Friends Of Valentines Mansion

FREE ENTRY Sunday September 17th 10.30 am until 4pm.

Looking out to sea for friendly pirates!!

Tie yourself in knots with our friendly sailors who will be on the lookout for any pirates! Come dressed as a pirate to join in the fun!

Treasure Hunt

You can pick up clues to hunt around the house for where the pirates have hidden their treasure!

We promise you won’t be made to walk the plank, but at 11.00 meet in the Gallery for ALL ABOARD! a giant role-play 11.30-12.30 designed for children to join the crew to help build and load the East Indiaman ship to sail to India and back!

We are a historic house, so you’d expect some history thrown in!! How big was the ship? How many crew were there? What was loaded aboard and how did it all fit on the ship? What did the sailors eat? What WERE pieces of eight!!?? The Gallery will be showing a rolling slideshow for the grown-ups to learn more about the ships and find out what the children are up to, but upstairs in the Drawing Room you’ll be able to MEET THE EXPERTS, Richard and Georgina.

Can you guess where Richard and Georgina are standing?

The Wreck of the Valentine

Special guest marine archaeologist and diver Richard Keen will be on hand with historian Georgina Green in the Drawing Room to tell you everything you’ve always wondered about the 1779 wreck of the Valentine East Indiaman that belonged to Charles Raymond, owner of Valentines at that time. Well-behaved pirates might be allowed to handle real items from the wreck, or even an actual piece of eight!

All this while ‘Mango’ the Parrot patrols the mansion on the lookout for scallywags!

WAY HAY! 2.45pm

As if this isn’t enough, “The Roving Rollickers” will teach you to Dance A Hornpipe in the morning and you’ll be able to sit and be entertained at 2.45 pm with songs and shanties in the Morning Room.

Will the Rollicking Rovers look as dandy as this Dutch sailor?

There will be TALES FROM INDIA storytelling in the Bedchamber and piratey-parroty crafts in the Victorian Kitchen all day.

There will be special displays and information, with the chance to be one of the first to visit the Cabinet of Curiosities aka the Raymond Room, where guides will be on hand to show you all the recent acquisitions from the Friends of Valentines Mansion, the charity that supports Valentines Mansion, in other words US! And maybe YOU TOO if you’d like to join the Friends? If so, drop us a quick message via info@valentines.org.uk or better still visit the FOVM stall in the Entrance Hall to chat to us on 17^th September.

Advance booking recommended

All activities are free but small donations are welcome. Book in advance here for ALL ABOARD 11.30 and / or WAY HAY 2.45 to avoid disappointment on the day.

Artists’ Open Studios

Valentines Mansion is also holding Artists Open Studios on the same day, a rare opportunity to visit the usually private top floor of the house, as part of the Open House London festival. Step inside the creative spaces, meet the artists, watch them working and even purchase handmade, unique items including paintings, stained glass, textiles, ceramics and more.