One of the most striking aspects of the property is the feeling that it hasn't been restored and curated to within an inch of it's life. There is a much gentler approach to it's ongoing development and restoration, due I suspect to lack of funds, so when visiting you get a real sense of place.
Parts of the house are presented as they would have been in Tudor times, others left as they had been in the Victorian era, and some are 20th century. The overall feel is that the family now living there, who if I remember correctly moved in during the '70s, are doing their absolute best at restoring and maintaining the house and gardens. It is clear that they are struggling but that doesn't impact on the visitor experience in a negative way.
The outbuildings to the Manor include an ancient dairy and a brew house. All of the extended dwellings felt spookily very lived in. See if you can spot the dead mouse in one of the pics.
The site also houses the most delightful 1940s inspired tea room. Don't worry the pic above wasn't taken in there. ( Dead mouse bottom right). It was an absolute treat to sit sipping my Earl Grey whilst listening to some Ella Fitzgerald. Watching the chooks nosey around was a bonus for me too. I'm strange that way. The best though was my up close and personal experience with one of the two resident peacocks. He clearly wasn't as excited as me.
Finally some pics of the strange and wonderfully carved petrified tree that rests at the back of the house. It reminded me of my favourite Enid Blyton book 'The Folk of the Faraway Tree'.
ooooO! when l started reading this....'Spot the dead mouse'
ReplyDeleteWas that it's name..? Or was it a competition...? HeHe! :).
Silly way to serve mouse anyway, like a rat, once the fur
has been removed, and cooked, nowt wrong with it.......
Especially with a courgette...! :>).
And, there's that peacock again...Sticking to a food theme
post again, l see....
And! Whilst sipping Earl Grey.....Listening to Ella Fitzgerald..
As the lady would sing..from 1958...'Swing'in Shepherd Blues'
Fantastic stuff....
Now that does look an interesting place to visit (minus 1 dead mouse,of course) . It looks to have lots of nooks and crannies where no end of unusual bits could be found. Now that tree ...indeed strange but I so love the door!!!
ReplyDeletekeep well
Amanda :-)
The old tree is amazing it deserves a post of it's very own. It really is fantastic thanks for sharing and having the same interest in the strange things ;) x
ReplyDeleteI loved this. And yes it is kinda spooky to see rooms that look as though the people have just left them. loved the tea room too it has atmosphere. And that tree - someone with a great imagination must have carved it - like a fairytale.
ReplyDeleteI would love to see that tree, it looks so interesting
ReplyDeleteI'd love to visit Kentwell Hall though it isn't on one of our usual routes. It looks as if it would be well worth the effort.
ReplyDeleteWe went on a Tudor recreation weekend and it was outstandingly fabulous. (I think they do other eras too.) The people behave as if it is the 16th century but they incorporated my wheelchair by calling it a chariot! When I was talking to one of the needlewomen about their embroidery, I told her about mine and when I mentioned cotton thread, she said she hadn't heard of it. I said it's a fibre from the Americas. It was delightfully surreal, talking to a modern woman about a timeless craft while she was in Tudor character; amazing experience!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for dropping by my blog and leaving such a lovely comment. I'd heard that the Kentwell events were very special, I love the idea of talking to a needle woman from the 16th century.
Deletejean x
Wow! Such a gorgeous place! I absolutely love that tree and your photographs are perfect!
ReplyDeleteThe dead mouse...eew!
Have a perfect weekend x
Hi Jean, thanks for sharing the pics. I did spot the mouse and was glad to read it wasn’t in the tea room! I really want to visit now, mostly to see The Magic Faraway Tree (looks amazing), the chickens and the peacock – it sounds as though you like all the same things as me! You were very lucky to get the place all to yourselves; I hope it’s like that when we visit. Have a good weekend. Barbara
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful place to visit, so interesting. That tree is fabulous, I agree, very Enid Blyton with the ladders reaching high in to the sky. The tea room looks wonderful, the perfect place to sit a while and take in the atmosphere.
ReplyDelete