WATCH: Catch a sneak-peek of Peterborough Museum's new Nightmares on Film exhibition

Peterborough Museum is now welcoming visitors to come and enjoy its eagerly anticipated new exhibition.

Nightmares on Film: Hammer and the British Horror Revolution is a ghoulish celebration of memorabilia which illustrates the changing face of British horror, from the introduction of the X certificate and the emergence of Hammer’s ground-breaking Gothic horror films, through to the rise of more controversial narratives in the 1960s and 70s.

The Peterborough Telegraph was lucky enough to be granted a sneak-peek of the exhibition before the doors were thrown open to the public. The initial display area – which is beautifully ambienced by candlelight to evoke a suitably spooky vibe – is a treat for films fans of the genre, with a wealth of rare posters and previously unseen production designs adorning the walls.

“We’ve got lots of original artwork in this exhibition,” says Aimi Rowe, Peterborough Museum's Display Programmer.

The memorabilia is a reminder, if any were necessary, of just how important and successful Hammer’s horror film productions were, enjoying both global recognition and cult film status from the 1950s until the 1970s, reinventing the horror genre with classic scare movies like The Curse of Frankenstein and Dracula.

An ante-chamber dominated by a raised coffin (surrounded by more candles) invites visitors to get up close and personal with clothing and artefacts worn and used by the two undisputed two giants of Hammer: Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee.

One display cabinet, replete with accompanying photo, showcases a tweed suit once worn by the late, great Cushing, while another reveals the actual cape worn by Lee in his many legendary incarnations as Dracula.

Aimi also points out another display case proximal to the imposing supine coffin containing diligently written notes in neat cursive:

“And these are some hand-written letters with notes for a script from Peter Cushing.”

While Hammer dominates the exhibition, displays also acknowledge the work of directors and companies that challenged its approach, with films such as Michael Powell’s Peeping Tom and Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho. This intriguing sub-genre of folk horror is explored even further with the inclusion of films like Witchfinder General, Blood on Satan’s Claw and The Wicker Man.

Leaving the coffin behind, we walk through to what looks like a cosy arthouse cinema room.

"We also have our own cinema,” Aimi declares, “Where we will have a series of film screenings.”

Along with special guest talks, the exhibition will give film fans the chance to experience some of the movies that have terrified, thrilled and entertained audiences across generations, with everything from family-friendly flicks like Hotel Transylvania and The Addams Family Values to late-night classics such as The Curse of Frankenstein and Dr Terror’s House of Horrors on the screening roster.

Nightmares on Film has been curated by Marcus Hearn. “It’s been a privilege to oversee this exhibition, which describes how British filmmakers transformed horror cinema from the 1950s to the 1970s,” he said.

"We’ve got archive treasures from the greatest private collections in the country, but we’re also revealing a story that’s a unique take on the way society changed in the post-war years.”

Nightmares on Film will run from October 27, 2026 to February 6, 2027.

Tickets and more info is available at peterboroughmuseum.org.uk/events/nightmares-on-film