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Footprint Newsroom
| Client: |
English Heritage Yorkshire |
| Issue date: |
22 March 2011 |
Rievaulx welcomes
chicks with attitude for Easter celebration!
If you are expecting to find fluffy little yellow chicks at Rievaulx Abbey this Easter, think again! The birds taking to the sky on Easter Sunday and Monday are some of the most effective hunting birds you can find, as Rievaulx turns back the clock 100 years for a series of displays of Victorian falconry!
The Victorian era was the last great heyday of falconry, when hawking became a popular country sport amongst wealthy landowners as part of a wider revival of classic medieval and gothic interests.
“Falconry largely died out after the introduction of the shotgun, which made catching game for the table far easier, but the Victorian fascination with medieval pursuits led to its popularity rising again, this time very much as a sport, with wealthy gentlemen shooting, hawking and fishing during weekend house parties,” explains English Heritage’s regional events manager, Jon Hogan. “North Yorkshire, with its numerous large country houses and vast expanse of pheasant and grouse-supporting land, offered the perfect location for these country pursuits.”
On Easter Sunday and Monday, visitors to Rievaulx Abbey will see some of the skills of the Victorian falconer re-created by expert re-enactors, Mike and Emma Raphael as their highly-trained birds of prey take to the skies above Rievaulx’s soaring arches! Hawks and kestrels will show how skilled they are as predators, whilst a beautiful Eagle Owl will be on display in the Hawk Mews between shows. Mike and Emma Raphael are also hoping to show off one of the newest additions to their bird collection, a North American Ferruginous Eagle, so called because of the rust-colouring of its plumage.
Victorian Falconry at Rievaulx Abbey runs from 11.30am to 5.00pm on Easter Sunday and Monday, with the Abbey itself open from 10.00am to 6.00pm daily. Admission prices are £6.00 for adults, £5.50 for concessions and £4.00 for children, or free for English Heritage members. For more details, please call 01439 798228 or visit www.english-heritage.org.uk/rievaulx
ENDS
The Victorian era was the last great heyday of falconry, when hawking became a popular country sport amongst wealthy landowners as part of a wider revival of classic medieval and gothic interests.
“Falconry largely died out after the introduction of the shotgun, which made catching game for the table far easier, but the Victorian fascination with medieval pursuits led to its popularity rising again, this time very much as a sport, with wealthy gentlemen shooting, hawking and fishing during weekend house parties,” explains English Heritage’s regional events manager, Jon Hogan. “North Yorkshire, with its numerous large country houses and vast expanse of pheasant and grouse-supporting land, offered the perfect location for these country pursuits.”
On Easter Sunday and Monday, visitors to Rievaulx Abbey will see some of the skills of the Victorian falconer re-created by expert re-enactors, Mike and Emma Raphael as their highly-trained birds of prey take to the skies above Rievaulx’s soaring arches! Hawks and kestrels will show how skilled they are as predators, whilst a beautiful Eagle Owl will be on display in the Hawk Mews between shows. Mike and Emma Raphael are also hoping to show off one of the newest additions to their bird collection, a North American Ferruginous Eagle, so called because of the rust-colouring of its plumage.
Victorian Falconry at Rievaulx Abbey runs from 11.30am to 5.00pm on Easter Sunday and Monday, with the Abbey itself open from 10.00am to 6.00pm daily. Admission prices are £6.00 for adults, £5.50 for concessions and £4.00 for children, or free for English Heritage members. For more details, please call 01439 798228 or visit www.english-heritage.org.uk/rievaulx
ENDS