Last Sunday D and I went along to Castle Bromwich Hall Gardens where there were drills and demonstrations by Colonel John Pickering's Regiment of Foote - part of Cromwell's Brigade.
The Regiment is part of the Sealed Knot which is a re-enactment society dedicated to the remembrance of those who fought in the Civil War
It was good to see displays of Daffodils as we arrived at the Gardens.
The first demonstration had already started.
Drill over they departed for lunch.
As we had missed the start of the display and enjoyed what we did see so much D and I decided to have a wander round the gardens, have lunch and then return to see the demonstration in the afternoon
The Upper Wilderness with the Church of St Mary and St Margaret in the background.
One of the orchards
There will be a good display of tulips around the Gardens soon.
Then onto the tea-room - I was very good and resisted cake and had vegetable soup instead.
We then returned to the display which was just re-starting.
It really was an enjoyable event and a good way to end a lovely weekend.
What a fun day out! Great photos. I haven't seen a reenactment for a very long time, not since I visited Colonial Williamsburg. Wondering if they go off for an authentic period lunch, or do they bring sandwiches?
ReplyDeleteWhat a great day out, not been to anything like this , it does look fun. The photos are stunning love the red of their jackets. A nice setting too. I would imagine the gardens will look good in the summer months.
ReplyDeleteAmanda xx
We have some major re-enactments coming up in Newark, which is civil war central. Daffs are a bit past their best here
ReplyDeleteDeborah O'Brien - Thank you! They were cooking food over fires so I think it was all pretty authentic - some of the ladies were doing some lovely embroidery. I did take one of a lovely cow parsley type flower embroidered on a cushion but the camera was on wrong macro setting and it came out blurred!
ReplyDeleteAmanda Peters = Thank you. I've not been to anything like it either apart from some jousting that was on once when we too D and E to Warwick Castle. It was fun and you can see how much they were all enjoying themselves. I wasn't that bothered about going but so glad I did because it was so good! :)
Simon Douglas Thompson -Thank you - would imagine the re-enactments in Newark are very good. Some daffodils here past their best too now depending on location.
I think these reinaactments are well and good, but I wish they could be something other than battles and memories of war, and killing, and slaughter and death. Why we perpetuate and glorify conflict and savagery in these events is a little beyond me. Now the daffodils - they are gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteDavid Gascoigne - Thank you and being a pacifist myself I can see what you mean. Although I do find events like that bring history to life. To be fair it wasn't a re-enactment as such with a battle and people dying - it was just a drill and demonstration. Yes, the daffodils were lovely :)
ReplyDeleteWe had something similar yesterday with the St George's day celebrations in my town though for the first time in a while we didn't go but could hear cannons and gunshot from home!! The soup looked yummy, though not quite as much as a cake would.......
ReplyDeleteLooks like a great day out, a good venue and interesting too. It is a fascinating period of history which affected everyone especially families split by loyalties. I do enjoy re-enactments especially the ones to do with everyday life, food, medicines, cooking and laundry, pot and basket making etc. I've seen the Tudor Group do this at Haddon Hall a few times, the soup looks good:)
ReplyDeletePam - Thank you. I think it is the first time they have had an event like that at the gardens and such a shame they didn't have more visitors. I did buy a pack of two biscuits!! :)
ReplyDeleteRosie - Thank you - yes I agree about it being an interesting period - have learnt a lot from my visits to the Edgehill area. I enjoy those demonstrations too about everyday life - they often have them at some of the local NT properties I visit. Soup was excellent :)
It looks like they put on a fine display. I agree the daffodils are lovely.
ReplyDeleteCherry Pie - Thank you. Pleased you enjoyed.
ReplyDeleteLOVED the re-enactment. I would have really enjoyed going along to that, but nearly as good seeing it from your many photos. Thank you. Lovely gardens too. I always come home suitably inspired when I have seen a Good garden (as opposed to mine, which is bung-it, and on a much smaller scale).
ReplyDeleteBovey Belle - Thank you so much for your lovely comment so pleased you enjoyed and I hope you are feeling a bit better.
ReplyDeleteI know the feeling about being inspired by lovely gardens - I often come home with ideas for features for our garden but somehow they never come to fruition! :(
These guys remind me of the American history of the "lobsterbacks!" Such a funny way to describe them but I suppose the jackets are that color red. Do you know how awesome it is to sit down and catch up reading your blog? I know that sounds cheesy, but my life gets so crazy sometimes. When I have the moment, it's like a breathe of fresh air reading your stuff. Today, I actually can sit down and drink coffee and dream of being in England for about a half hour before running around with my head cut off. You're like a botanical garden with history and dessert. I really do hope we get to meet one day. Vegetable soup is awesome as well:)
ReplyDeleteChris Rohrer - Thanks so very much for your very kind and lovely comment - I am very touched. I am never very happy with my blog content so I do appreciate your words :)
ReplyDeleteAnd yes I hope we have the chance to meet up one day too - you must let me know if you ever come over to England.
It's quite a few years since I saw any of the history re-enactment groups. They are interesting people to talk to. I remember one at Gainborough Old Hall set in the time of the Spanish Armada. They stayed in character all the time. When talking to them they would only talk about and understand things and events which fitted their time period.
ReplyDeleteMidmarsh John - Thank you and yes we found the man we spoke to really interesting too. My son loves history and I think he would like to join a group like that - they were obviously having a lot of fun and got on really well together.
ReplyDeleteThe vegetable soup looks hearty and delicious. We last saw a bit of a reenactment at Old Basing in Hampshire. The gardens look lovely. I'm so pleased that even with bitterly cold or very wet days in between we are at last getting a touch of spring in between. I can hardly believe after this long winter that it will be Midsummer's Day next month! But let's not wish the good days away... We have Blackbirds busy preparing a nest and singing loudly, I think to scare off a rival. I can actually feel the warmth of the sun through the glass as I type this - here's to Spring in all its manifestations!
ReplyDeleteCaroline Gill - Thanks you so much. The gardens there are lovely - sadly I don't seem to get the time to visit as much as I used to. I so agree about the long winter - rain and cold seems never ending just interspersed with the odd sunny day or warm spell. It is lovely here too today though so, as you say, here's to Spring in all its manifestations :)
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