DENNIS SEVERS QUERIES
 

I WANT TO VISIT THE DENNIS SEVERS HOUSE WITH A FAMILY OF FOUR FIRST WEEK IN APRIL

IS MONDAY NITE VISIT WORTH THE EXTRA LBS?

IS IT APPROPRIATE FOR AN 11 YEAR OLD GIRL?

THANX

Be forewarned that you are going to be severely criticized for comitting that more horrible of offenses, namely using all capital letters in your posting.

WHAT IS THE DENNIS SEVERS HOUSE ??

Hi
You know your 11-year-old girl best.
The experience is about old furnishings and conjuring up the idea that a family from many years ago still lives there--food left on the table, sound effects, etc.

www.dennissevershouse.co.uk

Elaine,
I am interested in the Dennis Severs House , its on my to do list next time I am in London.
I have tried several times over the past few months to open the Severs URL ( the same one you provided in your own posting) but have never been able to.
The splash screen appears showing the photo of the outside of the house, but I'm never able to "enter".
That's why I suggested the other URL to the original poster.
Maybe everyone but I can "enter. " :-(

HI
there must be a quirk with your computer, I'm able to enter the site
It's good to have both websites anyway, I didn't have yours before

Went to Dennis Sever's house years ago when he took you around and wove a story round the place - he was close to certifiable but interesting. Now, I understand, it's a bit more of a 'museum'. Either way, an interesting place and definitely fine for kids and worth paying the extra few quid to see at night time (if this is what you mean by Monday night) when the place comes alive with candles etc (assuming it's dark-ish in early evening in April).

If you go in the evening, pop over to Brick Lane for a curry to get the full East End experience

I visited Dennis Severs house on a Monday night last year.The main difference with a night visit is that the house is only lit by candlelight.You must also make reservations in advance for the evening visit.
The whole point of his house is to recreate a time capsule of a family of weavers in the 17th century.When you enter each room its as if the dwellers of the house have just departed that room.So you will find half eaten plates of food,and all the smells that go with it.The hosts are trying to go beyond the usual museum visit and to really engage all your senses in the experience.
Be forewarned that the hosts insit on absolute silence durring your entire visit.No Talking is allowed.
The houses motto is,"Either you see it or you don't."

thanks (no caps) for the responses

It sounds fascinating to me . . . the night visit is probably more unique. I've made the reservation. I wonder if our 11 year old daughter can comply with the silence rule?

I've been curious about this place, too, and having read about it recommended it to a friend who was taking her precocious and delightful 9-year-old for his first visit to London. I've just heard back from her that she and her son went to the Severs House and were turned away -- the house would not admit children! What a disappointment and annoyance. If the place has some sort of "no children under 10" rule, they should post it on the website. Anyway, be forewarned.

We went, at night, in 1989. The experience was unique and it was very well done. The man next to me had been at least once before and it brought tears to his eyes. I wonder if it's done as well now that Dennis is gone?

"If the place has some sort of "no children under 10" rule, they should post it on the website."

I went to the short description on the website where jumping right out at me was the statement: "not really suitable for children under 12 years old". What part of that don't you understand, Cuttle?

Thanks for the snotty reply, Patrick. My reading comprehension is just fine. The notice you quote is a suggestion, not a prohibition. "Not really suitable" doesn't equal "No children allowed." If mclegal, for instance were to decide that her 11-year-old was more mature than most 12-tear-olds, nothing in that remark would keep her from taking her daughter to the Severs House and expecting to be admitted. Yet we now know that they would be turned away. So perhaps my note wasn't entirely pointless.

Not that I've ever seen the notice you mention. Maybe my old eyes are having trouble reading the text against the background (it's happened before), but I've been over the website at http://www.dennissevershouse.co.uk/ again and I still don't see it. Certainly not under "Opening Times," where it would make most sense, nor under "Tour" or "The Plot." But I'm sure you must be right, as you're willing to publicly insult a perfect stranger to show just how right you are.

If you read to the end of the Tour, on the site..it says that an "absurd but commonly made error is thinking that it might be amusing or appropriate for children.."
that should answer the 11 year old child question.