Poisons: the perfect remedy or a recipe for disaster?

This October half-term, we’re brewing up a wickedly fun programme all about the perils – and the perks – of poisons!

In Victorian Leeds, poison was commonplace – Arsenic was found in beer, Strychnine treated funny tummies and Cyanide was in the wallpaper!

Today, there are more than 100 toxic plants growing in the UK alone. So, which fatal flora could be lurking in your garden?

Whether its pop-up history shows, pottery-making or amulet-crafting, we’ve got a perfectly poisonous prescription for all the family.

Thackray History LIVE: Poison and Peril 
Sunday – Sunday, Regular performances 11am to 2.30pm. Pre booking essential, see Tickets below.

For Thackray Boffins’ latest history show, our Victorian Disease Street will become the stomping ground of 19th-century toxicologist Thomas Scattergood – a curious character with a keen eye (and nose) for sniffing out poisonous plots in Leeds.

But who was this crime-stopping chemist? Join us for pop-up storytelling sessions as we reveal the true tales of how Scattergood solved puzzling poisonings.

Fatal Flora – Craft Your Own Killer Pot! 
Tuesday, Thursday, Sunday 11.30am and 1.30pm. 

In our Little Apothecary Shop of Horrors, our friends from the Royal Horticultural Society will guide you through the world of poisonous flowers. Fancy creating a cure or your very own tainted bunch?

Once you’ve wised up about these potentially deadly botanicals, Firefly Pottery will help you craft your very own Thackray-inspired jar to store it in. These fun, take-home pots are inspired by real apothecary jars in our collection!

Curious Cures – Craft an Antidote Pendant 
Sunday-Sunday, 10am–4pm

Where there’s a poison, there’s a cure. And if there isn’t one of those; well, things aren’t looking good…

Join our Curious Cures craft station, where you can make your very own poison-busting pendant. Fill your antidote amulet with coloured sands representing different antidotes for deadly plants, and learn how each ingredient fights back against venomous vegetation.

We’ll be announcing more poison-themed treats, so keep your eyes peeled!

Please note these event are only available to those with valid museum entry. When booking please ensure you have a valid annual pass for everyone attending, or choose ‘Museum Entry’ when booking to add a new one.