Tag: Castle Howard

Wizard of Oz (again)

It appears there is no escaping this film around Christmas time. This year Castle Howard decided to use it as their annual theme, and as always it’s treat for the kids. (although there appeared to be more adults than children😉 )

Castle Howard was built over 300 years ago and took 100 years to complete. Most famously used as the setting for the film Brideshead Revisited an adaptation of Evelyn Waugh’s 1945 novel. But this year it was devoted to L.Frank Baum’s novel. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. There were, in fact, 14 Oz books, but his first one, written in 1900, seems to get all the attention. After entering the Castle you are exposed to the semi- demolished home of Dorothy. (She’s already left on a tornado, Oz bound).

Dorothy's tornado swept home.

We then find ouselves in the Good Witch’s bedroom, because as you will remember, she’s the one who tells Dorothy to follow the Yellow Brick Road and find ole Wiz.

The Good Witch

There’s quite a lot more going on that I’m kinda skipping around, it took two hours to get round and I’m sure you good folks need to get dinner on. So after meeting her various companions and hiking to Munchkin Land the Emerald City comes into view. Is it really green or is it a trick? Anyaways we had our photo taken under the Christmas tree

The Emerald City

At last Dotty meets the Wizard, but we all know how that ended, don’t we?

The Wizard of Oz

But alas, Dot and her friends are being watched the evil eye under the command of the Wicked Witch sees all and a cunning plan is hatched. (you may scream if you feel the urge 😂)

Wicked witch and the Evil Eye

But all’s well that ends well. C’mon…it was a childrens story. Dorothy’s pals get their wishes. I got to meet Glinda, Good Witch of the South and Dotty went home again… Whereas we went outside for a two hour drive home… Yay!

I think the Scarecrow was always my favourite, so I’ll leave you with some words of wisdom from the man himself. Happy Trails, Folks x

Scarecrow

Alice in Wonderland

I often wonder if Lewis Carrol (AKA Charles Dodgson) had any idea how sustained and popular his book would become at the time of writing. I would guess not, but Alice in Wonderland must be a phenomenon in comparison to the average novel. This Christmas we visited Castle Howard, who had a plan to take us all down a rabbit hole.

The book is said to have been inspired by a ten year old girl called Alice Liddell. Carroll was a friend of the family and spent quite a lot of time with them. He had a stutter which didn’t affect him when he was around children.

You start the Howard’s Alice Adventure on the Grand Staircase, where on the China Landing you find a lush Victorian riverbank. From there you see where Alice would write her invitations for her spectacular Tea Party. As you stroll along you are treated to the childhood home of the author and his ten siblings. He would tell them fantastic stories and often write them down.

I would say it was a good little Christmas adventure, there had been a lot of thought and work put into all the exhibitions. When you think that a book written in 1865 is still bringing joy to people one hundred and fifty five years later it’s quite an achievement.

I wonder if anyone else has seen old books transformed into entertaining exhibitions? If you have please share in the comments. Or, even better write a blog post and we’ll have fun reading it. Happy trails x