Professor Barnabas Ravenwood descends from a venerable lineage of occultists, scholars, and collectors of arcane artifacts and lore. He was born and raised in the sprawling gothic Ravenwood Manor on the outskirts of Matlock, which has been in his family's possession for seven generations.

From a young age, Barnabas demonstrated a keen intellect and intense curiosity for the supernatural. He spent many days of his youth exploring the manor's vast library, mesmerized by ancient tomes detailing magical rituals, paranormal phenomena, and ghostly beings. On dreary nights, he would conduct candlelit seances with schoolmates in an attempt to commune with spirits from beyond the veil.

As a student, Barnabas travelled across Europe and the remote corners of England gathering local ghost stories and meticulously documenting reports of spectral sightings. He obtained advanced degrees in history, archaeology, and parapsychology, becoming known in academic circles for his pioneering papers on the influence of ley lines and phase of the moon on supernatural occurrences.

After inheriting Ravenwood Manor, Barnabas decided to embark on a new chapter - opening the Matlock Ghost Emporium as a way to finally showcase the extensive collection of haunted artifacts, spectral automata, and ghostly images he had amassed over decades of obsessive supernatural research. He prides himself on curating the most authentic and well-documented array of ghosts, phantasms, and paranormal lore in the county, if not the country!

Each piece in Barnabas' vast collection of the bizarre and macabre tells a unique tale gathered through his tireless investigation of spirits across the moors and beyond. Now, these stories can be brought to life and shared with a public eager to experience a tantalizing glimpse into the paranormal realm. The Matlock Ghost Emporium represents the culmination of Barnabas Ravenwood's life's work - providing a reverential home for all things mysteriously spectral.

Professor Ravenwood is known for his flamboyant Victorian fashion, mesmerizing lectures on the occult, and mysterious demeanor. He hopes the emporium provides an immersive educational experience about the history and legends of ghosts. His ultimate goal is to entrance visitors with spine-tingling stories while also passing on his expansive knowledge of the paranormal unknown.