A canopy of apples over the Manor gardens
October “Apple Day” weekend at Sulgrave Manor was blessed with fine weather, somewhat grey on Saturday but brilliantly sunny on Sunday afternoon when these photographs were taken. An appreciative crowd enjoyed apples in many disguises – cider, apple juice, toffee apples, jam, preserves and even just plain apples! Entertainments included the Moulton Morris Men, more music by the Green Man (alias Windybagge), ferret racing, Punch and Judy, the Siberian huskies, Owls Galore, numerous children’s games and a variety of refreshments, liquid and otherwise. The gardens hosted a number of traditional craft stands, more delicate exhibits were sheltered by tents and the Manor itself, whilst those who brought their own apples were able to get them identified by experts.
Apples are roughly chopped ready for.....
...the juice to be squeezed out in the crushing machine
...and so into the bottles
A first taste of the newly made juice
For those preferring something a little stronger, cider of all kinds
Any takers for the ferret racing?
The punters place their bets....
.....and the ferrets are poised for the off.
All seems to be going according to plan.....
The winning ferret emerges.....but hold on.....all of his tail must be out of the pipe!
The tension rises.....
....but finally the "white" ferret is confirmed as the winner.
The Moulton Morris Men fiddler begins to play....
....the audience is expectant....
...and the dancing begins
Owls of all sorts and sizes
From the biggest....
...to the smallest
A chance of a close encounter
A windy day promises some exciting flying
Ready to launch
Hold on a minute, Charlie...I think you're supposed to let go of them!
Big brother shows how to do it
Quieter games in the children's play tent
Not as easy as it looks
"A lovely warm day for a Siberian husky - I'll just lie here and have my tummy tickled!"
Family chair building
Jams and preserves of all sorts
A traditional wood turning lathe
Finals of the paper aeroplane competition
The winning flight
Inside the main display tent
The Green Man with his hammered dulcimer
A visitor tries her hand
Hurdle making
More displays in the Manor itself
The ever popular Punch and Judy show
Much enjoyed by children....
...and their parents
Amidst all the excitement, George Washington looks on impassively...
...and soon it's time to go home with the samples.
Picture Galleries of previous Apple Day events at Sulgrave Manor: