Our trip to Mountfitchet Castle in Essex this afternoon was enlightening.

It was a sort of Ripley’s Believe it Not Wax Museum set on a true historical spot with bits of the real Norman wall peeking through from beneath the thatch huts built in the 1960s. Half museum/ half eleventh century village, our kids wouldn’t have had any better time at a real fairytale castle.

“Where’s the castle?” They kept asking as they darted into the museum huts with various scenes from Norman life (including a baron’s house and hall, a church, a bathing hut and a “discipline” hut complete with torture chamber).

This is the castle. Apparently in 1066, a village with a wooden wall around it built on the top of a hill is a castle.

The kids ran, chased the ducks, learned (on accident) what happens when someone stole something (hence the fake chopping off of the hand in the “discipline” hut), and played “castle” in one of the siege towers.

I learned a lot too about family rearing in 1066 ad:

1. When your sister would like to hit you on the head with a wooden club, wear chain mail. It might get caught in your braids but your head will be protected.
2. Be careful not to anger your parents or you might find yourself in stocks, or worse.
3. Be careful not to anger your children or you might find yourself in stocks.
4. Be thankful for indoor plumbing.
5. There are ways around infertility.Joking aside, we had such a good time. But don’t get me started about the toy museum connected to it.