The time-travelling UK attraction where you can visit the past – with staff members who insist they’re in the 1600s
GOING back in time might not be physically possible, but there are places in the UK where it feels like you can do exactly that.
Museums and well-preserved towns offer a brief window into how the country would’ve been at certain stages in its history.
However there’s one place in Wales that offers an experience that’s altogether much more immersive.
Llancaiach Fawr Manor in Trelewis has been restored and furnished as it would have been in 1645, with staff acting as if it is in fact the 1700s.
Visit Wales claim that “visitors step inside to be taken on a journey back to the 17th Century”.
Guests will have the chance to meet the likes of Edward Prichard, the master of the house, and Mistress Mary Prichard, his wife.
There are also the servants who are always there to greet those coming to see the manor, while others pop in from time to time, like the barber surgeon.
An exhibition in the manor tells the story of the Prichard family in their servants, via the objects they left behind.
An interactive touch table features interesting games for young visitors who want to explore the lives of the servants in greater depth.
Meanwhile, for those who are interested in the house’s spookier past, ghost tours run during the winter months from October through to December.
Previous residents, members of staff and many visitors swear they have experienced ghostly goings on at the manor and those brave enough can try and witness the same thing during the special tours.
Episodes of TV show Most Haunted were filmed in the manor, as well as other ghoulish TV shows and YouTube videos.
Anyone not so interested in ghosts and keen to experience the manor in the safety of daylight can make the most of dining opportunities, including a popular afternoon tea menu.
Three course Sunday lunches can also be enjoyed on site, as well as a selection of snacks, hot meals and homemade cakes from the cafe menu.
Previous visitors have been very impressed with their trip back in time at Llancaiach Fawr.
One wrote on TripAdvisor: “This was surprisingly interesting and very well done. Went with my twelve year old and we enjoyed every minute.
“Learnt a lot about the period and the area. The ‘servants’ are not reading from a script but are clearly interested in everything that went on in that time and tell amazing stories.
“The Barber Surgeon was in residence and what a character.”
Another said: “the tour and guides at Llancaiach Fawr offer you something really special. VERY informative and interesting.
A third added: “What a fun and interesting journey back in time. The guides were charming, informative, and stayed in character all the time they were with us.”
There are other places in the UK that offer similar time travelling experiences.
Beamish
The “living museum” of Beamish in County Durham allows people to see what life would have been like in the UK between the 1820s – 1950s, with replica homes, pubs, shops, businesses and more.
What sets Beamish apart from other museums is that it is fully interactive.
Instead of dusty items sitting behind glass cases, it has real people in authentic costumes, demonstrating activities and telling visitors about the type of people they’re representing and their lives.
Black Country Museum
The Black Country Living Museum in Dudley allows visitors to see what life would’ve been like between the 1850s-1960s, with replica high streets, retro houses, businesses, pubs, and even a chippy.
Tourists can step back in time and become immersed in the region’s history, thanks to more than 40 carefully reconstructed buildings that provide a glimpse into life during the 19th and 20th Centuries.
Iron Bridge Gorge
Iron Bridge Gorge at Blists Hill offers a truly immersive experience, that lets people get a pretty good understanding of how life would have been more than 100 years ago.
The living Victorian town is one of several historical sites that make up the series of museums in Shropshire.
It invites visitors to “step back and experience the sights, sounds and smells of Victorian life” through recreated buildings and staff dressed up in authentic outfits that would’ve been worn during the time.
Meanwhile, some people describe this retro town as a “1940s film set”.
And this small town has retro shops and award-winning holiday parks.