During our half term, Noah went off on holiday with his cousin Sam glamping in Lincoln so we were down one kid.
I was pretty much working every day but on the two days off I had we decided we do something a little bit different and go a tad further afield.
So on Tuesday my first day off, we jumped in the car and headed to Essex.
Two hours later we were at Mountfitchet Castle.
Mountfitchet Castle is a unique time capsule.
With its commanding position overlooking the Stort Valley, the Castle is situated on its original site which is steeped in history.
Formerly an Iron Age hill fort, this historic site was also a Roman signals fort and later a Saxon and Viking settlement before being attacked in 1066 by William the Conqueror who built a wooden Motte and Bailey castle here.
Mountfitchet Castle was also briefly used by the Royalist Army to King Charles in the English Civil War (17th C).
The Royalist forces held out at the castle when they were laid Siege to by Cromwell.
The grounds were cleared to reveal the original earthworks and mounds and after years of battling with planners, in 1980 the work began to reconstruct Mountfitchet Castle. After many years of work, the restoration of Mountfitchet Castle was completed and was opened to the public in 1985 and is unique as being the only wooden Motte and Bailey reconstruction on its original site anywhere in the world.
This historic castle enables the visitor to travel back in time to 1066 Norman England. Explore the Castle and roam through the Norman Village hidden behind the castle walls, wander in and out of the many houses and view the scenes, smell the log fires burning and experience the ambience of an ancient bygone lifestyle. A living history, hands-on and interactive experience.
We started off in the Toy Museum and Haunted house, we all really loved seeing all the toys, the boys all loved the Star Wars and Doctor Who collections.
The boys, however, weren't so keen on the Haunted House, Alex even cried halfway through!
So we quickly turned on our phone lights and zoomed them through to the otherside.
Once through they all cheered up.
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When we arrived there was a school trip going on, so the grounds were full of children, but it didn't phase the boys and they got on with what they wanted to do.
The school kids were all very polite.
After lunch, the school kids all went back to school and the grounds became very empty, the boys pretty much had free range.
We went back around so the boys could do some bits that they had missed, like go inside the jail and play with the mills.
Also, once the school kids had gone the Deer came out to play!
They were super friendly and even fed straight from our hands.
That was probably my favourite part of the day.
Mountfitchet Castle is definitely worth a visit with the kids.
The staff were all really helpful and friendly.
We had a fab time and will probably go back again with Noah.
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