Island Life Magazine Ltd August/September 2007 | Page 12
life
OUT AND ABOUT
Pluck, Sniff & Milly
Molly Manky:
Meet a colourful cast of
historical characters at
Carisbrooke Castle
- family fun every day during August
Characters ranging from a medieval rat
catcher to Robin Hood and dashing jousting
knights on horseback paint a lively and
colourful historical picture at fun-filled family
events taking place every day during August
at Carisbrooke Castle.
In this bumper month of events, youngsters
can search the castle in a quest for its hidden
key, become princesses and wizards for the
day, find out about the smelliest, dirtiest and
most gruesome jobs in history, take part in the
Battle of Trafalgar – and peep through their
fingers as fearless galloping knights in armour
clash at the joust.
Daily action focuses on a free treasure hunt,
when children can follow clues around the
castle to find a treasure chest containing a
key to claim a prize. A daily draw will give
one lucky entrant the key to their favourite
English Heritage castle in the form of a year’s
free entry. The treasure hunt takes place from
10am – 5pm from 1 – 24 August and from
28 – 31 August. Normal admission prices to
the castle apply - £5.60 for adults, £4.20 for
concessions, £2.80 for children and £14 for
a family ticket (price may vary when other
events are on).
Heroes and Villains
On Sunday 5th and Monday 6th August,
‘Heroes and Villains’ provides three
opportunities each day for aspiring young
thespians to dress up in costume and perform
as part of the cast in a lighthearted look at
tales from past centuries. In Horatio’s Last
Hurrah the children will re-live the thrilling
action as the mighty French and British fleets
engage in the famous sea battle.
In Tales from Robin Hood they can portray
Robin and his band of Merry Men, including
Friar Tuck, Will Scarlet and Maid Marion
as they battle against their deadly enemies
the Sheriff of Nottingham and Sir Guy of
Guisborne. Audiences will be encouraged
to cheer on the gallant outlaws and boo the
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dastardly villains during
swashbuckling swordfights,
archery contests and a fullscale hobby horse joust. And
in Don’t Mess With Bess the
complexities of accession to
the throne will be unravelled
in a Tudor Family Tree Workshop. Entry to
Heroes and Villains, which also includes a
circus workshop and have-a-go archery, is
£6.60 for adults, £5 for concessions, £3.30 for
children and £16.50 for a family ticket.
really round off a ‘nasty’ day out, visitors will
be entertained by the Singing Plague Victims,
complete with rotting bandages and festering
sores! Normal admission prices apply - £5.60
for adults, £4.20 for concessions, £2.80 for
children and £14 for a family ticket.
Princesses and Wizards
Fearless knights on horseback
Large quantities of glitter, ribbon, felt,
foam - as well as plenty of glue, will help
children transform themselves into princesses
and wizards for the day on Sunday 12th and
Monday 13th August. The ‘Creative Castle’
workshop will help them make, and take
home, their very own shield, mask, crown,
tiara and wizard hat. Normal admission prices
to the castle apply - £5.60 for adults, £4.20 for
concessions, £2.80 for children and £14 for a
family ticket.
Horrid history
A hideous gallery of horrid characters lies
in wait on Sunday 19th and Monday 20th
August as the foulest jobs in history are
depicted. There’s a 17th century surgeon
accompanied by live leeches demonstrating
some of the barbaric equipment used at the
time to amputate, pull teeth and operate, all
without anesthetic! One of the lowest of the
low in medieval times, a rat catcher with traps,
cages and corpses, will describe how he kept
the filthy streets relatively clear of vermin.
There’s a ‘gong-scourer’ or mudlark effectively
a latter day toilet cleaner, who sifted through
the sewers in search of lost money, jewellery
and other valuables. And Sack, Heckle, Pluck
and Sniff will demonstrate a host of horrible
medieval jobs, from gut-string making and
butchery to urine bleaching and murder! To
The highlight of this month-long look at
history will be a spectacular medieval joust
during the August Bank Holiday weekend.
Gates open at 10am on Saturday 25th, Sunday
26th and Monday 27th August to a medieval
festival as a jester and minstrels mingle with
the crowd to set a romantic scene of the days
of chivalry.
Each afternoon the thrilling and skilful
action of the medieval joust will be recreated
as brave knights in shining armour seek
to win glory in breathtaking displays of
horsemanship and accuracy with the lance.
Visitors can see them prepare for competition
at the gallop, in mounted skill at arms
competitions before going into action at full
tilt against their opponent. Adding to the fun
and entertainment will be have-a-go dancing
and a junior jousting workshop for children.
Admission is £8.50 for adults, £6.40 for
concessions, £4.30 for children or £21.30 for a
family ticket.
English Heritage members enjoy free or
reduced price entry at all events as well as free
admission at 120 sites countrywide. For more
information on events or membership, call
0870 333 1183 or visit www.english-heritage.
org.uk
The heart of the island
Carisbrooke Castle near Newport has been at
Island Life - www.islandlife.tv