Easter Re-Creation of Tudor Life

Tudor Life at Eastertide 2010

Our Easter Re-Creation usually proves to be one of our most popular Re-Creation weekends.  The Bakehouse is very busy as the Tudors there bake Holy Manchets (you may exchange one for a donation  - all proceeds go St Nicholas's Hospice in Bury St Edmunds).  Other Tudors will be found in the Great Hall and also in the service areas of the Hall and Moat House (Kitchen, Brewhouse, Dairy, Stillroom, Needleroom etc) and, usually, in certain other outlying areas: Forge, Foundry, Pottery, Cottage and Woolshed as well as the Military, outside Cooks and Pedlars on the Front Sward.

Theme

The basic theme of the weekend is 16th Century activities associated with Easter, such as special Easter dishes in the Kitchen, Easter Subtlety creations in marzipan, hot cross buns in the Bakehouse, waffles & wafers, Easter Plays & Music, Pace-egging etc. 

The Great Easter Egg Quiz

In addition we shall have our usual Quiz. No ordinary quiz this but a challenging (and sometimes infuriating) test of your powers of observation as well as your wit.The Quiz is not Tudor either in concept or content but are much enjoyed by those who welcome a different sort of challenge.

Children's Easter Egg Hunt

In addition to the Quiz we will have a Children's Easter Egg Hunt. The challenge is for youngsters to find 13 Eggs or clutches of Eggs which each bear a Code that have been placed around the Manor in order to win a prize with a further opportunity to solve a further Code in order to win a Prize Egg.

Animals

Although we may have finished lambing there will be many ewes with their young lambs about.  Young lambs gambolling on the Lawn are one of the sights of Spring at Kentwell. Many of the other animals will still be in for winter, especially if it remains unseasonably cold up to then. Of course there are always the Fish in the Moats to entertain young and old alike.

Gardens

Kentwell Gardens are a delight at any time but at no time are they better than in Spring when everywhere is awash with spring bulbs.  As everything is late this year there may still some drifts of Snowdrops as well as our massed Daffodils amongst which are to be found primroses, forget-me-nots, bugle, violets and much else.  A walk though the way-marked woods is a pleasure to be savoured. In the Walled Garden the ancient espaliered fruit trees proudly show off their gnarled branches before they become almost invisible under the new year's growth.

Weather

Please do not think that Kentwell is just a fair weather visit.  As a wise man once said there is no such thing as bad weather, only the wrong clothes! Please do not be deterred if it is cold or wet, a visit then can be just as rewarding. Indeed, if there is anywhere to visit when the weather is less than kind it must be Kentwell. And, yes, we carry on whatever the weather as we did in 2008 - under heavy snow, as these pictures show:-

House, Garden & Farm

House, Gardens & Farm will all be fully open this weekend.

How long to spend ?

Most people arrive early and aim to spend most of the day here.

Catering

Usually, the Undercroft Restaurant, the Overcroft Restaurant and the Stableyard Café will all be open and offering a wide choice of catering.