Christchurch Mansion Explored

On 19 March, Bob Markham led a small group of members on a merry dance through the main ways and by-ways of the Mansion. This was a different view of a house which many participants thought they knew well, but this was history-as-you-go, attention to many small details and viewing remote attics.

Members heard about Queen Mary's being entertained to tea in the Great Hall in 1938 with tables and chairs provided by Green and Hatfield and tea given by Waterloo House. The kitchen and scullery were used for cooking lessons with menus carefully graded to suit three different social classes. The tour included being able to stand on a place of honour - the porch over the front door. In every way, Bob was an ideal guide for this great Ipswich asset.