ILKLEY Manor House is launching a virtual programme of online activities including Friday night story time, Family Fun challenges, historical learning activities, music and poetry readings, whilst people have to stay at home due to coronavirus.

“With the Manor House currently closed we wanted to find ways of bringing some of our regular and popular events, activities and exhibitions to the community, online. What we have planned are daily arts and heritage themed activities, catering for all age groups and allowing us to continue to connect with our ‘visitors’ in a new and exciting way,” said Sarah Thomas, chair of the Ilkley Manor House Trust.

The new virtual programme kicks off this Friday with ‘Story Time at the Manor House’ at 4pm, a reading of the classic ‘The Little Red Hen.’ Each Friday afternoon families will be able to end the week by ‘tuning-in’ to hear a short traditional fairy tale recorded in front of the wonderful fireplace in the Manor House. “Just in case anyone is concerned this filming was done before the ‘lock down as implemented. We will seek appropriate alternative filming locations for future stories,” said Sarah.

On Saturday’s the ever-popular Family Fun sessions will be available, on the Ilkley based heritage property’s social media pages, giving parents fun, online resources and activities for the Manor House’s younger visitors to do at home. Families will be invited to post and share the results of their sessions online.

The Manor House team have also been talking to musicians that were due to play in the house during the Spring programme. It is hoped that they can record some of their pieces and post these on the Manor House’s social media platforms.

Sarah added: “Coronavirus has meant we have to close our physical doors for the time being, but we are still able to bring the rich historical and cultural life of the Manor House to our online platforms. We hope that these will help in some small way to keep us connected as a community.”

For find out more about Ilkley Manor House visit www.ilkleymanorhouse.org or Facebook @ilkleymanorhouse Twitter @manorhouseilk Instagram @ilkleymanorhouse