Imagine going to the town where Roald Dahl lived for 35 years!  Today our study group walked through this picturesque English village and visited the Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre.  The museum is particularly engaging as it follows Dahl's life and has interactive exhibits in each portion.  The first room is based on his first autobiography Boy, with letters he wrote his mother from school,  family photos, notes about pranks, and references and manipulatives related to his books throughout.  Children examining the exhibits were enthralled.  I took a photo of candy wrappers he saved when the company asked the boys at his school to taste test their products.  The seeds of Charlie were sown.

 

Other rooms contained the actual writing hut Dahl used in his back yard, materials for children to create books and artwork, and a replica of the hut's interior so visitors can sit his chair and be photographed.  The doors to one of the rooms look like a giant Wonka bar!

The village itself was charming, with old cottages and lots of beautiful gardens and climbing roses.  We visited Dahl's grave, next to an old church, right up the hill. 

 

We were asked to look for small details today and take a picture of one.  I liked this finial on a fence post.  It seemed ironic to me, as most of the houses in the village were old, or were built to look like they were.  This abode must have been especially so!

 

 

We ended the perfect Roald Dahl day by attending Charlie and the Chocolate Factory: The Musical at the Drury Lane Theatre which is opulent and historic.  The musical was fantastic, with a superb cast and lots of special effects.