“Some people don’t like it, but children love it” at Sudbury Hall

The Saloon at Sudbury Hall with late seventeenth-century woodcarving

The Telegraph reported on 7 November on the reaction of members of the National Trust to the opening of the ‘Children’s Country House at Sudbury’: ‘Most visitors to a National Trust property are expecting a perfectly preserved moment in British history, a treasure trove of paintings and tapestries followed by a stroll around a well-manicured garden.

But now those attending a 17th-century stately home could instead find themselves surrounded by playgrounds, dressing-up boxes and exhibitions on practical jokes.

John Orna-ornstein, director of curation and experience, told the charity’s AGM that it intends to work closely with children on plans at its properties and the executive team is committed to “put more emphasis on play”.

He made the pledge despite controversy over Sudbury Hall, the trust’s first “children’s country house”, which has led to accusations that it has abandoned the preservation of history in favour of a “theme park”. The Grade I-listed country estate reopened to the public last month complete with a hall in which children are encouraged by a neon sign to “Party like it’s 1699”, a photobooth and a mirror ball.

Gone are the ropes keeping people out of rooms and the collections are colour coded to show what children can touch. Some of the items have been removed from display altogether.

The property was designed and tested with the help of 100 child “ambassadors” who were all under 12.

At its AGM in Bath on Saturday, the trust faced backlash from members who described the renovation as an “unpopular move” that has caused “consternation locally” and been criticised by the Vernon family who donated the Derbyshire house.

One member asked how “if the aim is to preserve history” the charity could justify turning the property into “a theme park”.

Mr Orna-Ornstein defended the decision, saying it “never does anything to risk damage to the collections or buildings that the trust cares for”.

“I am sure there are some people who do not like what we have done at Sudbury Hall, but there are a lot of children who are absolutely loving it,” he added.’