Great Annual Re-Creation - Information for School Visits

Dates

Weekdays during three weeks from late June to early July

Times

Schools book a start time between about 9.00am and about 2.00pm for each party they bring. The party must enter via the famous Time Tunnel at that time. Parties spend about three and a half hours in the Re-Creation without a break. So schools must allow for each party being at Kentwell for about 5 hours in total.

Different Visiting Modes

Set Route Visits: These visits occur on a Monday, Tuesday or Thursday. Each group of up to about 35 children (minimum 28) follows a defined route for about three and a half hours around the Re-Creation. During this time the children stop briefly at a number of different locations so that they see a wide variety of aspects of everyday Tudor Life. Each party should be the only party at each location visited. This is best for younger children. It is designed to show the children a little of a lot.

There are two set route options. Schools must select which when they book.

Choose the Hamlet Set Route and children will see something akin to village life and activities. They will encounter life of the poorer sorts. Visit the Cottage and the Hovel two smaller humbler dwellings and the people who work on the Manor: such as smiths, carpenters, chandlers, coppicers, potters; also builders & joiners perhaps. As well woolworkers, carding, spinning & weaving and dyeing wool. There will also be farm activities: animals & their herds, and ostlers (men & women working with horses). They will see Archers at the Butts, Low Players entertaining with music & dance or tumbling & juggling . They will also encounter Gentry.

Choose the Household Set Route and children see the Hall and main service building and household activities. Meet members of the Clopton family and their visitors, perhaps dancing or playing music. Also their Steward, Butlers & Housekeepers and those responsible for providing fare for the family. These include Cooks in the Great Kitchen, Bakers in the Bakehouse, Brewers in the Brewhouse & Dairymaids in the Dairy, as well Needlewoman, ladies in the Stillroom and the Camera Obscura. Alchemists, Gardeners and Basketmakers may be encountered in the Gardens.

Some schools bringing two or more parties fine it beneficial to have one party do the Hamlet route and another the Household Route. They can then compare and contrast the livesand living conditions of Gentry families with those of poorer sorts.

Free Route Visits: These visits occur on a Wednesday or Friday. Each school party once within the Re-Creation must split into units of no more than 10 children each with a responsible supervising adult. The children (directly supervised at all times), aided by a map and list of activities supplied to each supervisor, may then visit any location at the Hall or on the Manor at any time (and later return to it, more than once if they wish). This requires a little more of the supervising adult to work out which activities to see when and to avoid crowded areas. This Option is, therefore, not recommended for young children.