A taste of what enjoying yourself might have looked like in Stevenage 500 years ago was on display at Stevenage Museum on Saturday as the heritage base opened its doors after an eight-month closure.

The Comet: Fran Burrows, Linda Duckworth and Hilary Bushill dressed in Tudor costume for the museum re-openingFran Burrows, Linda Duckworth and Hilary Bushill dressed in Tudor costume for the museum re-opening (Image: Archant)

The museum in St George’s Way had to shut its doors in July last year after heavy rains flooded the building and damaged the floors in the main lecture hall.

But on Saturday musicians and dancers dressed in Tudor costume took to the floor to strut their stuff in the spring sunshine.

Onlookers were treated to dancing and singing backed by traditional Tudor instruments.

There was also a Tudor mystery object quiz for the kids, and refreshments.

The Comet: Tudor dancing at the re-opening of Stevenage MuseumTudor dancing at the re-opening of Stevenage Museum (Image: Archant)

The event was organised by museum staff with the help of new youth volunteers who are pupils at the town’s Nobel School.

Councillor Richard Henry, the council’s head of leisure, said: “It was fantastic to see Stevenage Museum fully open for the public to enjoy once again and we had such a strong turnout with more than 200 people attending.

“The Tudor-themed activities were a huge hit and it was nice to see some traditional dancing on our new floor.

“I would like to thank our staff and volunteers who have worked incredibly hard ahead of the reopening for all their efforts.”

The museum, underneath St Andrew and St George’s church in the town centre, tells the story of the Stevenage from the Stone Age, through its development as Britain’s first postwar new town and up to the present day.

The museum is open on Wednesdays to Fridays from 10am to 4.30pm and on Saturdays from 10am to 5pm. It is closed on bank holidays. To find out more about what is going on at the museum visit www.stevenage.gov.uk/news-and-events.