Victorian Thornham is a popular course when the children take on the characters of people who lived on the Thornham Estate in Victorian times. They learn what they did for a job, where they lived and even where they are buried in the grave yard at the church.
They visit our Walled Garden and learn something of the work of the gardeners there and particularly about the head gardener of that time John Perkins. He put together elaborate table decorations for the house. These photos are from a book published by John Perkins of his table decorations, the book gives elaborate instructions on the flowers/leaves/fruit to be used. This one is for a "Breakfast or Luncheon Table. This decoration is simple and effective composed of leaves of the Mrs Pollock geranium, which are only just lapped one onto the other; taking care that the leaf stalk is cut completely off."
This table decoration John Perkins said is "very appropriate for the decoration of the first evening's entertainment.......roses are arranged as shown; and single blooms of Scarlet Geraniums are to be placed where indicated on the letters"
There is a contemporary newspaper article on our web site about the Harvest Home at Thornham in 1871. The Harvest Home celebrated the end of the harvest and a hot lunch and the tea in the afternoon was served to 300 people. Following a service of thanksgiving in the church there was a Punch and Judy show for the children and races for the adults such as climbing the greasy pole or donkey races as well as sack races, the prizes varied from a new hat to a new fork.
For more information about the Victorians at Thornham see www.thornham.org.uk click on the teachers' page, then courses for 2009 and then History.
No comments:
Post a Comment