So today was a big field trip day – well actually it wasn’t quite but almost.  We took a day out and just happened to visit sites that were of interest to my historical research.   Yes I did suggest we take a day out and yes I did suggest where we went but honest my wife enjoyed herself.  Really??

So the first stop on this magical mystery tour was Tutbury Castle – a wonderful Norman pile over looking beautiful rolling Staffordshire and Derbyshire countryside and the River Dove.   Beyond the Dove in the distance are the peaks of Derbyshire Peak District.  So long as you look north and west the view are pretty good.  Look east and you see a large Toyota car factory and Ratcliffe Power Station and the A50, which runs along the valley is hidden in its own woodlands.  So the views mainly are pretty good.

The view from the castle dow to the Nestle factory

The Norman Motte at Tutbury

Now it is perhaps not the most scientific way to judge whether any establishment or attraction is any good but I always use the Gluten test.  It is very simple.  You go to the cafe or restaurant and ask “What have you got that is gluten free?”   If the person serving looks at you like you are speaking in tongues or simply dismisses you with “We don’t do gluten free” – If I have that response then the place isn’t worth the trouble.  However, if the response is that they have several products or, better still, the chef will ensure that what ever you word is gluten free then you know the establishment is worth considering.

Tutbury Castle I’m sorry to say failed with the person in the little coffee shop come restaurant looking blankly, shock her head and said, “We don’t have anything gluten free.”  I was ready to walk out but wife said it was alright as she had brought a gluten free snack bar with her.

So bad marks to Tutbury Castle.  It got even worse when you walked around the place.  There were no signs explaining many of the features.  Occasionally you would get some half worn out notice but most of the features were just blank.  Now I’m sure if you bought the guide this might help but we had already paid to get in and the least we could expect are informative signs outside by each of the features.  Fortunately, I was able to bore my wife rigid with lots of details but she likes to read about these things and not just listen to me…she gets plenty of opportunity to do that!

So Tutbury castle is interesting if you already know what you’re looking at and also know about it connection with Mary, Queen of Scots, this is where she was caught smuggling messages in beer kegs from nearby Burton on Trent.  It was also a stop off on her last journey  to meet the executioner’s block.

After this we went to the National Trust property at Sudbury Hall.   Now the National Trust is one of the best organisations for accommodating people who need to have a gluten free diet and Sudbury was no exception.   What hadn’t taken account of was that it has a museum of Childhood and so the place was really busy with young kids running around the place.

However, few of the children were being taken around the hall itself and this was it usual mix of history and amazement at what people with too much money will spend it on.  The main stair case at Sudbury is a riot but totally over the top.

After this it was across the Needwood Forest, passing Loxley, always associated with Robin of Loxley AKA Robin Hood (although South Yorkshire probably has a much better claim) and Chartley Castle, another place where Mary Queen of Scotts had been incarcerated and then back home.

All round a grand day out, even if Tutbury Castle spoilt things somewhat, and I’ve got loads of new information to sift through for my historical research.