FREE Spooky Short Story Competition – over 15s
‘Skeleton in the Closet’
A little bit about us:
Imagine if your family had kept almost every single piece of paper that passed through their hands, for hundreds of
years.
What would you have? Where would you keep it? What stories could you share?
Cotesbach Educational Trust, a heritage education charity just outside of Lutterworth,
South Leicestershire was formed after just such a discovery.
The Marriott family, residents of Cotesbach Estate for 250 years, stored away receipts, letters, diaries, maps, deeds and
more offering a rich picture of every day housekeeping to current affairs and global adventures in Georgian and Victorian
times.
Thanks to the support of Heritage Lottery Fund and numerous other funders, we were able to move over 6000
documents, described by National Archives as “of considerable historical importance” into a temperate Archive housed
in the former Coach House. In addition our site now comprises a glass and oak activity space/café, toilet block in the
former milking parlour, and a stunning, eighteenth century Grade II listed Georgian Schoolhouse.
Find out more about us at www.cotesbachschoolhouse.org.uk
The competition:
As you can probably tell, we absolutely love stories, so we’ve launched this
Spooky Short Story Competition and can’t wait to read your work.
Use the information on the following page, fill in an entry form and you’re away!
On Saturday 31st October (times to be confirmed), we will be holding mini ‘Seriously Spooky Suppers’ in our Grade II
listed Schoolhouse, with readings from some of our favourite entries.
This is part of Museums at Night, a twice yearly event where
UK museums, galleries and heritage sites have the opportunity to throw open their doors after hours to showcase their
treasures in unexpected ways. It is a social as well as a learning experience, where visitors can get involved and delve
deeper into fascinating subjects.
Theme:
Using the following paragraph and the title ‘Skeleton in the Closet’ as your starting point, write an additional 500
words to make our blood curdle and hair stand on end.
Your enquiry as to the causes of your Parents’ deaths within four
months of each other – now close upon 23 years ago - is one which I
would willingly have referred you to some other member of the family
for an answer. But you were all so young at the time, and of my own
generation so very few now are left, that I think the circumstances are
probably known more accurately to me than to any one else, so that I
ought not to shirk from the responsibility of answering you.
Terms and conditions:

Entry is FREE

Entrants to ‘Skeleton in the Closet’ must be 15 years or older

Entries must be written in English and be your own work

Entries must not contain defamatory, obscene, offensive, or any other unsuitable material

Entries must be 500 words maximum (not including the theme paragraph)

Entries to be emailed on a Word document in Arial 12 font to storycompetition@cotesbachschoolhouse.org.uk
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Competition winners and runners-up will be notified by email no later than 21st October
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The panel’s decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into

Seriously Spooky Suppers featuring selected entry readings from the over 15s category will be a paid for,
ticketed event on Saturday 31st October. Full details tbc nearer to the time.

The first prize in all categories is a £10 National Book Token OR Afternoon Tea (hot drink and cakes) for two at
the Stable Yard Café on Cotesbach Estate. Winners will be sent a voucher.

The runners-up prize in all categories is a £5 National Book Token
….. Best of luck!