Ordsall Hall is great for families

ORDSALL HALL in Salford, a mile or so from the city centre and less than a mile from Salford Quays, has been revamped and refurbished. 

Fun facts are everywhere such as due to low water quality even children were allowed a much safer eight pints of beer a day - usually very low in alcohol of course.

Given a dose of Heritage Lottery Fund medicine its become a cracking visit for families. 

Even without the regular events the beautiful old hall, that in part dates back to the 1300s, is full of interest. There is a trail to take part in, clothes for dressing up and lots of activities to be sampled. 

Our lot dressed like noblemen in the Great Hall (pictured here, with one pretending to dislike the hypothetical wine) and then as soldiers with armour in the Star Chamber.

The exhibition on foods in the kitchen is excellent. It is set up as though for a wedding feast in 1572. The former bigwigs, the posh Radclyffe family, had to utilise all that was to hand, and there was plenty about in the fields and streams of Salford five hundred years ago. It's very hands-on in this kitchen, the kids can get their mitts on a stuffed pigeon for example. If they should so wish...

Fun facts are everywhere such as due to low water quality even children were allowed a much safer eight pints of beer a day - usually very low in alcohol.

Upstairs there's the Frederic Shields room named after an artist that came to live here. It tells the story of the house and again has plenty for the family to do. A walk round the small grounds is worthwhile. Plants will included apple and pear varieties from the late Middle Ages. The ducks are very curious beasts in the moat. 

Of course Ordsall has a tearoom and a shop. It has lots of ghosts too. There's a ghost webcam to view at www.salford.gov.uk/ghostcam

The delight of Ordsall lies in the clever way its been refurbished, the attention to detail and the realisation that you can include kids activities without getting in the way of other sightseers. 

It's also free.

Shame the opening hours are so bizarre. Monday to Friday it's 10am-4pm, Sunday it's 1pm-4pm, but on Saturday it's closed.

Explain that one dear Salford Council would you?