I took some wonderful photos at Avoncroft Museum of Buildings in Bromsgrove because the light was brilliant. It was possibly one of the hottest days of the year so far but with so many buildings and shady areas to shelter in it was not an issue at this beautiful open-air museum site.
After exploring the site I even cooled down in the café with a Septimus Spyder Anglo-Saxon ale, some strawberries and had a nice chat about re-enactment with the friendly café staff!
Woodshop where a Victorian Period Interpreter was chopping wood during the day.
The Tudor Merchant's House - The house of a Dyer where I chatted to the ladies about their Tudor linen shutters and dinner.
The Toll House - As a Period Interpreter on a busman's holiday, I obviously had a very long discussion with the Period Interpreters inside about bread ovens, Ruth Goodman, rice pudding and how they tend their garden. They were excited to show me their garden and the magical tin sprinklers, which were suspended from the tree, filled with water and left to sprinkle through the holes in the bottom of the tins.
The Tithe Barn was brilliant with the light shining through the woven frame. What a great effect, I felt a bit like I was in an alien movie! The amazing craftsmanship that goes into a beautiful thing like this makes me realise why conservation is so important - a bit of awe is good for the soul.
Avoncroft runs Blacksmithing courses from the Old Forge and Chain workshop. Forging iron with fire, what a wicked and enchanting skill to learn. Some of the bellows were even bigger than me!
I am not sure what they were doing with this recycled greenhouse as there wasn't anyone around to talk to. The site is so massive it must be tricky to populate, but I'm assuming it's a recycled greenhouse as it was in a garden full of strawberries: They sell jam and other products made at the museum, like pickles and Avoncroft-stamped bricks, which are so cool.
I spent three hours there without even watching the time and I only got to see half the site so it's definitely worth a revisit!
