Fun at the Farm and Kentwell Hall

I recently went down to Suffolk to spend a couple of days with Neil,Cesca and the boys. There was a Harvest Open Day on at a local farm so we went along. Gabriel was fascinated by the goats.


There was a little playground for the children, he loves playing on a slide.


Ready to Roll!!


They had pick-your-own corn so we ventured into the jungle to get some.



The next day was my belated birthday treat and I was taken to Kentwell Hall for one of their Tudor re-enactment days. An invasion by the Spanish Armada is expected at any moment and the men of the Estate form a militia which must train to defend England against the Spaniards. This brave lad is priming a small canon which was fired regularly during the afternoon. It made us jump at first then you got use to the noise. Clicking on the photos will enlarge them.


English archers were the best in the world and villagers were required to practise at the butts regularly.


A quiet moment and a chance for some gossip and perhaps a little flirting?


There are a surprising number of children among the re-enactors, here are some enjoying a chance to ride one of the big working horses.



These two are off to the fields perhaps to help with the last of the harvest



A lovely peaceful rural scene.



There was a group of people doing natural dyeing, I thought this line of newly dyed yarn was just beautiful. The colours are so soft and rich. I watched as some yarn being dyed in indigo was taken out of the vat, it came out a sort of dirty cream and then before my eyes it started to turn blue and the colour got deeper and deeper. It was amazing to see.



The wool being carded ready for spinning.



Explanations for interested spectators - though George seems more interested in sleeping than listening.



I couldn't decide what these ladies were doing and finally had to ask, the answer was really unexpected. They are washing animal guts that will eventually be turned into the strings for musical instruments. If I'd guessed all day I wouldn't have come up with that and yet I did know that this is what the strings were made of - I just didn't make the connection.



I couldn't resist this - felt hat making is obviously tiring work!



The Lord and Lady of the manor honoured us with a word as they passed by.



Strolling players entertaining the passing crowds.



There was plenty on the Home Farm to entertain Gabriel too, as well as various kinds of poultry and the horses there were large black pigs...........



more goats.......


and cows.......



and some donkeys with incredibly shaggy coats. There was so much more to see, we never got inside the house at all so next summer we'll be going back again for one of the Tudor days.