Most of us remember a time when a Halloween costume was little more than a black bin bag and a pound shop mask.
Rewind the clocks a little more though and it’s clear people put some serious thought into their children’s creepy costumes back in the olden days.
Not only were their ghosts, ghouls and goblins a great deal more realistic, they also had an especially sinister air about them that would be difficult to recreate.
Here are our top ten most horrifying Halloween costumes from the 1800s:
1. As if horse riding skeletons weren’t terrifying enough…
2. This little boy’s mask is… ANOTHER little boy.
Photo: Vintage.es
3. A double dose of fresh, Halloween hell.
4. WTF.
Image: Anappendage.blogspot
5. On the adorable side of terrifying, but creepy nonetheless.
6. These cat and pig masks are a touch too realistic for our liking.
7. Where are the rest of these costumes?
Photo blue hours studio
8. Nope.
9. Is it a pumpkin? A moon? What is it?!
10. Somehow, these tiny ghosts manage to be more disturbing than the real thing.