October half-term at Smallhythe Place

A family in the garden in October at Smallhythe Place.

This half term get involved at Smallhythe Place and discover new exhibitions and the history of the house. Watch our team doing 'conservation-in-action' and explore our nature trails and Halloween themed kids craft activities, there is something for everyone.

Halloween arts and crafts 

Grab your broomsticks, hats and cloaks and get ready for an afternoon of spooky arts and crafts at Smallhythe Place on Wednesday 24th October, 1-3pm. Come dressed in your scariest Halloween costume, the best dressed wins a prize.

Parental supervision is required. Find out more here.

Halloween pumpkins in the garden at Smallhythe Place

'50 things to do before you're 11¾' at Smallhythe Place

The garden at Smallhythe Place is a great place to tick off some of your ’50 Things’ activities. What will you find on your visit?

  • Discover what hides in the banks of our recently rejuvenated pond. Full of life and colour, it's the perfect spot for all sorts of wildlife to bask in the autumnal sun or make a home.

  • Our bug hotels, log piles and rockeries are a great place to hunt for bugs and hold a scary beast, or to find some snails to race.

  • Go bird watching and follow our resident swallows swooping in and out of the Theatre Tea-room and across the bright skies.

  • Take a stroll through our orchards and pick an apple straight from a tree, crisp and juicy they are too good to resist.

  • Create some wild art with fallen leaves from our trees, acorns from the oak trees and greenery and twigs from our hedges.

  • Gather the scattered conkers and play a game with a friend.

A young child doing arts and crafts at Smallhythe Place

Discover Smallhythe's History

Smallhythe Place is full of hidden secrets, history and unique artefacts. Grab one of our House, Property or Shipbuilding quizzes from Visitor Reception and see what you can learn as you explore the house and grounds. For our littler visitors we have an interactive spot sheet, let your young ones lead you around the rooms and see what they can find.

Two young boys filling out the property quiz at Smallhythe Place

Nature Trails in the garden

Explore the autumnal outdoors with a nature trail in the garden, a great way to keep the kids busy and get them out in the fresh air. Grab a trail sheet from visitor reception and follow the pictures around the garden, what word will be revealed once the trail is complete?.

Family enjoying a nature trail at Smallhythe Place

Conservation in action (25th and 26th October, 2-3.30pm)

As we draw towards the end of our open season at Smallhythe Place, we start to think about the winter clean and 'putting the house to bed'. Watch members of our house team demonstrate the different procedures that our unique collection of over 9000 artefacts undergo each year over the winter. They are checked, cleaned, recorded, conserved and safely stored away to prevent any damage throughout the colder months.

Catch our final production of the season in the Barn Theatre

The Barn Theatre at Smallhythe Place, the home of actress Ellen Terry from 1899 to 1928 at Tenterden, Kent

Book your tickets here 

There is a lot going on at Smallhythe this year. Find out more about our events and productions in the Barn Theatre, there is something for everyone.

 

Celebrate the suffrage movement with our new Women and Power exhibition and displays

Ellen Terry and Edy Craig at Smallhythe Place

'Triumphant Women' at Smallhythe Place 

2018 marks the 100 year anniversary of women achieving the vote. Across the Trust, we are exploring the stories and impact of women at the special places we care for in our Women and Power programme. Find out about the powerful women of Smallhythe Place and their roles in the suffrage movement.