Practical Jokers from the Past at Doddington Hall & Gardens
The devilish Delaval family have scattered clues for Doddington Hall’s ‘Summer of Imagination’.
The much anticipated ‘Summer of Imagination’ has begun at Doddington Hall & Gardens, with real life history combining with local myths and legends in an event for all the family. The Lincolnshire attraction has transformed into an immersive outdoor experience with spectacular performances, art installations, activities and workshops, as well as a magical Quest Trail through Doddington’s historic gardens.
Summer of Imagination is open seven days a week until Sunday 5th September.
Renowned practical jokers, the Delaval family lived at Doddington Hall between 1749 and 1828. The family, who would play tricks on their guests, have scattered and hidden the history of Doddington Hall across its gardens. Visitors must embark on a magical adventure complete with unicorns, dragons, fairies and witches to find the clues and solve the mystery.
Claire Birch, whose family has owned and lived in Doddington Hall for 190 years said:
“Doddington Hall has a long history that’s rich with colourful characters and astonishing stories. For the Summer of Imagination, we’ve brought these to life so that people of all ages can escape into our beautiful gardens and enjoy a fun-filled experience. The feedback from the first guests who’ve experienced Summer of Imagination has been fantastic and I’m so glad we’re able to host events like this again. It’s such a treat to see so many smiling faces as visitors embrace the summer we’ve all longed for in our gorgeous gardens.”
Among the real characters, stories and local legends depicted at the Summer of Imagination are:
- Reputed witch, Meg of Meldon
- The Lincolnshire boggart
- Eccentric money-bags, Tommy Tailor who left a knob of butter in a tree on his way home from
- Lincoln market
- A clutch of petrified dragon eggs
- And one very brave dog who saved his master from a lightning strike.
Helping to bring the myths and legends of Doddington to life is the renowned Rhubarb Theatre Company and local artists from Lumo Workshop. Kirsty Mead, founder of Rhubarb Theatre, will host a series of drop-in storytelling sessions and Nadya Monfrinoli and Louise Jones of Lumo Workshop will deliver drop-in craft workshops with a range of activities for all ages. Families can also book a variety of exclusive art workshops to explore new skills and enjoy crafts in an intimate group setting, before taking their finished pieces home.
Grown-ups can also reconnect with nature through exclusive Garden of Imagination workshops hosted by Rachel Petheram of Catkin Flowers. A combination of mindfulness and creativity, these pre-bookable workshops help participants gain inspiration from their surroundings to create something beautiful using materials gathered from the garden.
Meanwhile, more than 350 children from six local schools have helped to create a special community sculpture which can be viewed free of charge on the front lawn of Doddington Hall for the duration of the Summer of Imagination. Named ‘Jarvis Row’, the artwork is an eye-catching depiction of the Doddington Estate skyline, created by Lumo Workshop.
As well as exploring the gardens and the Summer of Imagination, visitors can also enjoy the many other attractions at Doddington Hall & Gardens, including its award winning Farm Shop, home and clothing store, Giant Lincoln bike shop, café and coffee shop. Doddington’s award winning afternoon tea is available daily for pre-booked tables in the restaurant, while the Elizabethan hall itself will also be open to visitors on Wednesdays, Fridays, Sundays and Bank Holiday Mondays.
Doddington Hall & Gardens’ Summer of Imagination runs until 5th September 2021 and it is open seven days a week from 10am-4pm.
Adult tickets are available for £7.50 and tickets for children aged 4 to 16 are £3.50. Children under 3 can enter for free. Family tickets are available for £19 and Doddington Season Ticket holders can enter for free.
Tickets can be purchased from www.doddingtonhall.com or upon arrival, although numbers are limited to support social distancing so advance booking is recommended.
Information on storytelling activities and workshops can be found at www.doddingtonhall.com/event/summer-of-imagination. Some activities must be booked in advance and are only available on selected dates.
Visit www.doddingtonhall.com for more information and follow Doddington Hall on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.
Doddington Hall & Gardens’ Summer of Imagination has been made possible thanks to public funding by Arts Council England.
100 Year Rewilding Plan to Return Nature in Lincolnshire
On the day that the United Nations launches its #GenerationRestoration Decade on Ecosystem Restoration campaign, Doddington Hall, near Lincoln, is revealing its plans for ‘Wilder Doddington’, a long-term project that will see ecosystem recovery across the entire 770ha estate.
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Explore the nation’s heritage from just £68 per year.
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Also: receive a quarterly magazine, enjoy monthly online lectures, get exclusive invitations to buy tickets for behind-the-scenes tours, and take up a range of special offers on holidays, books, and other products you might like.
