Skip to content
Skip to content

Meet the Plague Doctor

Meet the Plague Doctor and discover the gruesome side of life in the 1600s.

  • Booking not needed
  • Free event (admission applies)

Are you brave enough to meet our Plague Doctor and discover more about the gruesome side of life in the 1600s. From blood letting and leeches to herbs and potions there were weird and wonderful cures and treatments for illnesses, injuries, plagues and the Black Death. Find out more with our Plague Doctor and make a scented posy to protect you from the deadly diseases.

Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Linked to An Account of Life: Gawthorpe in the 1600s exhibition

Times

Prices

Event ticket prices

This event is free, but normal admission charges apply for the venue.

Check admission prices

The basics

Suitability

Family friendly event

Accessibility

This event is in Servant's Hall in the basement, down a single staircase from inside the Hall or flat access from outside.

Upcoming events

An Account of Life: Gawthorpe Hall in the 1600s 

An exhibition bringing the household of Gawthorpe Hall in the 1600s to life, through the original account books of the Shuttleworth Family.

Event summary

on
27 Sep to 2 Nov 2025
at
12:00 to 17:00
+ 26 other dates or times

Gawthorpe Textiles Collection exhibition 

A fantastic display of beautiful historic textiles from the collection of Rachel Kay-Shuttleworth, across four rooms of the Hall.

Event summary

on
27 Sep to 2 Nov 2025
at
12:00 to 17:00
+ 26 other dates or times

Fun Palace 

Gawthorpe Hall will be open for FREE to everyone on Sunday 5 October with an afternoon of creative activities in our Fun Palace event.

Event summary

on
5 Oct 2025
at
12:00 to 16:00

Talk on: Witches, Dark Arts and Demonology 

Popular speaker Dr Colin Penny is back with a new talk about why there was a moral panic about witches and what were the horrors of the supernatural in the 1600s?

Event summary

on
8 Oct 2025
at
13:00 to 14:30