Learning volunteer Tricia Kern provides us with this excellent blog about the tussie mussie making at Steyning Parish Church, Steyning, West Sussex.
On 27 October 2022 Fulham Palace were invited to take part in the 500-year celebration of the Tudor Steyning screen. The Screen, made up of two finely carved oak panels are dedicated to the marriage of Henry VIII to Catherine of Aragon. When the screen was commissioned in 1522 the carved panels adorned the walls of the medieval chapel at Fulham Palace. By the Civil War the screen was no longer at the Palace; it is unlikely it would have survived had it still been there, during that period in history. It is thought William Juxon, Bishop of London, may have hidden the wonderfully carved panels with his family members, to save them from destruction.
The Steying screen in situ
Up to 50 children with family and carers attended the event and Fulham Palace’s staff contribution was for Lucy and her colleagues to supply dried herbs and flower heads from the garden. The activity was to help the children make Tudor herbal tussie mussies with herbs from the walled garden. Kate also arranged for Tudor style outfits to be available on the day with various other replica objects from the handling collection.
Volunteer Tricia making tussie mussies
On the day, a member of the congregation dressed up as Henry VIII and set off the proceedings; explaining about the intricacy of the carved screen and why it was being celebrated. The connection to Fulham Palace was mentioned too and Kate was invited to explain the history behind the activity we were offering.
The tussie mussie making was very popular with the children from the start until after the proposed finishing time. Many children came back to our table to ask if they could make more for their family and friends.
Whilst undertaking the activity, children discussed what they were doing, which herb aromas they preferred, what they had studied about the Tudors at school or found out from “King Henry VIII” who was present at the event, and how they were going on to study the Stuarts. For the children who made more than one tussie mussie we were able to explain the aroma from each tussie mussie made would be different, due to the varying amounts of each herb or flower heads used. There were Ukrainian families present, as they are being hosted by the village community and along with other adults present, they joined in as well.
The dressing up and dancing was a great hit with the children and that too, went on for longer than expected. It started off with the event organisers showing the children how to dance a Pavan yet by the end of the afternoon, the children were teaching adults the steps.
The interaction with the children whilst they undertake educational activities is a pleasure to experience and to have so many children come back to our table time and time again meant they were not only enjoying the activity but were getting something more from the experience to ask to have another go.
Recently parishioners from Steyning Parish Church have visited Fulham Palace and there was lots of positive feedback on their tours with Esther and Alexis. It is hoped, in future a group of Fulham Palace volunteers will be able to visit Steyning Church in return and have an opportunity to see the screen for yourselves.
Photos with permission from the Friends of Steyning Church