Thatching Workshop At The Weald And Downland Open Air Museum

Yesterday we spent a lovely day at The Weald And Downland Open Air Museum . We have been a few times before, but this time Hannah was able to do a thatching workshop as well. It was really interesting, Hannah was so happy to be able to learn such a traditional and historically important skill.

As well as taking part in the workshop we also had plenty of time to explore the museum.  Hannah's favourite part was the old mill. She was fascinated by the water wheel and the mechanics of it all. She had a try at hand grinding and we bought some flour to bake into bread at home.

We also visited cottages, farmhouses, a schoolhouse and farm buildings aged from the 13th Century right up to the 19th Century,

A 19th Century Stable

Victorian Schoolroom

  Hannah made friends with working horses,

  climbed trees,

 
visited pigs, chickens and sheep,

and watched some television filming on site.The BBC historian Ruth Goodman  and Archaeologist  Peter Ginn were there recording some scenes of life on a Tudor Farm. We have watched a lot of historical documentaries that they have been a part of including Victorian Farm, Wartime Farm, Edwardian Farm and Victorian Pharmacy so were really interested to see a new one being made!

Weald and Downland is an amazing place to visit, we had a really good day and learnt a lot.

Today Hannah Has......

....been to adventure group and had a lovely time with all her friends in the sunshine,

then, as it was such a warm day we went into town after group and bought some summer clothes which Hannah immediately changed into before heading to Victoria Park to 'explore'!

As well as new clothes there may also have been an enormous Thorntons ice cream!

 Exploring meant spotting lots of new flowers including three colours of Bluebell, blue, white and lavender and a beautiful Magnolia tree.

She has climbed trees,

and hugged trees.

Played in the playground,

and found a tree with 'hair as long as me mummy' !

When we got home Hannah wanted to do something outside, so she took her (vast) shell collection into the garden and made a fairy garden in an old flower tub.

The big shell in the middle is a pool, with a path leading up to it and fairy seats around it. She was very pleased with it !

Sunshine On The Beach ................at last!

The sun has finally come out, the temperature has risen ( it's at least 10C /50F in the sun ) and we spent yesterday on the beach! Hannah was wildly excited and had the best day splashing in the sea and collecting shells.

We found this sandcastle just before we left, isn't it great? Someone did a lot of work building it!

Roll on summer!!!

History Group - Isabella Beeton

Isabella Mary Beeton (12 March 1836 – 6 February 1865), universally known as Mrs Beeton, was the English author of Mrs Beeton's Book Of Household Management, and is commonly known as one of the first and best cookery writers, with her Book of Household Management first published in 1861.

Our history group met on Friday and Mrs Beeton was this week's topic. The children began by learning a little about her life and her cookery books, and then had a go at making a Victoria Sponge.

 Hannah and Sophie worked as a team to make one half of the sponge,

Louise led the session and supervised the cooking.

Hannah washed the dishes while the cakes baked.

They all shared assembling and decorating the cake and it turned out great!!

It also tasted really, really good and lasted about 10 minutes!

Well done girls!