Candlemas

As part of our Ritual Year celebrations here at the Museum, we will be welcoming the Black Knight Historical Living History Team where they will be staying at the Museum from Saturday, 25 January through to Sunday, 2 February. With the culmination of their stay being the celebration of the Feast of Candlemas on the Sunday.

Candlemas is the celebration of Christ as the light of the world. When Mary and Joseph took Jesus to the Temple in Jerusalem, he was recognised by an old prophet named Simeon, as the Messiah, and a ‘light to lighten the Gentiles’.

As such, a central theme of Candlemas is light, symbolised by candles blessed in church services and carried around the parish. However, following the Reformation, the tradition of blessing candles faced criticism, with figures like Archbishop Cranmer banning it as superstitious. Candlemas also carries weather folklore, with the rhyme suggesting that clear weather signals a longer winter, while cloudy skies hint at an early spring.

 

It is Candlemas, 1461.

The Country is at War with itself. York and Lancaster strive for the throne, and the leadership of the House of York now rests on the young shoulders of Edward, Earl of March, since his Father’s death on December 30th last, at Wakefield. Lancaster is led by the Queen, Marguerite d’Anjou, ably assisted by the Earl Somerset and the family Tudor. According to the Yorkist faction, the King Henry VI, is unfit to rule.

Our local Lord at Singleton, William FitzAlan, Earl of Arundel, has already changed his allegiance and now actively supports the Yorkist cause. His brother-in-law is the Kingmaker, the Earl of Warwick.

Even as we speak, the Earl of March, with a considerable force of arms, heads to Hereford for a probable confrontation with the earl of Pembroke, Jasper Tudor and his mercenary Lancastrian army, intent on attacking the Yorkists castles at Wigmore and Ludlow. [they will meet at Mortimer’s Cross on 2nd/3rd February].

All this talk of war and powerful men seems alien and at odds to the life within our house of North Cray, where everyday life is typically hard at this time of year, even though the family, servants and tenants are not by any means, poor.

 

There will be a range of demonstrations looking at daily life as it may have been in North Cray Medieval House. Demonstrations you may see could include:

Repairs and maintenance around the home, including clothes, shoes, furniture, hangings, tools, military equipment.

• Making oiled/waxed linen shutters.
• Clothes making, wools and furs.
• Embroidery and narrow ware weaving (to make lace cords)
• Candle dipping, making rushlights and soap making.
• Spinning of flax and wool.
• Gardening and outdoor tasks.
• Fetching firewood and stacking wood stores.
• Faggot making (bundles of wood for household fires)
• Butchery demonstration one day, preparing duck, goose or pheasant for a meal.
• Basketry, willow work and Besom broom making.
• Net making.
• Ink making
• Keeping household accounts and records
• Observing religious devotions daily, Angelus at midday.
• Archery demonstrations on the Sunday.
• Along with, games, pastimes, music and readings.

Please note: that all demonstrations are subject to availability, as some are weather dependent. For the butchery demonstration, they will be showing how they would have prepared a piece of meat for their meal. Please be aware that there will displays of butchery, meat preparation and animal skin processing.

You can join us throughout the week and come on the Sunday to see us celebrate in and around North Cray Medieval House.

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Information for Visitors

The Museum’s 40 acres site, historic gardens and buildings are fascinating places to learn about rural history. Visitors can purchase grain from the Museum shop and feed the hungry ducks on the mill pond. Whilst enjoying the great outdoors and fresh air, look out for our working animals, which can include the Heavy Horses, Sheep and Ducks. There are a number of lovely woodland trails, including a woodland play area for children to explore.

Why not enjoy breakfast, brunch or lunch at our waterside café?  Visitors can also bring a picnic as there are plenty of picnic areas available on site.  Takeaway refreshments will also be available from our seasonal Shepherd’s Huts located around the Museum.

Dogs on short leads are welcome and there is ample free parking. Please note that the Museum is a no-smoking site. Visitors with access needs are advised to read our accessibility page in advance of their visit.

All activities are subject to change.