The English Heritage sites are now open for the 2005 season, and there's lots of activities and events to get involved in throughout the year. Farleigh Hungerford Castle
 | | Look out for dragons at Farleigh Hungerford Castle |
Farleigh Manor, near Bath, was acquired by Sir Thomas Hungerford in 1370. Over time, it became Farleigh Hungerford Castle. Parts of the original castle remain today and, following major conservation works, the chapel is now open, containing a unique wall painting of St George slaying the dragon. If you're a would-be dragon slayer, you can help St George track down the dragons that are hiding around the historic ruins on Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 April. Travel back to the Middle Ages in May as the atmosphere of medieval times is re-created by authentic cooking, costumed peasants, traditional music, a grisly show of medieval surgery, plus displays of hand-to-hand combat and the fighting methods of the time. In August, the Blue Chicken theatre group will be performing Hell and High Water – an hour-long play, for children and adults, about pirates and buccaneers on the high seas. The group will perform the play twice a day on Sunday 28 and Monday 29 August. Cleeve Abbey Cleeve Abbey, in Washford, is one of the few 13th century monastic sites left with such a complete set of cloister buildings. It also boasts Cistercian wall paintings, a medieval painted chamber, an impressive timber ceiling and an historically important tiled pavement.
 | | Learn about falconry at Cleeve Abbey |
Look out for unusual monks throughout the May half term and summer holidays at both Cleeve and Muchelney Abbey. By following historic facts and clues to help Abbot Arbuthnot find his missing monks, children can learn all about life in a medieval monastery. There'll be witty words and quarrelling on Thursday 23 June as the Taunton Thespians perform Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing. This will also be performed at Muchelney Abbey on Friday 1 July. Be a king or noble for the day and learn about falconry, and how to handle an owl or hawk, on Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 October. Muchelney Abbey What remains of the monastery at Muchelney, just south of Langport, is largely from the Norman reconstruction of the monastery in the 12th century. The Abbot's Lodging, which had only just been completed when the abbey was surrendered to Henry VIII, is the monastery's best preserved feature. On Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 September the Abbey will host an authentic Michaelmas Fair. You'll be able to see what life would have been like in the late 1400s, complete with cooking exhibitions, period costume, music and archery displays. Get ready for some apple bobbing, apple dressing, and apple bowling (!) when the Abbey celebrates English orchards, apples and apple customs on Saturday 15 and Sunday 16 October. For a full list of events and more information, including times and prices, visit the Farleigh Hungerford Castle, Muchelney Abbey and Cleeve Abbey websites – the links are at the top of this page. | 
