Pack your sandwiches and step back in time this summer

This July and August, Belsay Hall Castle & Gardens in Northumberland will host a series of picnic weekends through the ages, where visitors can enjoy one of their favourite outdoor pastimes, with a twist.

 

The English Heritage site which is situated in the village of Belsay, near Ponteland, is hosting a variety of open-air themed picnic weekends with themes ranging from Victorian and Georgian excess to the 1940s wartime and 1950s celebrations. Each weekend will be a celebration of the picnic traditions from that era with re-enactments, food and fun for the whole family. Visitors can pack their own picnic or enjoy themed treats from the tea room.

Jon Hogan, English Heritage events manager said: Sometimes where you eat is as important as what you eat, especially when you want to choose that ideal picnic spot and with so much wide open space and beautiful surroundings at Belsay Hall, it’s the perfect location to fill a hamper with some local  delicacies, and throw your blanket wherever you want.
“Our themed picnic events will help visitors get in the mood for one of summer’s favourite pastimes. Each weekend there will be range of historically themed entertainers from a Victorian Butler to 1950s jive dancers to keep everyone you and old alike entertained whilst visitors enjoy their picnic.  We encourage everyone to pack a picnic and come and enjoy picnics with friends and family on the lawns of Belsay Hall”

The history of picnicking is thanks to the Europeans, and nowadays people all around the world enjoying participating in these leisurely outings. The French are attributed to having invented the word pique nique being found earlier than “pic nic.” The change in the meaning of the term from everyone bringing some food to everyone eating out of doors seems to have been completed in the 1860s.

The picnic season at Belsay kicks off on 26-27 July with a Victorian Picnic Weekend, followed by events from the 1940s wartime era on 2-3 August, the Regency period on 9-10 August, a 1950s extravaganza on August bank holiday weekend and culminating with a Georgian themed picnic on 30-31 August.

For more information on all of the picnic weekends and planning a trip to Belsay Hall, Castle and Gardens, visit the website for details at www.english-heritage.org.uk/belsay