Bring your Little Ones to Grim’s Dyke for a spellbinding adventure
Join Claudia for a magical family storywalk around the grounds of Grims Dyke hotel and gardens on Bank Holiday Monday May 30th at 10.30 am.
Stopping at different features in the grounds, local storyteller, Claudia Mernick will entertain both children and adults with tales of fairies, giants, trolls, animals, and humans – all characters inspired by these woods.
About Claudia
Claudia lives in Harrow and knows the area well. This is her the third year of storytelling walks and she also leads tours for the hotel on the history of the house and gardens.
“Grims Dyke is, of course, well known for being the home of W S Gilbert of Gilbert and Sullivan opera fame – who lived here from 1890 until his death in the lake in 1911.
W.S Gilbert and wife Kitty were sadly unable to have children but loved to entertain and host children’s parties for their friends. So we are carrying on the tradition and introducing more families to the delights of Grim’s Dyke Hotel and its ground.
But the house has an EVEN richer history than that. It was initially owned by an artist, Frederick Goodall, who landscaped the grounds and designed its beautiful setting. During the World War 2 , the house was used for covert intelligence operations and after the war, it was turned into a TB sanatorium. Later it was used for film locations until it finally became a hotel.
And so at certain times of the day, it truly does have a magical atmosphere of mystery and romance which absolutely lends itself to storytelling. I feel W S Gilbert would approve – as a weaver of stories and rhymes himself. “
Storytelling in the Woods
A family event for children aged 4+ On: Spring Bank Holiday
On: Spring Bank Holiday Monday May 30th
Time: 10.30am – 11.30am
Cost: £5 per child / adults free
Other Walks and Talks with Claudia
Claudia Mernick has lived in Harrow for around thirty years and worked as a librarian at the Royal Institute of British Architects. Having an interest in historic buildings , she has always known about Grims Dyke Hotel and grounds and visited it many times.
A second storytelling walk will be held on the Bank Holiday Monday , August 29th with a different programme.
And this summer, Claudia will also be doing a monthly morning History Tour of the House and Grounds. This starts at 10.30 – 11.30am. Cost: £10 and includes a free tea or coffee. Advance booking is necessary via the hotel. Dates for these are: Mondays: 6th June, 4th July, 1st August, and 5th September.