BELMONT HOUSE & GARDENS CLOCK COLLECTION
EASTER FUN AND FROLICS AT THE RARE BREEDS CENTRE
VISITKENT
BELMONT HOUSE & GARDENS CLOCK COLLECTION
The beautiful Georgian house of Belmont , set amid wonderful gardens and parkland , commands stunning views of the rolling Kent countryside and is a completely unspoilt and distinctive example of the work of the architect Samuel Wyatt . The House contains fabulous mementos of the family ' s history and travels – paintings , furniture , Indian silverware and perhaps the finest private clock collection in the country .
The clock colection was entirely the creation of George St . Vincent , the 5th Baron Harris ( of Seringapatam , Mysore and Belmont in the county of Kent to give him his full style .) He discovered a passion for horology as a young man in the early years of this century . At that time Belmont had few clocks of any kind but by the time of his death in 1984 , at the grand old age of 95 , the house was filled with the gentle sounds of timekeeping , boasting no less than 340 clocks and watches , most of which he kept working .
Jonathan Betts , Specialist in horology and formerly at the National Maritime Museum , Greenwich , conducts a clock tour at 1.30pm on the last Saturday every month during the season . Prior reservation with the Administrator is necessary as places are limited : administrator @ belmont-house . org / 01795 890202 .
The house is open for guided tours on Wednesday at 11am & 1pm , Weekends at 2.15pm & 3.15pm during the season ( Apr – Sept ).
www . belmont-house . org
EASTER FUN AND FROLICS AT THE RARE BREEDS CENTRE
With the warmer weather approaching we are reminded that Easter is just around the corner and here at The Rare Breeds Centre we are preparing for all the usual Easter fun and frolics . Our friendly Easter bunny will be here to say ‘ hello ’ and help you find the clues on the choccy bunny hunt , and when you have finished she will reward you with a special Easter chocolate . This is great fun for grownups too !
Wiley Wolf productions will be here again performing Red Riding Hood , our Easter panto , in the big barn next to soft play . Does Red escape the Big Bad Wolf and get to visit her grandma ? You will have to wait and see . Oh ! Yes she does ?
We start out lambing season from the beginning of April , so pop along and see all our cute babies and their mums , including Longhorn cows in April and piglets to meet and play with at the Meet the Animals sessions in The Children ’ s Barn .
Don ’ t miss our famous Pig Racing which takes place every day at 3.15pm on the main paddock – it ’ s hilarious and you may be picked to run with the pigs .
There ’ s so much more to do , including creepy crawlies , falconry displays , trailer rides and exciting outdoor and indoor play areas . Take the quiz trail through our beautiful woodland walks , possibly through the bluebells up to the Secret Lake , or why not take a picnic or you can eat yummy food at very reasonable prices in The Granary restaurant ? Happy Easter !
www . rarebreeds . org . uk
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