This month’s Open Estate Day will commemorate World War I and II, along with Hylands House’s role as a military hospital during World War I with input from Sir Daniel Gooch who owned the house at the time.
Here is what’s coming up on Sunday 20 October from 10am to 3pm.
Activities
Join Chelmsford Museum in the Banqueting Room as they return this month with family activities including code breaking and crafts; an object handling table showing World War I and World War II related items; a popular volunteer talk about Chelmsford at War, plus a special talk from their Museum Memories tour guide Rachel who will be appearing as Land Girl, Dorothy Capon to talk about Chelmsford residents during the war.
We will be welcoming Chelmsford Garden Community Council with their World War in Chelmsford exhibition in the Small Dining Room. Our historic exhibition in the Library will lead on the theme of World War I and II and have more information on how the house operated as a military hospital.
For families, make your own Poppy to wear from now until Armistice Day with our arts and craft activity in the Terrace Room. Join us in the Drawing Room for storytelling by Mike Dodsworth at 10.30am, 11.30am, 12.30pm and 2pm.
Our tours of the ground floor of Hylands House will take place promptly at 10am and 1pm.
Outside Hylands House and on the grand staircase, we will be joined by the Essex Historic Military Vehicle Association (EHMVA), one of the fastest growing military Associations in the UK, who help preserve military history, vehicles, and artefacts. They will be displaying jeeps typical of the type used by British Special Forces – an Airbourne Jeep and a Popski Private Army jeep. Sadly they were unable to make it last year due to unforeseen circumstances, so we can’t wait to welcome them to Hylands Estate this year!
Food & Craft Market
Urban Food Fest are back, bringing together a fantastic selection of outdoor traders and vendors again for the street food and craft market outside of Hylands House.
Enjoy the Hot Box DJ set outside in the market whilst you’re here.
The Stables
Our resident artists throw open their studio doors and welcome you to see into their working spaces – explore upstairs as well as downstairs!
Hot Box Live provide the tunes in The Stables courtyard. Join them for live music from 11am.
Find unique items #MadeAtHylands in the Artist Shop and discover hidden gems in the Friends of Hylands House second hand bookshop.
Keep an eye out for Hawthorn Heavy Horse carriage rides that start from the front of the House! Pay on the day and take a trip around the Estate with a difference (weather and ground condition dependent).
Visit the Stables Information Point and pick up your handset to explore the Pleasure Gardens in a brand-new way! Our Hylands History & Gardens multimedia tour will be available for you to hire or scan the QR code and listen along with our new tour about the Estate and how it came to be.
Our popular café The Deli will be open at The Stables all day!
