Aston Hall hosts Candlelit tours for 6 nights in November – and this year Prior Attire was there for a ride! The working team was put together by the industrious Black Knight Historical, and each evening we were there, from 6 to 9 ( or later), performing our roles – people from the household, circa 1640, preparing for Christmas. each of us had a station, props, agreed talks etc, and we entertained the visitors – chatting about the life during the English Civil War, Christmas customs, food, clothes etc.
Lucas sporting his new kit made especially for the occasion
I was sat with Gini, in the gallery, working diligently on my bobbin lace, whereas Gini was sewing away, trying to see something in the candlelight – fortunately our loupes de dentellieres ( water lens) were a great help – and they did attract a lot of attention too!
A bit further on, Lucas was in his element, as a physician – a bit of naturalist, early scientist and some astronomy thrown together, the talk was all about horoscopes, symptoms, humours, cures, bloodletting and urine sampling – great fun:-)
what ails you, madam? let me know your date and time of birth and i shall soon come up with the best cure!
Other characters included kitchen staff, servants, soldiers, musicians,nobles, scribes etc – and Lucas managed to run around and take a few shots before the public came in one day… enjoy!
young recruit…
musicians, in Elizabethan gear, cannot keep up with the fashions:-)
Gini and Andy, as house servants – Gini as a sempstress and Andy getting the greenery ready for decoration the house, here caught just before leaving for their posts
no one was idle…
looking pensive…
Julia and Molly – and Molly was a firm favourite with the public!
Ian keeping an eye on everything:-)
The 6 nights were full of work, talk and enjoyment – for both us and the public:-) the Hall was superb and attracted huge crowds – there were a few good thousands people going through the building over the duration of the event!
Many thanks to Black Knight Historical for providing us with the opportunity to work there for 6 magical evenings!
