Stories from the Gibbet

Stories from the Gibbet is an immersive heritage experience that explores the stories, people and places behind Cheshire's historic gibbets.

Combining archaeology, local history, sensory storytelling and creative participation, the event invites visitors to look beyond crime and punishment to discover what these lives can tell us about justice, belonging, community and what it means to be human.

Rather than standing behind display cases, participants are encouraged to become active explorers. Handle replica artefacts, examine archaeological evidence, hear remarkable local stories and take part in hands-on activities that bring the past vividly into the present. Through conversation, curiosity and shared discovery, history becomes something to experience, not simply observe.

Designed to be inclusive and welcoming, Stories from the Gibbet is suitable for adults, families and anyone with an interest in local history, archaeology or storytelling. No previous knowledge is needed—just curiosity.

Created by Kin by Nettie CIC as part of the Festival of Archaeology, this unique event blends robust historical research with creative, embodied public engagement. It offers a fresh approach to heritage that encourages empathy, sparks conversation and helps people build deeper connections with both the past and the communities they live in today.