Visitors enjoy magical evening at Ayscoughfee Enlightenment event in Spalding

Visitors to a historic hall were transported back to the 18th century this evening to enjoy the delights of a Georgian Pleasure Garden.

Ayscoughfee Hall and Gardens in Spalding was magically lit with lanterns and filled with music and dance - along with some of its famous residents.

Families, couples and friends enjoyed a wonderful walk around the gardens - which still retains much of its Georgian style - during the Ayscoughfee Enlightenment revival event.

More than 3,000 tickets have been sold for the event, which was organised and ran by South & East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership’s Story Tellers programme, in collaboration with specialist historical production organisation Heroine City.

Museum manager Julia Knight said the event has been a year in the making and was inspired by Bridgerton and Vanity Fair.

Speaking before the event opened, she said: “We are really excited.

“We have hosted the light night previously but nothing like this and on this scale.

“As far as we know nothing like this has been done before. We felt that it would be a unique thing to do.

“We want to do more historical things like this.”

Former resident Maurice Johnson II, who founded Spalding Gentlemen’s Society which is currently based at the hall, returned to Ayscoughfee along with his wife Elizabeth - who had 26 children - during the revival.

Visitors were also able to learn more about the hall’s previous residents along with wandering around the lantern-lit paths.

A Mirnesse choir is also performing along with wandering musicians and a quartet.

Liz Kelleher created a spectacle for the eyes with her Earth themed installation and there are also fire gardens to enjoy.

Visitors were also able to learn more about Fens legend of Tiddy Mun during one of the installations.

Guests were also encouraged to get involved by wearing Georgian themed dress - and James Fordham, of Moulton Chapel, did just that.

Wearing a period hat, he said: “I jut wanted to get into the spirit of things.”

Story Tellers is the Partnership's Arts Council England NPO programme, which aims to fund art and culture activities and collaborations centred on the area’s rich heritage, bringing to life stories across Boston borough, East Lindsey and South Holland.

Ayscoughfee Enlightenment will run tomorrow (Saturday) and some tickets are still available from: https://ayscoughfeeenlightenment.eventbrite.co.uk

Did you go along tonight? What did you think?