Summer Civil Defence & Battle School
The August Re-Creation of WWII Life
This presents everyday life at Kentwell during WWII at a time before the Hall was requisitioned. The Hall is still occupied by Mr & Mrs Starkie Bence and some staff.
Civil Defence
There were several arms of Civil Defence. Everyone has, thanks to the TV programme Dad's Army, heard of the Home Guard. They may have been poorly armed, lightly trained and staffed with those unfit for military service due to age
or disability but they took their duties very seriously and trained regularly and hard.
We hope to show an important part of the Home Guard's training - the Battle School. This was a mock battle to give the Home Guard some idea of what real action might be like. The Home Guard was never intended to fight pitched battles but was trained to harry enemy troops which landed in the UK, disrupt their communications and mop up enemy units that may have become isolated.
The Women's Voluntary Service (WVS) were revered by many in wartime as the source of the necessary 'cuppa' whenever disaster struck. They were on hand whenever other arms of the services were on exercises.
Air Raid Patrol Wardens (ARP) were those who ensured that blackout Regulations were observed. We can scarcely blackout the whole House with its numerous windows (although most are shuttered which provided excellent blacking out) but we do show a black out car. There were more motor accidents due to black out restrictions than any other cause.
Landgirls Because so many men were called up much of the work on farms was done by landgirls, many of whom were city dwellers and had to learn country ways.
What Else the Visitor May See
Mr & Mrs Starkie Bence, their Family & Friends
Mr & Mrs Starkie Bence live at the Hall and due to lack of staff and there own preference have withdrawn into only a small part of it. Nevertheless Mrs Starkie Bence usually entertains a few friends who often include the Rector.
Other Civilians
There may be a sprinkling from Gamekeepers or a PC to Evacuees with a School Teacher and Men from the Ministry checking up that regulations are being followed.
The Kitchen
Kentwell's Great Kitchen becomes a 1940 kitchen producing much from very little using as much as possible of produce from the Garden. Although during wartime rationing and shortages were not nearly as bad as they became in the post-War period, shortages and rationing were still significant and affected everyone.
Other Weekend Re-Creations of Everyday WWII Life:
Home Front and Fundraising - at Spring Bank Holiday Weekend
Country House Requisitioned - in October
Opening Times & Admission Prices
Details
| How Much of The House is Open |
All
|
| Likely Number of Re-Creation Folk |
25-50
|
| Opening Time |
11:00 am
|
| House Opening Time |
11:00 am
|
| Late Entry Price Reduction Time |
2:30pm
|
| House Closing Time |
5:00 pm
|
| Closing Time |
5:00 pm
|
| Children Tickets |
Children aged 5-15, under 5's are free.
|
| Open On (see calendar) |
Saturday, 31 July 2010
Sunday, 1 August 2010
|