The Nursery (SR/5).
Bringing the country house to life: creating immersive experiences at Audley End House
A talk by Dr Andrew Hann, English Heritage
2.30 pm, Monday 18 July 2022
St Paul’s Church, St Paul’s Rd, Cheltenham GL50 4EZ
This talk by Dr Andrew Hann will explore the different ways in which English Heritage has tried to animate one of its most important country houses, Audley End in Essex, over the past fifteen years. It will look at the use of live interpreters in the service wing, focusing particularly on the cook, Mrs Crocombe, and the popular YouTube series that this project spawned.
Andrew will discuss the recreation of the nursery suite to tell the stories of the 3rd Lord Braybrooke’s eight children and their childhood experiences, and the recent project to tell the story of a day in the life of the house during the 19th century using set dressing and excerpts from a mid-century diary. He will also touch on a new storytelling initiative using costumed explainers, and the commemoration this year of the 80th anniversary of Audley End becoming a training base for the Polish section of the Special Operations Executive, which has involved bringing to life a completely different period of the site’s past.
Dr Andrew Hann is head of the Historians team at English Heritage, where he has worked since 2007. He is a social and economic historian with a particular interest in country houses and historic designed landscapes; he also leads on the development of volunteer history teams at English Heritage. His recent projects include the re-interpretation of Eltham Palace and the “Liberty and Lottery” exhibition at Brodsworth Hall in South Yorkshire, which focuses on the site’s slavery links. He is currently working on new interpretation at Belsay Hall in Northumberland and Wrest Park in Bedfordshire.
Tea will be served in the church after the talk, followed by the Annual General Meeting of the Holst Birthplace Trust (for Friends of the Trust only).
If you would like to become a Friend of the Holst Birthplace Trust please fill out an application here
or email membership@holstvictorianhouse.org.uk
Parking is available at the Brewery car park, Monson Avenue (a 4 minute walk), or North Place car park.
For more information about Andrew’s talk please email enquiries@holstvictorianhouse.org.uk
