Manor Farm

We had a really wonderful day out yesterday and one of the best things about it is that Manor Farm is practically on our door step and so very handy for a return visit sometime soon.

T and I visited the farm way back in 2004 with my Dad and my nephew. The farm is currently being used by the BBC for filming the Wartime Farm which I'm sure will be watched by many of us when it comes to being shown. The farm holds various events during the year, the latest was a Home Front weekend. Given my interest in history and the fact we hadn't yet visited as a family it seemed like an opportune time to go. 


On paying we were each given an Identity Card to complete with our name and address.

First stop was a barn with lots of information boards about life on the farm and things for the children to touch and examine. Here's T and S working together to assemble a wagon wheel.

Outside the barn S was very surprised to see one of the dinner ladies from her school dressed in an ATS uniform. I chatted to her for ages. Living history is one of her hobbies and the bike they are stood next to belongs to her. She has ridden this all around Normandy whilst taking part in a procession of vehicles to commemorate 65 years of the D-day landings.

One of my favourite parts of the day was watching this lady's cookery demonstration. We were told that the little trailer holding her mobile kitchen was originally used for transporting pigs around!

On display were details of weekly rations. 2oz cheese a week!

The little cakes made during the demonstration were made from Allbran and copies of the recipe were given out at the end. Here are the details should anyone want to give it a whirl. Apparently they taste even better split in two with a scraping of butter and honey.

As this post is quite photo heavy I have made a few mosaics on Picmonkey. Here is one of just a few of the farmyard animals we saw. One of the pigs had given birth the day before and I tried to take a photo of the piglets but they just didn't stay still long enough.

One animal that deserves a photo all of his own is the cockerel who was strutting around, isn't he just magnificent.

The farmhouse was next and I managed to snap an outside view of it just as the village bobby was passing by. He was very friendly and stopped and had a chat a few times asking T if he had a license for his mobile phone!

The farmhouse is full to the brim with treasures of a bygone age, here are just a few.

Outside in the garden these poppies looked beautiful

though I can't say the same for the toilet facilities! Fancy sharing with friends?

One of the rooms has been fitted out as a Victorian school room. G took the role of stern school master.

Back to the Home Front weekend. There was a small display of military vehicles, I particularly liked the attention to detail on one of them. The American flag and the baseball glove and ball strapped to the side, the wicker basket with German wine bottles and on the dashboard a packet of Lucky Strike cigarettes.

Just before leaving, we could have stayed longer but S had a birthday party to go to,  G,T and S each got to handle a chick, rabbit and piglet.

And as it's Father's Day this post is dedicated to G for being such a wonderful fun and loving dad to T and S.

And here is a photo of my own dearest dad from our visit in 2004. My dad who I love so much and miss every day.