Tuesday 5 June 2012

Audley End

(Goblin is 31 months)
We took advantage of the extra long bank holiday weekend and visited an historical reenactment at  Audley End stately home.
I wasn't entirely convinced that Goblin would learn anything historical but the house has huge grounds and I thought it would be fun for Goblin to burn off some energy in a beautiful setting.
 
We did a tour of the house and Goblin was actually reasonably interested in the paintings and all the stuffed animals. It looked like a taxidermy convention had passed through town. There were hundreds of stuffed animals in cabinets throughout the house. Goblin could name quite a few, including toucans, flamingos, otters, and badgers. It always surprises me how many animals he recognises - I guess you remember what you are interested in, and he does love animals.
  Goblin also took in more than I had anticipated from the 17th Century historical reenactment.
Here are some cavaliers practicing Musket drill and here is Goblin practicing musket drill. We can no longer blame the older kids at Goblin's nursery for his favourite hobby of running around the garden with sticks shouting "bang bang". 
And after seeing the soldiers practicing pike drill Goblin decided to attack a bush with his pike.

We saw a Royalist lady on a horse who did a fascinating talk about the development of the side saddle. And here is Goblin on a horse looking quite girly (but not riding side saddle).
Goblin really likes horses and we spent a long time at the stables with Goblin on Hublet's shoulders looking into the stables saying "Thats MY horse". 
So when King Charles rode off with "Goblin's horse" he went and found himself a new one. 
Of course as well as history there was ample time for larking;
 'fishing'; and 
Cartography!

 I'm sharing this with 
 Preschool Powol PacketsTuesday TotsTuesday TotsCountry Kids from Coombe Mill Family Farm Holidays Cornwall 




13 comments:

  1. Looks like you had a great tine. It also looks like a neat place to visit. We also like taking our kids to places that have wide open places to run. Always new and exciting.

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    1. i was mildy concerned by the massive lake/river running through the grounds but Goblin stayed away from it most of the time so I didn't get too stressed out. We took him to a farm once and he hurtled down a hill after some ducks right to the bottom where there was an unfenced pond - I caught him just in time.

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  2. Love, love history! Hopefully Bunny is not too far off from being able to take in bits of history!

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  3. What a great outing. You are so lucky in the UK with such wonderful historic buildings and grounds to enjoy ~ and they are so beautiful. Not sure how I would like looking at all the stuffed animals though! And how cute is Goblin attacking the bush, hee hee hee! Thanks so much for sharing at Happy Family Times

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  4. What a fabulous history experience! It looks like you had a ball. I know I would!

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  5. love Goblin reenacting the reenactment!
    I loved those playground horses, didn't know you still got them, thought they might be deemed too dangerous these days.

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  6. Looks like a fun and educational family day out! Love those :)

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  7. What a wonderful place to visit! It looks like you had a grand time!

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  8. Looks like you had an amazing day. We are not too far away from there so I will have to check out when their next themed days are.

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  9. That looks like a great place to visit and especially as they had some extra fun going on. When our children were Goblin's age we would visit Pendennis castle on their war reenactment days. The boys were always fascinated with the costumes and armour. Boys will be boys! thanks for sharing on Country Kids

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  10. Oooh, I want that history lesson! The reenactment, horse-riding, and even the house tour look soooo cool! Thanks for sharing at Teach Me Tuesday!!

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