Over the bank holiday weekend, on the Sunday after we had seen our friend Annie, CBC and I suddenly decided that we wanted to take a trip somewhere. It was about 4pm on Sunday. I had tried, in advance to suggest a trip to Norfolk but CBC suddenly mentioned Sudbury on the Essex/Suffolk border. I had a look on Booking.com and found a place called Bridge Street Historic Guest House which offered a double room with shared bathroom and breakfast for £63 for the night. This seemed a bargain so we booked it, gave them a call to check they saw the booking and were able to accommodate us (they hadn't and they were) and quickly packed our bags and headed off.
The place was charming and the hosts were brilliant (excellent breakfast and I even came home with a box of their hen eggs!) I'd had a look at what was nearby and discovered by the wondrous serendipity that often occurs for CBC and I, that Kentwell Hall was nearby and the next day (Monday!) was one of their Tudor historical enactment days, this time for May Day.
I had been here as a teenager on a school trip, my mum had taken primary school groups here and I knew it would be brilliant! CBC was happy to go along with it but wasn't sure what to expect. Nor was I as it was 30 years since I had been there. I was rather regretful that I didn't have anything remotely historical with me to wear. I like to theme dress when I visit somewhere!
We pulled up in the car park in Long Melford and were greeted by the beautiful view of the church (also really worth a visit)
As soon as you go in the gate, it is a complete time travel experience. Every single person, the 200+ living historians all around the estate, except the man who is there to explain to you where to go and to give you maps, is completely in 1537 and will interract with you as a Tudor.
As it was May Day, there were lots of events going on.
My photos seem to be in a funny order, so I will just talk to you about each photo.
Here is a view from the kitchen garden, looking onto the hall. You can see the Pied Piper of Hamelin topiary.
The moat surrounds the manor. There are resident geese with goslings and Heron and many fish!
The May Queen was carried on this cart.
There was a parade to the manor where a play of St George and the Dragon was presented (very funny!), the parade went to the May tree and the maypole for dancing and music.
Everyone had the opportunity to make themselves a circlet with wild flowers, May tree cuttings and foliage. CBC made this one for me.
Then, the most exciting event of MY ENTIRE YEAR happened. I somehow must have expressed my utter excitement at seeing a hurdy-gurdy being played in real life (I have only ever seen them in videos!) and then, the musician asked me if I would like to try it!!!!
I have been telling my children at school that the hurdy-gurdy is my favourite instrument for YEARS and how much I'd love try or own one!
Next, after relucantly handing back the Hurdy-Gurdy, We headed over to the Tavern and bought a drink. CBC had a jug of ale and I had elderflower
We very much enjoyed the Apothecary.
The view from the bedroom window.
The woman on the left is playing a Rebec which is an ancestor of the violin. The man on the left is playing the Hurdy-Gurdy. If you have never seen a Hurdy-gurdy before, it is an ancient string instrument from Medieval times. It has strings and it works by turning a wheel which rubs/bows the strings (like a violin but the bow is a wheel instead of a stick!). It has drone strings which just play the same continual two notes, five steps apart from each other all the time. Then there are the melody strings. You have a keyboard which you press and it presses down a small piece of wood at equal intervals along the string to raise the pitch). In the picture below, he has lifted up the cover which goes over the melody-strings so you can see where the mechanism presses. and he has taken the cover off the wheel-bow so you can see where that turns.
There is also some strings called the Trumpet strings that operate when you turn the bow faster to make a more buzzy/stronger sound. That's the sting up on the top on the left.
Can you see the sheer joy and exuberance on my face as I play the Hurdy-Gurdy! FYI, I am playing a Tudor dance melody called Branle des Sabots (which is the Clog Dance)
Next, after relucantly handing back the Hurdy-Gurdy, We headed over to the Tavern and bought a drink. CBC had a jug of ale and I had elderflower
We had a game of 3 stone tic-tac-toe which works in the exact way as the normal game except you have 3 stones (Black versus white) and once you've placed your third stone, you then move one of your stones to place in your next position.
We also had a go at Five-Men's Morris. You both have two stones and you can only move along the lines. The winner is the one who manages to trap your opponent so they cannot move forward. Some of the living historians showed us how to play. There was also Nine-men's Morris but some other people were sitting there.
You can see the dancing round the May Tree (you could also tie ribbons on) and the musicians in action.
Above, you can see the parade towards the manor. The dragon is there.
The May Queen and her attendants. Many of the living historians bring their children along who act in role too.
Here is one of the ancient Cedars, carved.
Over near the stables, we saw and talked to different artisans. Cobblers, Wrights, Potters, Dyers, Gelters, Basket Makers,
None of them pose for the camera. We were told at the entrance, that our cameras didn't exist for them.
Shoe repairing going on here.
Above was where the ale was made. The alcohol content was very low and it was one of the few sources of vitamins in the winter.
There were two types of bread for the rich and the poor.
Near the moat, we saw the family of duckling and goslings making their way into the water.
More of the Pied Piper topiary
A view in the state bedroom where the queen stayed.
The bathroom was wonderfully opulent with amazing mosaic work.
Double toilets.
The bathroom was wonderfully warm.
In this room, the feast was taking place, we arrived just as the kitchen staff brought in all the dishes they had been cooking for the lady of the manor.
Look at this beautiful ceiling...
And here is the plan of it.
Every single living historian was willing to answer questions. The food smelt amazing!
In this room, the records were kept. We learnt about how to use their Roman numerals like an Abacus. Everything was so cleverly explained.
In this room, the sugar-workers were preparing dainty painted biscuits based on playing cards for the guests.
Look at these tiny pastry animals!
In the great kitchen, we saw everything being prepared and cooked. Again, everything smelt tantalising! CBC asked many questions!
I didn't take any pictures at this point but we also visited the Smithy and the workers in the woods and made some clay beads.
We ate a delicious lunch in the restaurant.
There were so many places we didn't manage to visit in time and so many things I hadn't shown you in my pictures.
The Mummers George and Dragon play took place on the maze here.
Finally, before we left, we saw the musicians again at the tent and my first musician friend let me quickly try her rebec (no pictures sadly) before we left.
CBC and I had had an absolutely magical day and both of us are utterly certain we want to go back for another reenactment day.
You can visit Kentwell Hall outside of these times and explore the site and I think that is utterly worth it.
I would travel a very long way to come back here again and I cannot recommend it highly enough! It was well worth our £22 entrance fee. (Cheaper on non-enactment days)
Visit the website for more details. There's not just Tudor events.
23rd May-25th May: 11-5
Kentwell through the ages
The ultimate day of time travel! Witness over 2000 years of history and immese yourself in the past. Watch, question and take part in activities from BC to AD as different eras are broought to life by Kentwell's skilled living historians
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20th-21st, 27-28th June 11-5
Tudor Midsummer
Join us in the year 1553! King Edward VI is on the throne and village life continues here on the manor. See, hear, touch and smell the 16th century England brought to life by over 200 of Kentwell's skilled Living Historians and explore the crafts, food, music, cooking, dancing and gossip that come with village life.
