The weird and wonderful world of English Heritage

Children say the funniest things, but according to English Heritage they’re not the only ones prone to asking unusual questions – even adults get in on the act from time to time!

With the summer holidays upon us and thousands of visitors expected to descend on historic properties across the country, English Heritage has unveiled a list of the top five quirky questions asked by members of the public in a bid to encourage visitors not to be shy about asking for more information.

Tina Corri, Head of Education for English Heritage said, “We’ve all had the experience of wanting to ask a question and regretting not doing so when the moment has passed. When it comes to topics such as history, people can often be embarrassed to voice their queries, but the only way to learn is to ask. In fact English Heritage staff love nothing more than sharing their wisdom about properties and their history.”

With over 400 properties across the country, which frequently attract visitors from the UK and overseas, it’s no wonder that English Heritage staff are so used to answering weird and wonderful questions.

Top Five Quirky Questions:

1. “Is this where Sharon and Ozzie actually live?” – A visitor to Osborne House, Isle of Wight

2. A misty day at Dover Castle and the Secret Wartime Tunnels, Kent prompted a tourist to ask: “What time do you switch the mist off?”

3. Having been told that Cleeve Abbey in Somerset had once been the home of monks, a group of children visiting Cleeve Abbey in Somerset eagerly asked a member of site staff: “Where are the monkeys?”

4. “Why did they build so many ruined castles and abbeys in England?” – A tourist at Whitby Abbey, North Yorkshire

5. A little girl at Clifford’s Tower, York: “Is this Clifford the big red dog’s tower?” Upon a member of staff explaining that it is actually a castle, the little girl asked: “Is it a bouncy castle?”

Tina Corri continues: “Learning about history should be fun as well as educational. Now the summer holidays are underway, it’s important that children and parents ask us their questions about the properties – you never know, you might find out something amazing.” English Heritage has also revealed some of its lesser-known facts and legends:

• The Courtauld family, responsible for building the stunning Art Deco mansion of Eltham Palace in Greenwich, were renowned for their lavish taste. They even kept a pet ring-tailed lemur, which had its own centrally heated sleeping quarters!

• Kenilworth Castle in Warwickshire was home to Robert Dudley, Queen Elizabeth’s favourite earl. The pair were rumoured to be lovers and following Dudley’s death, the ‘Virgin Queen’ kept her last letter from Dudley in a casket by her bedside until she died 15 years later. Today the letter can be viewed in a special exhibition at the castle.

• Perched high on a cliff, Whitby Abbey in Yorkshire was founded by the formidable St Hilda, who legend says cast out all seagulls and forbade them from flying over the Abbey. Today, there is a distinct lack of seagulls nesting or flying over the ruins, unusual considering its seaside location.

• The Braybrooke family, who resided at Audley End House and Gardens, Essex, in the Victorian era, were in the strange habit of weighing themselves and their dinner guests. The resulting ‘weight register’ suggests the family were all fairly slim, although some of their visitors could have done with losing a few pounds!

• Visitors to Pendennis Castle in Falmouth, Cornwall, are advised to keep their ears open for the ghostly sound of horses’ hooves. Legend has it that the castle inhabitants became so hungry during a civil war siege that they had to resort to eating their trusty steeds!

• Over the years, Dover Castle has witnessed both a royal wedding and a royal death. In 1185, King Steven died in the castle grounds of a heart attack and in 1673, King James II married Mary of Modena at the castle.