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Kid-Sized Fun At the Roald Dahl Museum & Story Centre
For families planning for a trip during their children’s school
holidays this year end, they are in for a treat - Britain now
has a wonderful new attraction especially popular with the children,
especially those who grew up with tales of Mr Fox, the Big Friendly
Giant, Charlie and Mr Wonka and all the rest of Roald Dahl's
unforgettable characters!
The Roald Dahl Museum And Story Centre
Born of Norwegian parents, Dahl – author of “Charlie and the
Chocolate Factory” and many other well-loved books – spent most of
his adult life in the quiet Chiltern village of Great Missenden, 32
miles north-west of London. Here, not far from his home, The Roald
Dahl Museum and Story Centre opened in June 2005. It’s not exactly
Charlie’s Chocolate Factory, though it does have ‘chocolatey’ doors
and is crammed with manuscripts, letters, photographs, his Ideas
Books and other treasured possessions. From the figure of the BFG
(Big Friendly Giant) on the wall outside, to the bench that turns
out to be a crocodile, the building is themed to his characters and
stories.
Galleries tell the story of Dahl’s life and work using audio-visual
and touch-screen aids. Perhaps of most interest to younger visitors
are a collection of his favourite jokes and limericks – and there is
a full-size replica of his writing hut and its contents, standing in
an ‘orchard’ made of giant versions of Quentin Blake’s
illustrations.
Dahl’s fans are likely to grow in number with the new movie version
of “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”, starring Johnny Depp.
Knowing his outspoken nature, what Dahl would have made of another
new family attraction is anyone’s guess. What is clear, though, is
that Seven Stories, the Centre for Children’s Books, is full of
surprises: from unconventional exhibitions to entertaining
activities.
The first centre of its kind in Britain, the attraction, opened in
August in Newcastle upon Tyne, is the culmination of seven years of
pioneering work to develop a national home for children’s
literature. The motivation was to treasure the original work of
British authors and illustrators within the UK and preserve an
important part of national heritage. As well as seeing manuscripts
and original artwork, visitors can climb into the “artist’s attic”
(the attraction is situated in a tall building close to a Victorian
mill) to meet ‘real’ writers and illustrators and discover the art
of story making.
Also here is a complete collection of Ladybird Books, which were
sold at pocket-money prices for 60 years from 1940-1999; and the
personal archive of the late Kaye Webb, editor of Puffin Books until
the late 70s, containing many children's classics, such as, Stig of
the Dump, and The Hobbit. The café boasts a menu inspired by
children’s books – so don’t be surprised to find green eggs and ham
as dish of the day!
Book Newcastle-upon-Tyne Hotels here
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