Kentwell Hall — Local services in Babergh

A Captivating Journey Back in Time: Tudor Midsummer Events at Kentwell Hall On two consecutive Sundays, the 23rd and 30th of June 2024, my daughter, her partner and their 7months old son, a family friend, and I had the privilege of attending the Tudor Midsummer events at Kentwell Hall in Long Melford, Suffolk. As we arrived, we were graciously allowed to park near the entrance due to my disability, for which I had received a discount. The lady in the ticket and gift shop extended a warm welcome, recommending other enjoyable experiences. The Tudor Hall, surrounded by its moat and extensive grounds, stood magnificent—a living testament to the past. Throughout the meticulously recreated landscape, Tudor reenactment personnel inhabited small open tents, while others strolled or bustled about in period costumes. Even the children, aged 3 to 14, played their parts convincingly.

The immersive experience began as we exchanged greetings with the "cast." Each member, whether portraying nobility or servants, addressed us with a polite "Good day" or the more deferential "Good day, Master or Mistress." Encouraged to engage with the enactors, we discovered a wealth of knowledge. Their attention to detail and historical accuracy was evident, turning what felt like an hour into hours of exploration on both visits.

Inside the Tudor Hall, we observed a midday meal—a fascinating glimpse into daily life. Servants moved gracefully, serving and clearing dishes, while we conversed with the family, friends, and colleagues seated at the table. Their insights into the food and drink of the era enriched our understanding beyond what history books could convey.

The servants in the food cooking and preparation rooms revealed similar set meals; remnants of the main dining room feasts. Questions were welcomed, and we delved deeper into the intricacies of Tudor life. The house and grounds held countless secrets waiting to be uncovered.

Returning the following Sunday, we found subtle changes in the occupations of the reenactors. Time slipped away too quickly on both occasions and we longed for another Sunday to continue our education. The well-maintained toilet facilities and wholesome, varied meals—both in the main dining area and the cake serveries—added to our enjoyment. For those who preferred picnics, outdoor seating awaited beyond the grounds, ensuring a litter-free environment. As we left, the feeling of having missed something lingered—a testament to the event's richness.

Finally fate led us to encounter the Mistress of the house at a local pub. She, along with her fellow re-enactors, generously shared historical insights, bridging the gap between past and present and explained there were others like her Professional Historians and people with historical backgrounds like Teaching.

In summary, our Tudor Midsummer experience at Kentwell Hall was nothing short of enchanting. We eagerly anticipate attending more events throughout the year, knowing that each visit will reveal new layers of history...

It honestly breaks my heart to write this because Kentwell Hall has always been a place we’ve loved. We’ve visited so many times over the years and have always had a fantastic time, no matter the season. But after this visit, I have to admit we were really disappointed.

I even convinced friends to come all the way from Stevenage, raving about how magical it would be. Unfortunately, by the end of the day, I was left with an awkward, “Yeah, thanks for the invite, but won't come again.” And the worst part? I don’t blame them.

Don’t get me wrong, it was still a good day—but it just didn’t compare to what we’ve experienced before. It feels like every year, things get a little less special, and while I understand times are tough and costs are rising, it’s hard to accept when the ticket prices are so high.

In the past, Kentwell was packed with magic. I’ll never forget the year you had Narnia and the Snow Queen—it was incredible! There were carols being sung in the tavern above the café, villagers lining the paths making candles and roasting chestnuts, and everyone warming themselves by the fire. At the end of the day the family from the house came out with their lanterns, singing carols and chatting with visitors. It was magical.

Even a couple of years ago, when carols moved to the square behind the café, it still felt special. But this year? Nobody seemed to know what was going on. I asked several staff members where the carols were happening and got a different answer every time. Eventually we found out at 16:00 that they were being held outside the house at 16:15 - sadly not many people gathered (possibly wasn't told)

When we arrived, we were ushered straight to see Santa, which was nice, but it was fairly busy so felt that we missed out on exploring the main house properly. That was a huge shame because the house has always been one of our favorite parts. We love seeing the cooking of the feast and the staff carrying the food through the house—it’s always been such an immersive experience.

This time, though, we felt that there weren’t enough actors, and those who were there didn’t seem particularly engaged. We really tried to interact, but it just didn’t click. I kept thinking about previous visits, where we spent almost an hour in the kitchen watching the staff bickering with the “poorer folk” sneaking in to warm themselves. It was so funny and brilliant for the kids to watch. One year, Charles Darwin was there, telling stories and answering endless questions from the children—it was magical.

This time? None of that magic was there.

I hate to say it, but I think this might be our last visit. I love Kentwell Hall and want to see it thrive, but the experience just isn’t worth the money anymore. I really hope you can bring back some of the magic that made it so special...

Beautifully intriguing Tudor Mansion and one of the most beautiful and picturesque moated houses in the UK. The architecture of the Tudor Mansion is outstanding and the red brick architecture shines through in a very pleasing and welcoming way and stands out great in the surrounding landscape. The inside of the Mansion is really great and there are many period rooms to see to give you that last of The Tudor living and lifestyle and the stand out features are the fireplaces and tapestries due to fantastic quality they have. The Tudor Moat House is another great feature of the Hall where you can see The Still Room, The Bakehouse, Dairy and Brewhouse and all the rooms are well presented and in the Medieval style to give you a full picture of how these rooms functioned in the Tudor Period. The Gardens themselves are equally as delightful and spectacular as the Hall with the Walled Garden the stand out feature with dazzling array of spectacular colour from the flower borders and the roses look beautiful so close to the setting of the Moat. Other great areas of the gardens is the Cedar Lawn where you can see Sculpture Tree and spectacular Yew Trees which blend in beautifully with the Hall and the Moat to make the setting and scenery even more picturesque and appealing. Around the Cedar Lawn there is some beatiful Yew Hedges where you can see some of the finest topiary patterns around. Other interesting features around you walk of the Gardens are The Dovecote, Camera Obscura, Alchemist's Hut, Tudor Cottage, Ice House and Forge all of which are brilliantly displayed and in great condition with The Tudor Cottage allowing visitors to have a walk around inside allowing to have a clear idea of what living inside was like. The Parkland around the Hall is also magnificent and you can enjoy spectacular and marvellous views of the Moat and The Hall itself, which is spectacular. The Cafe sells a wonderful range of food and drink at reasonable prices and the shop at the entrance sells a nice range of gifts/souvenirs at affordable reasonable prices. The staff are also very friendly and welcoming making the visit all the more memorable and enjoyable. Overall this is a fantastic and tremendous place to visit, which makes for a very interesting and wonderful day out. Definitely well worth in the South...