Time for bed at Little Moreton Hall

Above: And so to bed. Tudor gentlewoman Anna Fielding with all the essentials for a good night’s sleep. ⓒ Alan Ingram/ National Trust

So, you think you take sleep seriously? – Meet the Tudors.

In Tudor times there were rules about when you went to bed; how long you slept; what position you slept in, which side you slept on, and when; what you drank and ate before going to bed; what herbs were strewn around the bed; what familiar objects you should keep near you and what ciphers you had in the bedroom to protect you from witches and evil spirits. You were also expected to wake up after a couple of hours, spend an hour or so working or talking and then go back to bed again.

If it seems a lot to take in, on Saturday August 12^th you have a chance to see a Tudor family preparing for bed at Little Moreton Hall, the famously wonky Tudor house, near Congleton.

The Tudor Group, a nationally-recognised historical interpretation group, will play the Moreton family, as they finish their evening meal, take a turn round the garden, and make their way to bed.

Other members of the group, taking the roles of servants and estate workers, will chop wood and stuff mattresses, sort linen, strew herbs, prepare candles and herbal remedies for the family, then help them dress for bed . When the family are settled, the servants will make their own preparations to sleep.

All the ‘Tudors’ will be happy to talk to visitors and explain what they are doing; bridging a gap of 450 years.

The ‘Good Night’s Sleep’ event is part of Little Moreton Hall’s ‘How we Used to Sleep’ programme; a partnership project between the National Trust and the University of Manchester, based on research by Dr. Sasha Handley, from the University. It is funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council.

Anna Fielding, who is taking part in the project, said: ‘The fascinating routines which surrounded sleep in Tudor times were all aimed at protecting people’s physical, mental and spiritual health. Although some of their practices may seem odd to us, others undoubtedly have real value. We can probably learn some lessons from the Tudor approach to sleep.

‘We also know from the lively interaction between visitors and the Hall’s costumed gentlemen and gentlewomen that people really like being face-to-face with the Tudors. This event will be a great opportunity for that. It will also provide a rare opportunity to see the house in the evening.

The sleep event is on the Saturday evening from 6pm to 9pm and is absolutely free. Our tea room and shop will be open and, if the weather is good, you are welcome to bring along a picnic.’

‘A Good Night’s Sleep’ at Little Moreton Hall on Saturday 12 August 6pm-9pm.      

Little Moreton Hall is currently open seven days a week, 11am – 5pm.

For more information visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/littlemoretonhall or call 01260 272018.