A RECORD number of visitors stepped back into medieval times at a country estate.

The beautiful setting of the National Trust's Brockhampton Estate and moated medieval manor house at Lower Brockhampton, near Bromyard, hosted the Medieval Festival during the spring bank holiday weekend.

Crowds were entertained with maypole dancing, mummer’s plays and appearances from the Ledbury Waytes, Sylvester the Jester, Sir John Savile’s Household and the Elysium Theatre Company.

Eighty pupils from Brockhampton Primary School were among those who visited the festival on Friday, May 23 and they even joined in the procession at the end of the day with their hand-made dragon masks, created with help of National Trust volunteer Philip Loe.

Ari Volanakis, National Trust operations manager at the property, said: “The National Trust values of loving places, sharing a common purpose, thinking long term and above all inspiring people are the foundation of everything we do here at the Brockhampton Estate.

“Our volunteers are beyond value. We would not function without their energy and talents, they are our backbone. We really do have a fantastic team of staff and volunteers and a huge thank you to everyone who visited the estate and all our demonstrators.”

The festival was partly funded by a grant from the Arts Council.