FAQs

Please consult our FAQs before contacting the museum directly. We hope this page will help you to find the answers to your questions quickly and with ease. Should you require further help, please contact us.

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO VISIT?

Whilst everyone is different in terms of how much they want to interact with our exhibits, we usually recommend at least one hour for you to enjoy all areas of the museum. You are welcome to stay for as long as you like, with there being places to sit throughout the museum. If you enjoyed your visit, you might also like to consider becoming an annual member to get exclusive discounts and be able to pop in and explore our ever-evolving collection of strange, spooky, and supernatural artefacts whenever you like!

is THE museum SCARY?

Rowtons’ Museum cares for hundreds of unique paranormal artefacts, including ones with haunted histories. We are also set inside a haunted building with a history of supernatural occurrences. We do not use scare actors, horror sound effects, or theatrical displays, meaning nothing at the museum is intended to make you jump. Most of our guests love the naturally eerie atmosphere of our objects, artefacts, and exhibits. We also care for many positive paranormal and spiritual artefacts, with guests always welcome to sit in the chapel and, if they need, take a timeout from the other areas of the museum. For more on how we keep guests safe, please scroll to ‘Are your artefacts safe to view and interact with?’.

is THE museum educational?

Absolutely! Every item looked after by Rowtons’ Museum has been curated for its paranormal and spiritual significance, whether that be because of its historical, cultural, religious or artistic importance, or its ability to convey the story of belief to our guests. If you attend one of our guided tours, you can expect to be told the history our artefacts by Laura and/or Erik Rowton, in addition to the supernatural history of our special building, Penuel Chapel. We also exhibit supplementary educational material alongside our displays which you are welcome to read at your own pace.

ARE YOUR ARTEFACTS AND EVENTS SUITABLE FOR CHILDREN?

We believe every parent and guardian knows best when it comes to their own child, and so we do not operate an age restriction policy for general admission. There are no ‘jump scares’ or actors in the museum. Likewise, none of our exhibits feature gory images. That said, themes that may be unsuitable for young children (including death, ghosts, hauntings, curses, and true crime) do feature heavily throughout the museum.

For our daytime guided tours, we ask that only children aged over twelve attend. Any guests under the age of eighteen must be accompanied by an adult at all times, and — if not with their legal guardian — must provide written permission from their parent or legal guardian to attend. Accompanying parents and/or guardians must also purchase a ticket to attend.

Our nighttime paranormal investigations are strictly over-18s only.

are there toilets at the museum?

Yes, there are separate male and female toilets available on site for exclusive use by guests to the museum. There is no disabled toilet available at this time.

is the museum wheelchair friendly?

Unfortunately, as our collection is housed within a historic building we are not, by definition, an accessible building. There are narrow areas and stairs throughout which may make the museum unsuitable for wheelchair users and those with mobility issues. Specifically: our Chapel has arrow aisles which may not be suitable for all wheelchairs; there are several steps leaving the Chapel into the Ancestors’ Gallery; and, there are a flight of stairs up to the séance parlour. The short set of steps from the Chapel to the rest of the museum may be avoided by requesting access to the Schoolhouse via a separate external door (for which we have ramps).

ARE DOGS ALLOWED AT THE MUSEUM?

No. Dogs are not allowed inside the museum, except for guide or assistance dogs. Museum staff reserve the right to request documentary evidence of an assistance dog’s training and/or the organisation that trained them, for example to see your dog’s ID book or card, as issued by a training organisation under the membership of Assistance Dogs (UK).

do you have a cafÉ?

No. However, we are only a short walk into the centre of Carmarthen where you will find a variety of cafés and restaurants.

I AM A YOUTUBER / SOCIAL MEDIA INFLUENCER. CAN I FILM AT THE MUSEUM?

Whilst we do not prohibit photography and filming at the museum, please be aware that excessive filming may interrupt the experience of others. In such situations, you may be asked to stop. To ensure the safety and privacy of other guests, we also ask that you do not live-stream your visit or paranormal investigation. If you are a content creator wishing to have exclusive access with unlimited filming and social media sharing, we are happy to welcome you and offer the opportunity to hire the museum privately. Please consult our dedicated page for further information. If you have booked one of our events, you should read our Terms and Conditions prior to attending.

will i meet laura and erik rowton at my tour or event?

Certainly! If you are booking an event directly hosted by the museum, you can expect to meet Laura and Erik. Similarly, if you book private hire, Laura and Erik will be onsite throughout your night should you wish to ask them any questions or need any help with your investigation of the museum’s historic chapel and many artefacts. Please note that Laura and Erik will not be available at any events hosted by third-party operators.

how many people attend your investigations?

Group sizes can vary from one investigation event to another. In all cases, guest experience is our priority, meaning you may, at times, be split into smaller groups and rotated around the museum to investigate. Working in smaller groups gives you the best opportunity to have the best interactions with the museum and our artefacts. We will always do our best to ensure you are kept with the person/people you are visiting with. That said, if your group size is greater than what we are used to, we may split your group into smaller ones in order to provide you with the best experience.

DO YOU EMPLOY ACTORS OR USE SPECIAL EFFECTS?

No. Everything at our museum is 100% real and authentic. We are not a fun fair, theatre or horror show. Whilst we cannot guarantee anomalous experiences when interacting with our building and artefacts, anything that you do experience at Rowtons’ Museum will be genuine.

AM I GUARANTEED TO SEE A GHOST?

No. Due to the unknown and unpredictable nature of the paranormal, we cannot offer an guarantee that you will experience anything paranormal, supernatural, spiritual, or otherwise anomalous if you attend one of our paranormal investigations or other evening events. That said, many of our guests do report incredible happenings. Much like whale-watching, we cannot provide the whales, but we can certainly take you out to sea!

ARE your ARTEFACTS SAFE TO VIEW AND INTERACT WITH?

People have different opinions as to the safety of paranormal objects. In addition to caring for artefacts of pure historical significance, Rowtons’ Museum also provides a home to many objects claimed to be haunted, cursed, or otherwise associated with paranormal activity, including coming from locations connected to well-known paranormal cases. Some of these items have been reported as causing physical, psychological, emotional, and spiritual effects, including feelings of sickness, dizziness, unease, and emotional distress. It is for this reason that the museum has a strict protocol in regards to preparing these objects for public display. Some of the protective measures employed include: placing them behind physical and etheric barriers; grounding them with salt and intention-set crystals; regularly blessing them with prayers and chants (both traditional and our own); anointing their cases with Lourdes’ Holy Water; smoke cleansing with incense, white sage and frankincense; and other measures deemed appropriate through our years’ of experience and consultation with spiritual practitioners. As the museum is located inside a chapel associated with angelic manifestations and miracles, we also invoke the historic energy of the building to safeguard our guests and special objects.

All of this said, whilst we do everything that we can to contain the energies of the paranormally active objects that we care for, due to the unknown nature of the paranormal we cannot guarantee your safety when you view and interact with certain artefacts in the museum. These items will always be appropriately labelled so that they can be easily identified, with these objects also unable to removed from their cases without the express permission of and supervision by the Museum Director Laura Rowton.

what happens if i become scared during an event?

It is our priority to look after our guests and ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for all. If, for whatever reason, you need a break from your tour or investigation, there will always be the opportunity to ‘take a time out’ in a lit part of the museum. A team member will help you to this safe area, where you can stay until you feel ready to return to the event.

I HAVE A HAUNTED ITEM. CAN I DONATE IT?

Yes! We are always looking to add artefacts of paranormal and spiritual significance to our collection. If you believe an item in your possession would benefit from being looked after by Rowtons’ Museum, please consult our donate an item page for more information.

what do i need to bring with me?

If you are attending an evening event, we always encourage our guests to wear warm, layered clothing and sensible shoes. Hot drinks and biscuits will be provided at the museum, but you are welcome to bring your own soft drinks and snacks for consumption during breaks in our dedicated area. Alcohol is strictly forbidden, both before and during any and all of our events (please consult our terms and conditions for more.) We ask guests to bring their own torches. You may also like to bring along any paranormal investigative equipment you own for your own personal use.

can my ticket be refunded or transferred to a different date?

No. If you are no longer able to attend your event, we are unfortunately not able to offer refunds or date transfers after purchase.

can i transfer my ticket to someone else?

Yes. If you are no longer able to attend your event, you are welcome to transfer your ticket to a friend or family member. It is your responsibility to inform the museum of this transfer as soon as possible, providing the contact number and email address for the new ticket holder, so that we may update our guest list.

is rowtons’ museum publicly funded?

No. We are an independent museum operated by a husband and wife duo. Rowtons’ Museum receives no public subsidy or public funds from the UK, Welsh, or local government. The museum is entirely supported by the kindness and generosity of our visitors and members, as well as our other supporters across the world who interact with our online platforms.

is there a way to support the work you do?

A lot of work goes into running Rowtons’ Museum. In addition to visiting and following us on social media, you can also support us by becoming an annual member or supporting via Patreon. We also greatly appreciate reviews by our guests on review-sharing platforms like TripAdvisor. For larger donations or offers of support, you are welcome to contact us.