In the Spotlight: Roanoke Island Festival Park

20 April

There’s no doubt that we enjoyed an eclectic set of activities today.  We started out with quiet, manicured gardens (post here); delved a bit into the early history of the island (post here); and finally got a lighthouse ‘fix’ and had a great al fresco lunch with a view (post here).

To round out our day, we intended to visit the Aquarium.  That plan changed when we turned into the parking lot and found ourselves confronted with five busses — with school names prominently displayed on the windshields.  Shifting gears, we went to the Roanoke Island Festival Park instead.  As the brochure touted, we “traveled back to 1585 and were home in time for dinner.”

The park is designed to celebrate the first English Settlement in the New World.  It has costumed interpreters and opportunities to participate in interactive demonstrations that give visitors a sense of what life was like back in the late 16th century.

It is a family attraction; no doubt about that.  There were plenty of families with kids, and even a school group or two, but we found that the layout of the 25-acre park lent itself quite well to spreading out the crowds.  Of course, it helped that we were there during the off season.  The $8/adult admission is good for two consecutive days; $1 discount coupon (which I had printed out just in case) is available from the website.

We started our visit at the Elizabeth II, a reproduction ship built to represent one of the seven vessels that brought the colonists to Roanoke Island in 1587.  In fact, the repro is named after one of those ships.

Elizabeth II — this 69-foot (21 m) ship is the centerpiece of the Festival Park.

We had the ship to ourselves to explore and wandered above- and below-decks at our leisure.  In the cramped quarters aboard, that was a good thing.  It got a bit crowded towards the end when a group of school kids showed up for the demo-shooting of the gun.  By then, we were ready to move on.  So, after watching the demo, we left the ship for the kids to enjoy.

Tour of the ship (clockwise from top left): gentlemen’s sleeping quarters; cooking area below-decks; rope for lines and riggings; the bowsprit; Mui aboard the ship; meal set up in the captain’s cabin (not sure I care for the main course); captain’s quarters; capstan (used to raise the anchor).

The sailor that is going to assist with the gun demo is ready for action.

Next, we headed over to the area representing the English Settlement.  Here, we had an opportunity to interact with costumed interpreters portraying colonists going about daily life.

We watched the blacksmith make a nail, and the carpenter make a table leg and a tool handle using equipment that would have been typical for the period.  We also had a chance to peek into canvas tents that would have been occupied by the soldiers that were charged with the safety of the colonists.

Mui steps back in time to a 16th century settlement site.

This costumed interpreter acted as our guide, demonstrating the role various tradesmen played in the colony: blacksmith (top left); carpenter making a tool handle (top right); carpenter turning out a table leg (bottom left); soldier in his armor (bottom right).

A school group showed up just as the interpreter finished demonstrating a bowling-like game that would have been popular back in the day.  So, as the English Settlement became overrun with kids, we headed to the American Indian Village.  This area was disappointing as there were no interpreters and we had to rely on limited signage to advance our understanding of life in an Algonquian village.  From what I have read, during the ‘in’ season, the interactive demonstrations here are most interesting.  Too bad we didn’t get to see them.

The American Indian Settlement (clockwise from top left): illustration of a 1585 Indian Village drawn by John White; Longhouses could be 36-72 feet (11-22 m) long; rattles made with turtle carapaces; the Leader’s House was typically the major structure in the village; a pole-and-slat frame called a hurdle was one of the means for cooking fish.

One of the most interesting things we saw in this area was a replica Dance Circle.  Dance was interpreted as part of religious rituals, celebrations, and victories.  Dances usually took place in the settlement, but sometimes the posts were placed in fields between towns so that people from surrounding villages could also participate.

Dance Circles were an important part of life for the American Indians.

Before leaving the Festival Park, we attended a showing of The Legend of Two-Path, a docudrama that recounts the story of the meeting of two very different cultures — the Native Americans of Roanoke Island and the English.  The story is told from the perspective of the natives, but it is based on facts as recorded by the English (the only written information available).  It explores the challenges encountered in the Algonquian characters of Manteo, Wanchese, and Skyco (Two Path).  I’d say that this movie alone was worth the price of admission.

An interesting docudrama; worth the price of admission to the Festival Park.

On that note, we brought our day on Roanoke Island to a close, but didn’t quite complete our sightseeing for the day.  On our way to Hatteras Camp, we stopped to visit the last of the four lighthouses of the OBX.  I wrote about the Bodie Lighthouse in a previous post, so I won’t revisit it here.

By the way, if you’d like to see full-size versions of the pictures used in the collages for this post, go to my online gallery and click the link for the Roanoke Island Festival Park.

OMG, I Spotted a Spotted Moray Eel

Gotta look close... He wanted to bite something

The Imp & The Magna Carta in Lincoln

Click to enlarge!

The magnificent castle at Lincoln was built in 1068, it was one of the first to be built by the Normans after the defeat of Harold in 1066. It is set high on a hill very near to the Cathedral, which I told you about, here.




According to the Domesday book 166 Saxon homes were cleared to make way for the castle. It dominated the skyline until the Cathedral was built. An original copy of the Magna Cartais displayed in the castle prison.









I use a car park which is situated right next to the castle walls, facing the cathedral. Yesterday when I visited, the clouds were low and heavy rain was forecast.

The famous Lincoln Imp is to be found in the cathedral.



Davina and I were on a mission to buy a christening gown for baby Francesca - and Davina knew just the shop, an added bonus was the fact that there was a sale on.

We looked at every gown and eventually made our selection.



Onward, down Steep Hill ... and the siren call of the Chocolate Shop was too strong to resist ... especially as it was Davina's birthday.

Out of the chocolate shop, turn right and this is what you see....

..the white building is a wonderfully higgledy-piggledy, crowded bookshop - always a great excuse to stop and catch one's breath on the return journey up the hill - our walk continues to the left of the book shop and

down this aptly named hill, the gallery to the left is a superb arts and crafts centre.

This is the approach to the reallysteep part of the hill...it has a gradient of one in seven - and the return journey is a test of stamina and fitness.

I don't mind climbing back up - but I find walking down very frightening when it is wet - I have this irrational fear that I may slip...

Once in the main part of Lincoln we did some more shopping, had a coffee, etc. and thenbegan the trek back up Steep Hill. This is the view from near the bottom, you can see one of the cathedral towers in the distance.

Luckily the hill is packed with interesting little shops, so anyone who is finding it hard going always has an interesting shop window to examine while they catch their breath.

The Jew's House ison Steep Hill. It is one of the earliest (still existing) town houses in England and dates from the mid-twelfth century.

This is the part which leads up to the REALLY steep section, time to pace ourselves and not talk too much!

Old, Mawsley Village, back of Lamport, Scaldwell, Old

Led by Barry, with Gordon and me. About 8 miles - dry, cloudy this morning, and sticky mud in some of the fields. A sharpish wind too.

grove and mound near Lamport Hall

Scaldwell church

Outward Bound

A day sack, a 65 litre rucksack, a Tesco bag with walking boots and gaiters, and a Tiso bag with bread, croissants (why not?) and fruit for the first night in a youth hostel. Everything a girl needs for 3 days walking and camping in the Scottish hills. This was the waiting-in-the-school-carpark-for-the-bus start of my daughter's Duke of Edinburgh expedition today. I wasn't allowed to take a photo of her ('Mum, don't be embarrassing'), but my daughter is the second pair of legs from the right. Just as I took this shot I heard a wail from nearby. 'Mum, you're so embarrassing!', and saw another mother trying to catch a shot of her daughter.
We're having trouble with our modem just now, which means that loading pages takes so long that I can't get round other blogs as I'd like. I see the thumbnails on my blog, but then can't get into the sites. Frustration.

Stewing Sparrows, and Lambs Tail Pie

This is a very old Kentish pie recipe taken from one of my wonderful old cookery books.

Borrowed image

In spring, when the lambs' tails are cut, they are collected. About half the tail, the thicker end, is used. It is flayed and jointed: generally about two dozen tails are used in making an ordinary-sized pie. Of course the crust is made in the usual way.



(I have been told that the soft bones in the tails when cooked are like gelatine.)



Here is another version, from Suffolk.

Skin the tails and then stew them a little. Take them out of the saucepan, cut them up and make a pie, with potatoes and so on.

According to someone who ate lambs' tail pie: "It was delicious. I can taste it now. Delicious!"

There was a widespread and legitimate custom of collecting Sparrows for food - (sorry, Ms Sparrow!).

Borrowed image

They would be netted and caught, then skinned and stewed. If a piece of pork was available this could be added for flavour and a pie could be made, sparrow dumplings, or soup.

Times were hard, people had to be fed...not sure how many sparrows it would take to make a decent pie though.

This next recipe is an eighteenth century one for Rook Pie.

Skin and draw six young rooks, and cut out the back bones; season them well with pepper and salt, put them in a deep dish, with a quarter of a pint of water; lay over them half a pound of butter, make a good puff paste, and cover the dish. Lay a paper over it, for it requires a good deal of baking.



My final offering is A Heron Pudding.

Before cooking it must be ascertained that no bones of the heron are broken. These bones are filled with a fish fluid, which, if allowed to come in contact with the flesh, makes the whole bird taste of fish.



This fluid, however, should be always extracted from the bones, and kept in the medicine cupboard, for it is excellent applied to all sorts of cuts and cracks.



The heron is first picked and flayed. Then slices are cut from the breast and legs to make the pudding. The crust is made exactly like that of a meat pudding and the slices of heron put in and seasoned exactly as meat would be. The pudding is boiled for several hours, according to its size. (I have been told that, as a matter of fact, it tastes very much like a nice meat pudding.)



Thank goodness for Quorn.

Thank you all for your very kind comments on my previous posts. They were all much appreciated. Aunt Lillian is making good progress - I can measure this by the number of complaints she makes!

I'll sign off with a few photographs taken on my early morning walk with Toby.

Uffintgon circular - Greatford, Barholm, Casewick Park

With Marta. Same walk as one on july 25 . Flat terrain. Overcast day, but dry - good underfoot - paths clear. About 10 miles - .25 ish switch-off after Greatford pub.


The same walk as I did on July 25 . This time we found our way to Greatford Church, but we still couldn't locate 'Meg's Well'. The photos show very grey skies.

Near Uffington church stand three redwoods.

Marta saw two hares when she looked through the huge gates of Uffington Manor on the main road.We turn right before the houses after West Hall Farm.

We believe this is the site of the mill mound marked on the OS map.

Our path takes us over farmland, always clearly marked and following track or field edge. We come out behind Cobbs Nook Farm, and join the Macmillan Way, along a wooded bridleway. We join the road turning left and then right to where we cross the East Coast Mainline at a level crossing. A short half mile takes us to our left turn into Shillingsthorpe Park.

The cows and calves are gathered round the food here.

We cross the river West Glen, and make our way to along the farm road to the woodland, before turning right over fields. These are no problem this time, as they have been harvested and waymarking is good. We follow the path behind the very private Greatford Hall into the village. A local resident of 25 year's standing tells us how to access the church - there's a small white gate near the bridge over the small river.

In the church is a memorial to Francis Willis, who is reputed to have cured George III of his madness in 1789. Dr Willis owned Greatford Hall, and ran an asylum there. The church also boasts a Roman coffin, and many interesting plaques and dedications.

As we come from the church towards the road we pass the entrance to Greatford Hall. It was destroyed by fire in 1922, but rebuilt.

The inn sign for the local pub, where we had an excellent baguette lunch, with friendly service.
A large stone cross near Bridge cottages
The crown commemorates the coronation of George VI. There is more info and more photos (not mine) here.

We cross the fields south towards Barholm. On the way we spot an ambitious mobile phone mast trying to look like a tree. We cross a bridge over Greatford Cut, which joins the West Glen River to the Welland and forms a flood defence system for Greatford.

Barholm Church. Click on the link for further information.

From Barholm we take the road past the Five Horseshoes pub and the Old Hall. We turn left and make our way over several fields to the railway again. No level crossing here, but a warning about trains travelling at 100 mph. The track is straight and the view is good. On the other side we walk over two or three fields before reaching Casewick Park, with its lovely buildings, high hedges and fine gates.



I need to identify this tree.

A look back at Casewick Hall as we leave the park, and take the road leading to Uffington.

Apart from the hares, we saw a few swallows swooping after the insects, and a lot of small speckled wood (?) butterflies.