum in private before taking their unreserved seating.

Tickets available from the Art Tickets Website.

Tickets are £10 for Adults, £8 for Children (under 12), with a special price of £7 per person for members of Norton Priory Museum and Gardens. Family Tickets (2 Adults + 2 Children OR 1 Adult + 3 Children) £26. Tickets price includes a £2 Museum Levy which goes towards the upkeep and development of Norton Priory Museum & Gardens.

Running time: Approximately 45 minutes.

Car parking is free and non-alcoholic refreshments will be available to purchase on the evening. The Artistic Directors of A Place for Us Theatre are proud to be hosting this amazing production with Norton Priory Museum & Gardens.

Join Ranger Paul Quigley as he takes us on a walk and talk, tracing the story of the development of the Bridgewater Canal on Norton Priory grounds.  The talk will highlight the story of the battle between the Duke of Bridgewater, and head of Norton Priory's estate Sir Richard Brooke, during the 18th century, when the mansion grounds and lands were being redeveloped.   

This activity is drop in and is included in general admission for the museum and gardens.  Children go free!  Up to three children are included free with any paying adult.  Tickets for admission can be booked online in advance at Art Tickets.  

A Perfect Halloween Event For Adults

After Supper Ghost Stories
Written by Jerome K. Jerome. Read & performed by Gav Cross

The tradition of gathering together to tell ghost stories in the cold and dark of winter surely stretches back to when we first imagined what lurks in the dark corners of the firelight?

The Victorians, however, turned this parlour and party entertainment into an institution and expectation.

First published in 1891, Jerome K Jerome, famed author of Three Men in a Boat, perfectly parodies this spooky and popular amusement with these comic horror stories.

A portmanteau of ghostly tales, told by an unreliable narrator and tied together with nonsense, noise and whiskey-punch...

A Frosty Chiller or a Winter Warmer? Storyteller Gav Cross brings this robust reading of a Victorian gem to life, with an attention-grabbing vibrancy.

The performance takes place with the atmospheric Victorian Porch in the museum's Atrium as its backdrop. The performance starts at 7:00pm, doors open at 6:00pm to allow patrons to explore the Museum in private before taking their unreserved seating.

Suitable for ages 14+

Tickets available from Art Tickets Website

Tickets are £14 for Adults, £10 per person for members of Norton Priory Museum and Gardens. Ticket price includes a £2 Museum Levy which goes towards the upkeep and development of Norton Priory Museum & Gardens (not applicable to members).

Running time: Approximately 1 hour 45 Minutes including interval.

Car parking is free and non-alcoholic refreshments will be available to purchase on the evening. The Artistic Directors of A Place for Us Theatre are proud to be hosting this amazing production with Norton Priory Museum & Gardens.

About After Supper Ghost Stories:

"Gav's After Supper Ghost Stories was a masterclass in storytelling and audience control cleverly masquerading as total drunken nonsense. By the end of the night, even the most restless meme-spewing teen in attendance sat totally captivated by his raucous and suspenseful retelling of these classic tales. We can't wait to welcome him back to The Pound!" Pound Arts

Audience Feedback:

“Excellent story told in a spellbinding way.” “Very charming and genuinely fun!” “Interesting, entertaining, funny, whimsical & mesmerising!”

Developed in Partnership with Spot On Lancashire

About Gav Cross:

"Gav is an exceptional storyteller.” Storyhouse, Chester

"Professional storyteller and comedy performer Gav Cross held the audience in the palm of his hands.” Highlights Rural Touring Scheme

"It's quite astounding how entertaining, funny and enthralling Gav Cross is.” Pound Arts

Come and join in with creative spooky halloween crafts this Discover Sunday, as we look forward to Halloween at Norton Priory.  All activities are drop in and self led.  All are included with general admission.  

In the town of ‘Ghoooul’ (not to be confused with ‘Goole’ in Yorkshire), Dr Frankenheinz is rustling up something special for the annual Halloween cooking competition… the HALLOWBEAN!! The Dr hopes his tomatoey terror will dazzle ‘SCARY’ Berry - the most frightful food critic of them all. The only problem is his eeny beany isn’t very scary. In fact, she’s downright lovable! Uh oh. Will Halloween have to be cancelled? Or can the Hallowbean find her scare in time?

 'Fladam are the most amazing, hilarious musical comedy duo' (BBC Radio).

Coming this October, HALLOWBEAN is the brand new musical comedy from Fladam Theatre and Ben Tansey, best known for their BBC Popcorn New Writing Award nominated show ‘Green Fingers’. Following sell out performances in London, Edinburgh and at Glastonbury Festival, the gang are back with more puns, puppetry and spooktastic, singalong, silliness for all the family! (Recommended age: 3 to 11)

Tickets are £10 for Adult with a special price of £8 for members; £7 for Children (under 12); Family Tickets (2 Adults + 2 Children OR 1 Adult + 3 Children) £29

Tickets available from the Art Tickets Website

Running time: Approximately 55 minutes with no interval.

Car parking is free and non-alcoholic refreshments will be available to purchase from the cafe. The Artistic Directors of A Place for Us Theatre are proud to be hosting this amazing production with Norton Priory Museum & Gardens.

The performance takes place inside with the stunning and atmospheric medievil Undercroft as the backdrop. The performances start at 11:00am & 1:30pm, doors open 15 minutes before the performance to allow patrons to take their unreserved seating.

Join us for a spooky and fun-filled afternoon on the 28th and 29th October at the museum as we celebrate Halloween with a variety of creative crafts! Kids and families are invited to make their own lollipop stick ghost puppets, glow-in-the-dark hanging bats, witch hat bookmarks, and pumpkin lanterns. Let your imagination run wild as you craft these fantastical decorations to take home and enjoy. Costumes are encouraged!

There are some spooky goings on at the Brooke Family mansion this Halloween – come and help members of the household to investigate…

Set within the hauntingly beautiful grounds, this family-friendly event invites visitors of all ages to enjoy Halloween fun in an historic setting. Venture into the eerie woodlands, encounter ghostly figures, and hear tales of the supernatural as you explore in Norton Priory's atmospheric surroundings.

With a mix of spooky storytelling, thrilling activities, and ghoulish games, "A Brooke Family Halloween" promises a memorable and eerie evening. This is a timed event, and includes a storywalk, creative kitchen experiments, animal encounters with Naomi of Animal Teach, and Victorian parlour games.

Suitable for ages 5+, tickets must be pre-booked.

Working with artist Juliet the workshop will use a natural loom base of a twig or small branch to create a unique woven piece of woven artwork working with a variety of wools and fancy yarns and simple weaving techniques. 

No experience required. All materials provided. 

Juliet is a freelance artist educator who delivers formal and informal educational art workshops across the North West. Her work is inspired by the natural environment and the exploration of landscapes, and she uses mixed media including mark making, gestural drawing and textiles. She has previously led workshops at Norton Priory on botanical art and felt making.

Come and join us to celebrate the Hindu festival of light this year, with a family friendly celebration including Indian food and decorative crafts.  Make and decorate your own Diya from clay, find out about the story of Diwali through our museum trail, and join in with making our collective Rangoli throughout the afternoon.  There will also be delicious Indian food for all to enjoy - including traditional vegetarian curry, with rice and condiments. 

This event is part of Discover Sundays, and will be included in general admission ticket prices.  There will be a small extra charge per person for the Indian meal at £4 per person.  Please purchase you Indian meal tickets in advance.

Visit Norton Priory this festive period for some seasonal magic. We have a range of special events, including concerts, theatre, the Norton Priory Christmas Fair, and a very special visitor... 

There's plenty to enjoy with general admission as well! Visitors can head outside for a glorious wintry walk in the woodland, take part in the Christmas Mouse Trail and browse festive gifts in the shop, with the backdrop of the Norton Priory christmas tree and the medieval undercroft beautifully dressed for the season!

Please note, we will be closed from 16th December - 1st January for the holiday period.

Events

• Christmas Fair - Sunday 24th November, 11am-4pm
• Christmas Wreath Making Workshop - Saturday 30th November, 10am-1pm
• Father Christmas: Storytelling Show - Friday 6th December, 3pm, 5pm and 7pm
• 'The Snowman' Narrated by Father Christmas with Music from The Liverpool String Quartet - Friday 13th December, 6.30pm and 8.30pm
• Runcorn Community Choir Christmas Concert - Saturday 14th December, 6pm
• The Band and Drums of the Cheshire Constabulary - Sunday 15th December, 7pm
• A Christmas Carol (A Place for Us Theatre) - Wednesday 18th-Friday 20th December, 6pm and 7.45pm
• Winter Solstice - Saturday 21st December, 6pm

* Up to three children age 0-16 can visit for free per full-paying adult ticket for general admission. Additional children will need to purchase a ticket. Does not apply to event prices.

Norton Priory heralds in the festive season with the annual Christmas Fair. Come and stock up on early presents at the many local stalls selling Christmas gifts, food, crafts and more.

Enjoy musical entertainment and festive food and drink while you browse and soak up the seasonal atmosphere.

Tickets for this event include general admission, are only £5.00 for the day and can be purchased online in advance on Art Tickets.  Children go free! Up to three children are permitted free entry with any full paying adult.  

Join Andrea from Lavender View Farm for a very special Christmas wreath making workshop at Norton Priory.

In this hands-on workshop, you will be guided every step of the way to make a beautiful seasonal wreath for your door, wall or table. All materials, including fresh foliage, will be provided and the workshop includes a hot drink and mince pie. All you need to bring is creativity and a festive spirit!

He may be very busy...
Checking lists...preparing gifts...checking lists again...feeding up the reindeer...polishing his boots!

But he is never too busy to visit and pop up with his favourite Elves at Norton Priory...

In Person!

With a sack full of silly stories and a chance to check which list you could be on, Father Christmas welcomes you to a Winter Warmer of family friendly giggles, noise and nonsense!

A 60 minute show that includes a chance for every family to meet, greet and chat with Father Christmas, with the help of our Elf!

Audience Quotes:
'Entertaining for children and grown ups alike'

'My face hurt from laughing'

'Thankyou so much for this priceless Christmas memory'

'Absolutely brilliant, fun for children and adults. It was just magical.'

Date: Friday 6th Dec
Show Times; 3pm, 5pm & 7pm

Join us for a heart warming evening as the Liverpool String Quartet brings Howard Blake's enchanting score to life. Narrated by the jolly Father Christmas himself, experience the magic of The Snowman like never before. Let the beautiful melodies transport you to a winter wonderland filled with wonder and joy.

Join the Liverpool String Quartet for a magical performance of Howard Blake’s beloved “The Snowman” at Norton Priory in Runcorn. This enchanting arrangement, crafted especially for the LSQ, promises to bring the magical story of The Snowman to life with this unique event.

This festive experience is perfect for families and music lovers alike, blending captivating storytelling with classical charm set against the backdrop of the Christmas tree and decorations in the stunning Atrium of Norton Priory. Don’t miss this opportunity to create lasting holiday memories with Father Christmas & the Liverpool String Quartet and the enchanting world of The Snowman.

The performances start at 5pm, 6:30pm & 8pm

doors open 15 minutes prior to the performances to allow patrons to take their unreserved seating.

Tickets are £20 for Premium Seating (front 3 rows) and £15 for Standard Unreserved Seating (rows 4 onwards) with a £2 reduction for members of Norton Priory Museum & Gardens

Running time: Approximately 45 minutes. Please note that this is not a screening of the Raymond Briggs animated film.

Car parking is free and non-alcoholic refreshments will be available to purchase on the evening. The Artistic Directors of A Place for Us Theatre are proud to be hosting this amazing production with Norton Priory Museum & Gardens.

An annual Norton Priory favourite, this very special carol concert celebrates the season through a range of well-known Christmas carols and festive favourites.

A glass of mulled wine or orange juice is included at the event.

Tickets can be purchased online via Art Tickets and are priced at £8 for Adults, £7 for children and £7 for members.

Join us for a delightful evening as we welcome the Band and Drums of the Cheshire Constabulary back for a special Christmas concert filled with festive cheer. This talented brass band will be performing a lively selection of holiday music that’s sure to get everyone into the Christmas spirit.

Festive refreshments will be served during interval (included in ticket price). Performance at 7pm, doors open from 6.30pm.

'A Christmas Carol'.
Set against the stunning backdrop of the Victorian porch inside the atrium, this immersive production brings Dickens' iconic tale to life in a uniquely atmospheric setting.

Join us for an unforgettable family theatrical experience as Scrooge, the spirits, and the heartwarming characters of Victorian London come alive in this enchanting version of the classic story. This is a perfect way to embrace the festive spirit with a blend of history, drama and Christmas cheer.
Limited tickets available now.

Suitable for ages 7+

Tickets are £12 for Adults, £10 per person for members of Norton Priory Museum and Gardens, £8 for Children (age 7-12), £35 for a Family. 

Running time: Approximately 1 hour with no intervall.

Car parking is free and non-alcoholic refreshments will be available to purchase on the evening. The Artistic Directors of A Place for Us Theatre are proud to produce this amazing production with Norton Priory Museum & Gardens.

The performance takes place with the stunning Victorian Porch in the Atrium as its backdrop. The performances start at 6:00pm & 7:45pm, doors open 15 minutes before the perfomance to allow patrons to take their unreserved seating.

Learn the basics of pruning your fruit trees then get some practical experience using the Norton Priory Museum & Gardens orchards, with guidance and advice from an expert tutor from Heathfield Orchards.

Join us as we come together as the Sun wanes, to give gratitude to the year past and enjoy the energy of celebration as we dance the new Solar year into being. Led by Mima Cornish of HedgeRose Healing and Cindy and Adrian of Myrriad Dance, this event includes circle dancing and time for thoughtful reflection.

Tickets for this special event are £20.00 per adult, and £18.00 for members.  Refreshments will be provided. 

Luke Jerram’s mesmerising installation Mars is coming to Norton Priory Museum and Gardens in Runcorn, Cheshire for 6 weeks from 28th January 2025 to 9th March 2025.

Following the incredible success of ‘Museum of the Moon’ in October 2021 and ‘Gaia’ in January 2024, Mars will complete the trilogy of Luke Jerram’s out-of-this world installations in Norton Priory’s impressive atrium.  Visitors will be able to view the installation from a variety of different angles, including from the mezzanine level, makes for a more intimate and personal viewing experience. 

Mars is a touring artwork by UK artist Luke Jerram, measuring 6 metres in diameter and featuring detailed NASA imagery of the Martian surface.

During the 6-week installation, opening times will allow after dark viewings of the artwork at the museum.  The museum will be open between noon and 7:00pm for the duration of Mars’ time at Norton Priory. 

During the February 2025 half term, opening times will be expanded to cover 10:00am – 7:00pm.  To book these tickets, please visit the Art Tickets website.

A carefully curated events programme will accompany Mars, including concerts, readings, storytelling, talks, meditation and mindful sessions, and a special Martian theme for February half-term activities.  

It's a perfect opportunity to step outside the everyday and experience the red planet in a truly unique setting.  Explore the magic of Mars at the museum, with free child entry for standard museum visits (charges for children will apply for special events).

Image: Mars photo by Luke Jerram

Luke Jerram’s mesmerising installation Mars is coming to Norton Priory Museum and Gardens in Runcorn, Cheshire for 6 weeks from 28th January 2025 to 9th March 2025.

Following the incredible success of ‘Museum of the Moon’ in October 2021 and ‘Gaia’ in January 2024, Mars will complete the trilogy of Luke Jerram’s out-of-this world installations in Norton Priory’s impressive atrium.  Mars is a touring artwork by UK artist Luke Jerram, measuring 6 metres in diameter and featuring detailed NASA imagery of the Martian surface.

During the 6-week installation, opening times will allow after dark viewings of the artwork at the museum.  These special ‘Night at the Museum’ tickets, allow visits between 5:00pm and 7:00pm on selected evenings.

A carefully curated events programme will accompany Mars, including concerts, readings, storytelling, talks, meditation and mindful sessions, and a special Martian theme for February half-term activities.

It's a perfect opportunity to step outside the everyday and experience the red planet in a truly unique setting.  Explore the magic of Mars at the museum, with free child entry for standard museum visits (charges for children will apply for special events).

Image: Mars photo by Luke Jerram

Ignacio Lopez: JUAN SOLO’S EXCELLENT ADVENTURE’S IN SPACE!

(Family Friendly sci-fi stand-up show)

Join Live At The Apollo’s Ignacio Lopez (Juan Solo) on a daring journey through the galaxy, in his rust bucket of a ship, the Millennial Falcon!

Juan's tasked with transporting 100 humans to the Galactic Holiday Empire’s latest resort! The empire has been very clear that No Children Are Allowed. Children discovered onboard will be vaporised, and worst of all, Juan won’t get paid!

Every passenger will receive full training, safety protocol, entertainment from our resident comedians and probably won’t be vaporised. Expect sarcasm, stand-up comedy and silliness in this chaotic, interactive adventure show!

★★★★★ “CHARMING, CHARISMATIC, HILARIOUS. WILL HAVE YOU LEAVING WITH A SMILE ON YOUR FACE” - Deadline News

★★★★ “SARCASTIC, WITTY, ANIMATED, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, HILARIOUS” -Entertainment Now

★★★★ “FINELY CRAFTED SILLINESS. HIGHLY RELATABLE. HILARIOUS. GO TO THIS IF YOU WANT TO GIVE YOUR KIDS A PRETTY FIRST RATE INTRODUCTION TO STAND-UP COMEDY” - ThreeWeeks

Suitable for ages 5+

Tickets are £12 for Adults (£10 per person for members of Norton Priory Museum and Gardens.), £10 for Children under 14, £40 for a Family Ticket (2 Adults + 2 Children or 1 Adult + 3 Children)

Running time: Approximately 1 hour with no interval. The performance starts at 3:00pm, doors open at 2:30pm to allow patrons to take their unreserved seating.

Car parking is free and non-alcoholic refreshments will be available to purchase from the onsite café. The Artistic Directors of A Place for Us Theatre are proud to be hosting this amazing production with Norton Priory Museum & Gardens.

The performance takes place as part of the 'Mars' programme of events. Luke Jerram's stunning 6m 'Mars' installation will form the backdrop for this cosmic show.

Spain’s Best Export™ Ignacio Lopez is on a mission to destroy himself, and build a better version; Leaner. Smarter. Funnier. Join the star of Live At The Apollo, Have I Got News For You, Comedy

Central, QI, House of Games, & more, for a riotously funny exploration of vices, intrusive thoughts, and self improvement.

Expect an armada of playful, wicked humour from the exotic outsider comedian, as he tries to identify his faults and how to improve; Is it worth going to the gym? Can you be addicted to technology? Do you know what happens if you give spiders drugs? Ignacio uses his razor-sharp wit, and effortless charm to tackle these questions and a bunch of other irrelevant horsesh*t.

★★★★★ “CHARMING, CHARISMATIC, HILARIOUS. WILL HAVE YOU LEAVING WITH A SMILE ON YOUR FACE” - Deadline News

★★★★½ “A COMEDIC GENIUS AT WORK. IF YOU ENJOY SHARP WIT MIXED WITH A DOSE OF THE RIDICULOUS, ’SEÑOR SELF DESTRUCT’ IS A MUST SEE” - One4Review

★★★★ “SARCASTIC, WITTY, ANIMATED, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, HILARIOUS” -Entertainment Now

★★★★ “AFFABLE, SEAMLESSLY DELIVERED, GREAT GAGS” - Mumble Comedy

★★★★ “UNIQUE & HILARIOUS” - BUZZ Magazine

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Suitable for ages 12+

Tickets are £18 for Adults (£16 per person for members of Norton Priory Museum and Gardens.)

Running time: Approximately 1 hour 40 minutes with a 20 minute interval. The performance starts at 8:00pm, doors open at 7:30pm to allow patrons to take their unreserved seating.

Car parking is free and non-alcoholic refreshments will be available to purchase before the show and during the interval. The Artistic Directors of A Place for Us Theatre are proud to be hosting this amazing production with Norton Priory Museum & Gardens.

The performance takes place as part of the 'Mars' programme of events. Luke Jerram's stunning 6m 'Mars' installation will form the backdrop for this cosmic show.

Hedges can be a haven for wildlife, providing shelter, protection, nesting sites and sources of food. Many popular species of our wildlife love hedges, including hedgehogs, small mammals, bats, small song birds and invertebrates.

We are running a hands-on hedge laying course. Learn this ancient craft by laying the hedge around our pear orchard, providing you with the skills to lay your own hedges.

Life on Mars - In Concert

Blending live performances by established artists and talented performing arts young people from A Place For Us Theatre in a spectacular concert in front of the stunning Mars installation at Norton Priory. Celebrating human creativity, curiosity and the drive to explore the unknown, through music by some of the best known artists and musicians to create an unforgettable tribute to the Red Planet.

Featuring iconic space themed anthems like ‘Rocket Man’ ‘Starlight’ and of course, the epic ‘Life on Mars’ by David Bowie.

The performance takes place as part of the 'Mars' programme of events. Luke Jerram's stunning 6m 'Mars' installation will form the backdrop for this cosmic show.

Tickets are £20 for Adults (£18 per person for members of Norton Priory Museum and Gardens.), £16 for Children under 16, £65 for a Family Ticket (2 Adults + 2 Children or 1 Adult + 3 Children)

Running time: Approximately 1 hour 50 minutes with a 20 minute interval. The performance starts at 7:30pm, doors open at 7:00pm to allow patrons to take their unreserved seating.

Car parking is free and non-alcoholic refreshments will be available to purchase before the performance and during the interval. The Artistic Directors of A Place for Us Theatre are proud to be hosting this amazing production with Norton Priory Museum & Gardens.

A hands-on workshop to learn about grafting fruit trees from our expert. Graft a couple of small apple trees to take home using Norton Priory's heritage apple varieties.

This Gong Bath is designed to send you into a deeply relaxed state, where our dominant brain waves change to the slower frequencies of Alpha or Theta, which can induce an altered state of consciousness. You may find that you have a visual, physical or emotional journey during the sound bath and this is completely normal, as the lower brain frequencies create a dream like state. We regularly fluctuate between different brain frequencies throughout the day, which is important for our health and wellbeing, so this is a very normal but slightly more prolonged version of our relaxation mode.

You will need to bring a mat to lie on (chairs can be provided if lying down isn’t possible for you), a warm blanket and a pillow. Please wear loose comfortable clothing and bring a bottle of water with you.

The gong bath is not suitable for the following:

• Women in first trimester of pregnancy
• Anyone with a severe mental health diagnosis, such as Schizophrenia, Dis-associative disorder, psychosis etc
• Children under the age of 14 (all children over 14 to be accompanied by a responsible adult)
• Anyone who is under the influence of drugs or alcohol

Anna, the founder of Expansionbreathandsound.com is a hugely passionate sound therapist, professional musician and Transformational Breath® facilitator. Through her work as a classical musician and breathwork facilitator, where music is a crucial part of the journey, Anna has always been struck by the way people react to different styles and sounds of music, and has always used music herself to soothe, to galvanise, and to release emotions, which lead her down the path of becoming a sound Therapist. She realised there was so much more to creating a seemingly simple sound bath, so wanted to train in a modality that was based on scientific research and chose to train with BAST. This modality uses research and information gathered over many years to create specific states in the body by playing certain instruments in specific ways. Being a musician (a percussionist at that), has enabled Anna to use her knowledge of playing different instruments to generate seamless sessions and is able to play to the individual acoustics of each venue, to maximise the effects on participants. Anna is often found delving into research on how sound affects our bodies, from a simple hum to a glorious gong bath and has even ‘hypnotised’ her dog while practising at home.

Tickets are £20 for Adults (£18 per person for members of Norton Priory Museum and Gardens.),

Running time: Approximately 1 hour with no interval. The Gong Bath starts at 7:30pm, doors open at 7pm to allow patrons to .get comfortable in the space before the session starts.

The Artistic Directors of A Place for Us Theatre are proud to be hosting this amazing production with Norton Priory Museum & Gardens.

The performance takes place as part of the 'Mars' programme of events. Luke Jerram's stunning 6m 'Mars' installation will form the backdrop for this cosmic show.