Belgrave Hall & Gardens Events and activities 2014 Good Food Fair Family fun and activities Beautiful gardens — leicester.gov.uk/museums — welcome to Belgrave Hall & Gardens Belgrave Hall is a delightful early 18th century period house with historic walled gardens. Its successive owners played a major role in the economic, social and charitable life of the city. The hall was originally built between 1709 and 1713 by Edmund Cradock, a hosiery merchant. From 1767 to 1844 the Vann family lived at the hall and ran a thriving hosiery business from there. John Ellis, a wealthy businessman purchased the hall in 1845 and was responsible for bringing the railways to Leicester in 1833. Today, Belgrave Hall and Gardens has regular open days and a programme of special events. School and community groups are welcome. For more information contact Belgrave Hall on 0116 229 8181. The great Belgrave Hall Vintage crafts: learn the art of Easter eggstravaganza patchwork and quilting Follow the great Belgrave egg hunt around the Patchwork was used as a tool of reform in 19th garden and take part in a fun egg decorating century women’s prisons but today you will be craft activity. Show off your creations in an making a beautiful quilted bag to take home! Learn eggxtraordinary egg rolling ceremony in the garden! to cut and sew simple patchwork and get started with quilting using a range of sewing techniques and Wednesday 16 April • 11am – 4pm fabrics. Bring a packed lunch to eat in the garden. Free admission (£2.50 for activities) Wednesday 7 May • 10am – 4pm £35 (includes materials) St George’s fun day To book your place contact the Guildhall on 0116 253 2569. Make your own fantasy dragons to celebrate St George’s Day out of clay, glitter and glue! Hear about the legend of George and the Dragon and Vintage crafts: Victorian découpage other tales in our storytelling sessions. Dare you follow the dragon trail around the gardens? The Victorians loved to decorate objects with paper cut-outs and this taster session will provide an Wednesday 23 April • 11am – 4pm introduction to this bygone craft. Taking inspiration Free admission (£2.50 for activities) from the gardens, transform simple card boxes with images of its flora and fauna. Wednesday 14 May • 10:30am - 1pm £20 (includes materials) To book your place contact the Guildhall on 0116 253 2569. explore the beautiful gardens The beautiful historic walled gardens of Belgrave Hall are open free of charge to the public every Wednesday and the first full weekend of the month from April to the end of September. Visitors are invited to stroll around the rock, water, woodland and formal gardens to discover the unusual plants and shrubs that grow here. The gardens change with the seasons, so every month there will be something new to enjoy including colourful flower beds, fragrant Edwardian roses and ancient mulberry trees. Games like croquet are provided and visitors are encouraged to bring picnics, sketch pads or just a book to read! Open gardens (free event) From April to September Every Wednesday and the first full weekend of the month 11am – 4:30pm School and community groups are welcome. For more information contact Belgrave Hall on 0116 229 8181. WEA course: votes for women! Vintage crafts: rag rugging The Ellis sisters who lived at Belgrave Hall in the Long before the term recycling was commonplace, 19th century were keen suffragists, campaigning people cut up their worn out clothes and transformed peacefully for women’s right to vote. This workshop them into colourful rugs. All materials will be provided looks at their activities as well as those of local and you will be able to take your “prodding” tool suffragettes such as Alice Hawkins who used more away with you to finish your rug at home. radical tactics. Wednesday 21 May • 10.30am – 1pm Wednesday 21 May • 1pm – 4pm £20 (includes materials) Free event, to book your place contact the WEA on To book your place contact the Guildhall on 0116 251 9740 or email [email protected]. 0116 253 2569. Regency family fun day: dastardly Introduction to botanical illustration duels and masked balls The historic gardens of Belgrave Hall will provide all the artistic inspiration you need for this one Demonstrate your skill as a swordsman in a day workshop. Our tutor, recently awarded a RHS dastardly duel with a highway robber or make a medal, will help you to develop your observational fabulous mask or fan to take to the ball! Courtiers drawing skills and learn watercolour techniques and brigands can make their own masks, swords used in botanical painting. Bring a packed lunch and fans to use in one of the duelling or dancing to eat in the garden. workshops taking place throughout the day. Wednesday 25 June • 10am – 4pm Wednesday 28 May • 11am - 4pm £35 (includes materials) Free admission (£2.50 for activities) To book your place contact the Guildhall on 0116 253 2569. learn how to grow your own fruit and veg There is nothing that beats the taste of home grown produce. Gain the confidence to grow your own food crops in your garden, window boxes and other containers. Workers Educational Association (WEA) course Every Thursday in May and June 5 and 12 1pm – 3pm £49 (concessions available) To book your place contact the WEA on 0116 251 9740 or email [email protected]. WEA course: John Ellis and Gigantic myths railways in Leicester Join Bel the Giant on a mythical journey around Belgrave Hall gardens. A day filled with tall tales, One of the most distinguished former residents giant crafts and big secrets. Learn to stilt walk of Belgrave Hall was John Ellis. A friend and and become as tall as Bel! This is a special event contemporary of George and Robert Stephenson, developed to tie in with the Mythical Maze summer he was influential in bringing the railways to reading challenge in partnership with Leicester Leicester. Find out more about Leicestershire’s Libraries. Free craft activities, storytelling, fascinating railway heritage on this short course. trails and games. Saturday 5 July • 1pm – 4pm Wednesday 16 July • 11am – 4pm Free event, to book your place contact the WEA on Free event 0116 251 9740 or email [email protected]. Wildlife at Belgrave Hall Belgrave bees, bugs and butterflies Lots of small creatures make Belgrave Hall gardens The gardens at Belgrave Hall are a great place to their home. Find out more about them on our discover the natural world. There is plenty to see at big bee, bug and butterfly hunt. Take part in our this oasis in the urban jungle. Whether you want to special nature activities or get your face painted learn more about birds, insects, mammals, plants or like a bee or butterfly. Lots of fun craft activities to other wildlife come along to this taster session and do and take home! you won’t feel like a fish out of water. Wednesday 23 July • 11am – 4pm Wednesday 9 July • 1pm – 4pm Free admission (£2.50 for activities Free event, to book your place contact the WEA on and £1.50 for face painting) 0116 251 9740 or email [email protected] discover the history of Edwardian Leicester to the Great War This year marks the centenary of the outbreak of World War I, but what was life like in Leicester during that time? Discover the fashions, food and politics of the era and find out first-hand about the big news stories of the day from the Titanic to suffragettes. Get caught up in the fervour of recruiting stations as the country prepares for war and discover what the women were doing on the home front. Over the weekend the hall and gardens will come alive with performers telling their stories and helping visitors re-live this remarkable period in history. Living history weekend Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 June 11am – 5pm Admission for a family £8 (up to 5), children and concessions £2.50/ adults £3.50. Teddy bear’s picnic Birds and mini beasts nature day If you visit the hall today you’re sure for a nice surprise as Find out who lives in Belgrave Hall gardens and see if you can today the teddy bears have their picnic. Bring your favourite spot the birds and mini beasts who live there. Take part in a teddy and pack a family picnic to enjoy on the lawns. Take a fantastic nature day delivered in partnership with the RSPB. stroll to the woods and see the bear trail, join in bear games, Have fun making bird masks, wrist flappers and birdfeeders competitions, storytelling and craft activities. to take home. Garden trails and storytelling in the hall. Wednesday 30 July • 11am – 4pm Wednesday 13 August • 11am – 4pm Free admission (£2.50 for activities) Free admission (£2.50 for activities) The best “do” of the year Fairies and superheroes Come and hear how people in Belgrave spent their leisure Today is the perfect day to dress up! Fairies and time in the past, from pubs and cinemas to punting on the superheroes are invited to fly down to Belgrave river, illegal gambling in the fields, and the Belgrave Wake Hall and join our giant parade around the garden. and Flower Show. Bring along a picnic to enjoy on the lawns whilst listening to an afternoon concert. Plant stalls. Make magical creations to take home and follow the special trails around the garden. Saturday 2 August • 11am – 4:30pm WEA talk: the best do of the year • 11am – 12:30pm Wednesday 20 August • 11am – 4pm Free event, to book your place on the free talk contact the Free admission (£2.50 for activities) WEA on 0116 251 9740 or email [email protected].