You've got May-le :)

Hi there!

It seems an awful long time since my last post, what’s it been? 6 weeks (ish)? In my last update I had been giving it the big talk with all my positivity around our warmer weather but gosh that old saying “Ne’er cast a clout till May is out” has never been more appropriate…

It’s not just the weather that’s been busy this past month.  As well as helping to keep Hill Top and the gallery running I’ve been lucky enough to attend a National Trust run course, Convestival. This is aimed at volunteer managers or those who are getting more involved in volunteering.

This fantastic 2 day course took place  at Calke Abbey in Derbyshire – this year it had a superhero theme!  It was a festival style experience, through the day sessions were held in marquees and you could choose which ones were most relevant to you. The festival theme continued through the evening . We enjoyed a superhero menu (including ninja turtle pizzas :P), a live band and a free “schnippel” of cider from the Calke estate.  It was also fantastic to meet other people in similar roles as me and others who had completely different responsibilities.

On the whole it was a relaxed course but you really did learn a lot, not just from the tutors but from other attendees.

I loved the whole thing from start to finish (could you tell?)! I would definitely recommend it to anyone involved in volunteering :)

To infinity and beyond?!
Thanks to Sarah and Rachel for giving me a lift :)

I love getting feedback on my blog posts, I’m constantly asking family and friends to check them out and they’re usually pretty complimentary. However, last time around, someone, whose opinion I really value wasn’t so keen.

This man loves antiques and likes to read more about the objects that we have within our collection as well as what I get up to (I hope!). So, this month I’m reverting back to my original format.

Dad, this one is for you J

I can’t remember when I found this first object, sometime in February I think, and I’ve had a photo of it for aggggges, ready to be put up on here.

It was the tortoise shell top that really caught my eye and once I carefully got it out of its case and got a proper look at it… it’s really lovely!

It is a little oval purse, the front is inset with gold and it’s got the most gorgeously, bright purple silk inside.

This is one of those “I would definitely have this” type of objects! Although it’s not very practical for today’s modern lady. As dainty as I aim to be, I can’t see my ‘buy 9 and get the 10^th drink free’ cards or all the pounds I have for the amusement basketball hoops (which I am actually pretty good at!) fitting in there.

From what little knowledge I have of Beatrix I don’t know if she would be using this type of thing up here in the lakes. Then again from personal experience I know that not everyone lives in their walking gear so maybe I should keep more of an open mind.

“Hello there!” has been missing recently but it’s back with a vengeance! I have been looking at this little lady for the best part of a year. She’s tucked away in a store so doesn’t get many visitors; something that I think should change.

So here she is!

"I'm a laaaadddyy"

I’m not exactly sure what it is I like about her as most people I’ve spoken to think she’s a bit creepy..  but when you look at her tiny face she’s not scary at all.

She’s pretty pale – it must be all that time in the dark and her hands are in a strange position but I can confirm that she is not a zombie! There is nothing to fear.

" 'Cause this is Thriiiilllleerrr.."

Yeah, what about the hands… they are stretched out and some of her fingers are curled under. Is she playing the piano? Pushing a pram? Doing an interpretive dance?

We don’t really know, what do you think?

Is this something that B was given as a child or perhaps she had inherited it?
I like to imagine her making up voices and personalities for her inanimate objects – it’s something that I did and still do (who says you can’t have a stuffed unicorn at the aged of 27 ¾?).

Look at this beautiful Davenport desk, dating roughly from the 1830’s/40’s. It currently sits in the corner of the Treasure Room quite happily, not making any fuss and many people don’t give it much notice.

Over winter we had to move him into the New Room so that we could carry out some essential work and I learnt a number of things. 1) Its really, REALLY heavy! (not advisable to try if you’ve skipped your Weetabix that morning) and 2) it’s got some rather special secret compartments.

This is what Catherine and Rosemary showed me one afternoon after I helped shuffle it back into its place.

They did something special and then all was revealed – pens, pencils and lots of what look like funeral mourning card envelopes.

Boosh - ta da!

Back in the day, a mixture of tradition and respect saw people send cards in black edged envelopes. Used throughout Europe these carried the sad news of a loved ones passing.

Did I just see some of the things that B had around the time of Norman’s death? She bought the house in 1905 after all. Or possibly one of her parents?

Everything looks so neat and ordered, like she could come back and use it.
Do you think that this was all put inside “For the time being”? we all do it, but unfortunately  these items hardly see the light of day again.

Whatever the reason I feel like I’ve stumbled across a sort of time capsule and I was really rather taken with it.

Then again, isn’t all of Hill Top a step back in time? “Letttttt's do the time warp again!” I wonder what I would leave behind for future people to find and ponder over..

Whilst I go to mull it over I shall leave you for another month, I hope by the time I’m back we’ll all be able to “cast our clouts”!

Have a fabulous June!

Ta ta for now J

Words and pictures by Natalie

"Pace" yourself this Easter!

We've made it! 

We've (hopefully) passed through those dark, rainy and particularly nippy winter months up here in the Lakes. Although no one seemed to tell mother nature – did any of you also have snow last Thursday?! However, I am extremely happy to see the sights of Spring all around me, I've spotted lambs in the orchard, the flowers are trying to poke their heads trough the water logged soil, there is an egg in the garden (although unfortunately not the delicious chocolate kind!) And at this moment I wish I hadn't previously spoken to you about Beatrix's egg heads! 

I for one am definitely looking forward to the warmer weeks that we will hopefully have coming up (maybe that's because I'm a summer baby) even if they don't always like me – I'm pretty pale, almost translucent some could say, so it's factor 30 all the way!.

Spring is not the only thing to have arrived; Easter is here and will be in full swing by the time that this post hits the interwebs.

Trying to think of ideas for an egg-citing entry I'll admit that I found this month's post one of the most tricky, and to be honest I've been putting off writing it for quite a bit. One thing was certain, I wanted to link it to Easter somehow and making it interesting without using too many of those terrible egg puns (though saying that, I seem to have lost some of my willpower and have used quite a few!)

A bolt of inspiration hit me quite uneggspectantly. The other day I remembered an old photograph that was taken by Beatrix up at Hill Top that we have in the collection.

The photo I was thinking of is of a small group of Pace Eggers outside the front of Hill Top.

 

Sometimes these groups are also known as Mummers, they are people who perform traditional folk plays – you are perhaps thinking that this is old fashioned but surprisingly these groups are thriving across the country.

Back to the Pace Eggers, you're probably thinking 'What the heck are they?!' and to be honest before (finally) settling down to write this post I had no idea either.

 

 

After a smidgen of research I discovered that 'Pace Egging' dates back hundreds of years and has been recorded in several northern counties including Lancashire (in which Hill Top used to reside) and Northumbria.

Essentially Pace Egging is a folk play that revolves around a rebirth theme and has strong references to the crusades. It is primarily performed on Good Friday (I think) and according to my research it involves St George fighting many foes including a Turkish Champion. By a sick twist of fate St George then dies but is later brought back to life by a comic doctor.

The Mummers are known to go all out on the costumes; they often blacken their faces for the performance and like to have a bit of craic with the crowd.

Oh and did I mention many groups give several performances on the same day, each at a different pub? So, in my mind it's a bit like a play mixed with a pub crawl – and that can’t be a bad thing!

Unusual it might be but I think it sounds great, so different to anything you would see today and in a way it's totally “British” and we should celebrate our quirky British heritage a bit more often.

Also, is anyone else getting the impression that this slightly follows Jesus' resurrection – although Jesus didn't wear chain-mail armour, or fight dragons, apart from that it's totally similar …

This tradition had all but died out after the First World War when many of the men who would have taken part and performed in this folk play died in action but it's since been brought back to life and is going strong across many northern towns.

This type of folk play can be seen in many locations this year including Middleton, Heptonstall and Bury amongst others – I believe that there are several around the wonderful north so if you fancied seeing one I am sure you might be able to find an opportunity to go.

I for one am seriously intrigued by the whole thing! And would love to learn more about this little known part (for many people) of English heritage.

Who thinks that the north is even more amazing now?! Beatrix and I certainly do! #JustSayin'. And some of you may scoff and say, “pfft but you're Welsh” and yes I am but to that I would say, northern Welsh so it still counts!

If you want to know any more about this intriguing Easter tradition you can try this link or a generic internet search will also do the job.

Back to Beatrix! I've asked Liz why B took a photo of the group but I can only assume that they may have performed a play in the village or close by and she wanted to document it for the future.. maybe? She loved local folk law and the differences that could be found between regions and wanted to preserve them so that they could retain their individuality – this is one thing I have no problem agreeing with her on.

 

This would also ring true because we also have a short letter that came from Country Life Magazine  in which they send Beatrix a rejection for a short story that she wrote to the publication detailing an idea that she had for a piece about the Pace Eggers. We have a facsimile of the letter out at Hill Top and many of our staff, volunteers and visitors can't believe they rejected her, can you?
 

If, like me, you've managed to wangle this Easter off (I'm still not sure how I succeeded in this!) why don't you take a sneak peek at your local events and see if you've got a Pace Eggers play in your parts and help to keep this unique tradition alive? Or if Pace Egging isn't your thing then Hill Top is open throughout the Easter period, so come along and say Hi to the team!

As for me I'm off up to the North East to spend Easter with my girlfriend, stuffing my face with a choccy Easter basket type thing my Mum and Matt have put together for us, exploring a castle, a lighthouse and enjoying a proper Easter Sunday dinner :D

Whatever you get up to have an egg-stra fantastic Easter – the weather's not looking too bad.

Enjoy yourselves! :)

Ta ta for now!

Words by Natalie :)