Take part in activities and enjoy authentic music when The Gardens of Easton Lodge celebrates the Tudors on Sunday June 23.
The Companye of Merrie Folke will be leading the Tudor Day festivities at the historic gardens, in Little Easton near Great Dunmow, from 11am to 5pm.
The Colchester Waits will provide the musical entertainment while visitors can also enjoy refreshments.
The Companye of Merrie Folke’s authentic costumes and language will bring the Tudor history of Easton Lodge to life. Visitors will learn about the life of the courtiers and their household and staff and taste their Tudor fare.
There will also be the opportunity to try out armoury and skills and crafts of the time, including net and charm making and quill writing. There will be an archery demonstration, Tudor games and a play to amuse visitors.
The Colchester Waits will delight visitors with fun music and dance, as the Citty Waytes did as reported by Will Kemp in 1600: “Such Waytes...fewe Citties in our Realme have the like, none better. Who besides their excellency in wind instruments, their rare cunning on the Vyoll, and Violin: theyr voices be admirable, everie one of them able to serve in any Cathedrall Church in Christendome for Quiristers.”
Easton Lodge dates back to Tudor times. Queen Elizabeth I gave Henry Maynard the estate at Little Easton in recognition of his work as the right-hand person to William Cecil, Lord Burghley.
Cecil was the Queen’s foremost advisor, Lord High Treasurer - and some say Spymaster in Chief too, with spies across England and France to ensure he was one step ahead of any Catholic plots to kill the Queen and restore a Catholic monarchy.
Rather than rebuilding the mediaeval manor house next to the church, Maynard decided to build a new mansion on the site of a hunting lodge, calling it Easton Lodge.
There will also be lots to enjoy around the gardens. The new wildflower spiral will be showing its first colours in the walled kitchen garden. The bees, butterflies and dragonflies will be out and about enjoying the alstroemeria, the fresh lavender borders and the waterlilies. And the roses will be wafting their perfume in the Italian and walled kitchen gardens.
As on other Sunday Open Days, there will be plant, craft and other local information stalls and activities for children. The trust’s volunteers will be providing refreshments, including hot and cold drinks, bacon, cheese and hummus rolls and a lovely selection of homemade cakes. Dogs on leads are welcome.
The gardens open at 11am, last entry is 4pm and the gardens close at 5pm. Tickets can be purchased in advance at www.eastonlodge.co.uk or www.Trybooking.com.