Learning Volunteer at Wallington - Part three
At last our labours have just about come to fruition! The doll's house is nearly finished at Wallington Hall. It will soon be in the Nursery in the main hall, and children (plus adults!) will be able to open doors, move furniture about and imagine life just before World War Two.
The doll's house team have been working on the reproduction 1930s house since February, when Gillian Mason, the Visitor Experience Manager, had the idea to have a doll's house that children could play with at Wallington.
Wallington Hall already has a whole room dedicated to doll's houses, but they are too precious to be played with and all reside behind Perspex. Twelve of the houses were donated to the hall by Mrs Angus of Corbridge, in 1973. The thirteenth and largest house is called Hammond House; so called after the little girl who once owned it - Ruby Hammond. The houses are mainly 19th century in date and have original wallpapers, furniture, china, glass and dolls. In fact there are 77 dolls in Hammond House. All the houses are a fantastic record of life in those times.
Doll's houses originally came about as a way of teaching young girls how to manage a home and were only later used as a toy. We are hoping that girls and boys alike will want to play with the new addition, and learn about life in the 1930s. We have imagined that a Mr and Mrs Bill Blackett lived in this house with their three children - Polly, Sukey and Charlie. Visiting children to the hall can then make up stories about the family. Although this family is fictional, the names all link to Wallington in some way.
So have we had fun getting the house ready? Yes, definitely! We are all experts in pre- war décor now and we have picked up quite a few bargains on ebay. Wallpapering was tricky but we managed. My dilemma about whether to go for the aga or gas cooker for the doll's house kitchen was finally resolved - the gas cooker won! Agas were around from 1929, but the single gas cooker just looked more authentic.
In a couple of weeks the doll's house will finally be finished, we just need the electrics connected and the front panels hinged on. Please come along to see it sometime and the other delights of Wallington Hall. For opening times, and details about maybe becoming a volunteer too, then visit the website below.
We'd like to hear from you. Send your stories, pics and videos to northumberland@ncjmedia.co.uk
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Morpeth Links
John Dawson - Local history tales
Wildlife - With Conservation Officer Kevin O'Hara
Ian Lavery - Updates from the MP for Wansbeck
Ray Purvis - Through the seasons at Wallington
DAWN Advice - Liz Chadwick from the advice charity
Robson and Prescott Vets - Pet advice
Morpeth Lions Club - By Lion Simon Pringle
Wendy Errington - Volunteering at Wallington
Andrew Gibson - Fishing and photography
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This looks like a wonderful project which will make children enjoy their visit to Wallington hall and give them a feeling for history in the process. Enjoying this blog...
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That's relaly thinking out of the box. Thanks!
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