The Classic team recently paid a visit to The Story of Emily, an immersive historical experience located in the small village of St Ive in South Cornwall.
The history of Emily Hobhouse
The Story of Emily tells you the fascinating life of the inspirational Emily Hobhouse, who lived in the rectory in St Ive, near Liskeard, with her family until the age of 34.
When the Anglo-Boer War began in 1899, Emily became involved in the South African Conciliation Committee, which opposed the war. She then later set up the South African Women and Children Distress Fund. In the early 1900s, as the war continued, Emily travelled to South Africa alone in order to help women and children who had been sent to concentration camps, and witnessed the terrible conditions they were living in, including a lack of food and clean water and battling harsh weather and disease. Emily stayed at the camps for months, providing reports to the government and helping to improve the terrible conditions. Sadly, Emily faced criticism from the press, public, and British Government and was viewed as a traitor for exposing the conditions of the concentration camps. In 1902, Emily attempted to return to the camps but was arrested and deported on her arrival in South Africa.
When the war ended, Emily returned to South Africa, where thousands of families had nothing left and very limited access to food. She raised £10,000 for a planting and ploughing plan, helping many families to grow their own crops again. Following this, Emily set up 26 weaving and spinning schools and a lace-making school to provide women with skills and employment.
The Story of Emily
On arrival, we were greeted warmly by the team at the entrance and given some information and a map of the site. We were then invited to watch a short, creative introductory video, which explains what you can expect from your visit. After this, we ventured outside and followed the path through the beautiful gardens towards The Rectory, where we stepped into Emily’s childhood home.
The Rectory: Discover Emily’s childhood home
Explore Emily’s childhood home with a visit to The Rectory, which has been restored to how it was in 1875. When we arrived at The Rectory, we rang the bell and stepped inside, where we were given a headset, which guided us through the house, along with some traditional Victorian slippers to wear during our visit.
We wandered around every room, from the school room to the bedrooms and reading room, discovering the scullery and larders, and seeing where the maids slept. On the top floor, there’s a range of Victorian clothes to try on, and even a photo room with two different backdrops to pose in front of. We had great fun trying on a few outfits here! This part of the experience takes approximately 30 minutes to one hour.
The War Rooms: Delve into the history of the Anglo-Boer War
After a wander around The Rectory, we made our way to The War Rooms. This was an experience we will remember for a very long time! Here, you are given another headset and a pair of South African veldskoen to wear. This fantastic immersive experience takes you on both Emily’s journey and the history of the Anglo-Boer War, and lasts a little under two hours.
On your journey, you’ll find out how a typical family lived in 1897 and how the Anglo-Boer War began. You’ll follow scenes of the war, step into the houses of parliament in London, and join Emily on her journey to the concentration camps. This is shown through film, virtual reality, animation, photographs, and artefacts, making it a unique and special experience.
The Restaurant
After visiting The Rectory and The War Rooms, we made our way to The Restaurant. This warm, light and modern restaurant looks out over the gardens and greenhouse, with a menu celebrating the delicious cuisine of 19th-century South Africa. With breakfast, lunch, and snacks on the menu, you can sample the delicious heritage recipes, including ‘slappap’ (porridge), ‘roosterkoek’ (grilled bread), and ‘hertzoggies’ (jam and coconut tart).
We tried the ‘ouma onder die kombers’, a traditional dish of cabbage and lentil meatballs, ‘roosterkoek’ with farm butter, and grilled vegetables, all washed down with a South African honeybush iced tea. It truly was delicious, made with local, fresh produce, in a peaceful setting. And the staff were wonderful!
The Gardens
We thoroughly enjoyed strolling around the sun-soaked and beautifully maintained gardens, blooming with colourful flowers. There’s a delightful Victorian Glasshouse and the idyllic Kitchen Garden - you might even spot the resident chickens and turkey here! Near the entrance, you’ll also find some traditional garden games.
Visit The Story of Emily
We would highly recommend a visit to The Story of Emily. Everything has been so well-thought out, and the staff were so friendly and knowledgeable.
The story of Emily is open on Wednesdays, 9am to 4pm, and Thursdays to Sundays, 9am to 5pm. For more information and to book your visit, head to the Story of Emily website.
And if you’re looking for somewhere to stay within easy reach, browse our collection of holiday cottages in South Cornwall here.
