You know that you have taken your children on a good field trip when they ask a week later, “Hey Mom, when do we get to go back?” Our field trip to the Camlann Medieval Village delivered, and it delivered big time.
I don’t mean to make fun of my children right now, but they actually believed they were transported back in time. The setting of Camlann is like entering Robin Hood’s woods. You suddenly step back in history, leaving the modern world behind.
Camlann is a replica of a 14th century village, a “living history museum,” just north of Carnation. The village buildings, stalls and arena are authentic replicas of what was used in the late 1300s, and the villagers are in full character throughout your visit. Camlann was founded with the mission to provide a realistic perspective on life during the middle ages, and how the myths and legends of the middle ages along with the common engineering feats discovered during these times, shaped our society today.
We did not venture into Camlann on a festival day, and I can only imagine the pomp and circumstance that would fill the small village on such a day. But ours was a “village day” as listed in the Camlann calendar of events, and a fine day it was.
The Village
At the gate, we were formally greeted by Roger the Innkeeper. My 7-year-old son stood awed as Roger, with a thick English accent, described the Camlann rules of etiquette and the various activities to be discovered. “Mom, we are really in England!” he whispered emphatically in my ear.
The village is laid out in a loop, as a typical English village might have been. Along the way you have the opportunity to talk with the crafts people, watch and participate with them at their craft and learn about their daily lives. My children were fascinated by the tools used by the town weaver who was carding wool that had just been washed. She discussed how the wool was shorn from the sheep baying just around the corner, and how the colors of different plants would be used to dye the wool using the deep vats, heated from a wood fire.
Down the path we came across the blacksmith’s shop. The blacksmith was not there, but my kids recognized one of the tools from the weavers, and asked if the blacksmith made those shears. They started to put together the understanding that the blacksmith would provide all the metal tools and the weaver would use those tools to make the clothes that the villagers wore. Suddenly they wanted to see what other crafters were in the village.
Bors Hede Inn
Midway through, we stopped for lunch at the Bors Hede Restaurant, which had been highly praised by Roger, the innkeeper. My son is still craving our meal of Eggerduce and Caboches.
Entering the Bors Hede we were met by the jolly serving maid, Olivia, who welcomed us and sat us down in the long dark dining hall. Before we dined she had us clean our hands with water poured from a pitcher the potter had just dropped off. A true boar’s head crowned the fireplace mantel, and stared down at us over its ominous tusks as we indulged in a first course of fruit and cheese and a delicious Muste to drink. Then came our Eggerduce and Caboches; the first a thick heavenly stew of pork and onions and the second a warm rich cabbage and onion soup flavored with cardamom, which arrived at the table with warm bread. We sat and imagined what other rogues would be dining in the inn that day. It made for some colorful conversation and lots of laughs.
The Potter’s Wheel and Town Square
Our serving maid had explained how the local potter provides all the dishes for the town and restaurant, and suggested that we would be in for a treat if we stopped by for a visit. Down the path past the town square we happen upon her stall. The kids watched quietly, as she sat almost completely still. Only her legs moved, spinning a giant wheel at her feet, making the pot in her hands take shape under her fingers. It was a lovely sight.
She welcomed the children in and allowed them to touch the wet clay. Many handmade tools were laid out on her table and you could see examples of how she used these in her work to create various designs on her pottery pieces. She caringly showed these tools, and taught my kids how to mold the clay using different instruments and designs. It was a truly unique, hands-on experience.
Leaving the potter, we wandered along the path into the town square. A wooden pavilion sat in the middle of a small meadow filled with daisies and long green grass. The square was quiet today and the kids ran amongst the daisies,, but I could picture the square filled with townspeople and playing minstrels on festivals days.
The Scribe and the Innkeeper
Finishing up we visited the scribe’s office and the innkeeper’s newest addition to the inn. These stops were two of the most educational. The scribe’s apprentice stood outside her shop sharpening her quill. She welcomed us in and had us practice writing with quill and ink, and we learned about how ink was made and used with different types of paper. Her descriptions of a scribe’s life showed stark contrasts to our life today, and the children were deeply impressed by how lucky we are today to be able to read and write.
These same feelings were understood when we visited Roger the Innkeeper and his new cottage. Eyes grew wide when the kids saw how a cottage was built, what the floors were made of, and how sticks were stacked together to make walls.
So much of our world today is pre-made and prepared. Camlann Medieval Village invites us into our past, allows us to walk among the flowers and celebrate the lessons history and time have provided.
Tips for Parents
Check the Camlann calendar of events at www.camlann.org for goings on and festival information. It is about a 45-minute drive from Seattle to Camlann, and you will need cash for your entrance fee ($10 for adults and $6 for children and seniors) and any food or items you will purchase. There are banks and restaurants in Duvall, but I highly recommend planning a visit to the Bors Hede Restaurant during your trip. It is well worth the money, which averages $10 per person.
Isabel Sanden is a Seattle-area French instructor, incorporating music and language skills for preschool-age children, and a mother of three adventurous children ages 2,5 and 7.
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Source: http://www.seattleschild.com/article/a-parents-review-camlann-medieval-village-in-carnation
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