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...and he's hidden some easter eggs around the place! Families who come to the Museum of St Albans between Friday 2nd and Sunday 18th April 2010 can search for the eggs, solve the clues and maybe even get a prize. You can also do some fun Easter colouring and have a look at some Easter cards which were posted over a hundred years ago! And don't forget, the Easter egg hunt, and admission to the Museum of St Albans, is FREE!

Easter card with bunny and chicks in eggs

You can have a look at some Easter cards like this one at the museum over the Easter weekend. Some are over 100 years old!

Download an Easter Egg Hunt flyer:

See more old Easter Cards on our Facebook fan page (this link will open in a new window)

We are always working to make sure that there is plenty for children and families to do at St Albans Museums. Hopefully anyone who enjoyed the Christmas Cats trail will have a go at this one too, and it will give our regular visitors something new to do in the galleries. We will keep you posted throughout the year about new activities for adults and children at both our museums, and if you are a visitor who has some suggestions about how we can improve things for you, please do get in touch!

This year St Albans is hosting celebrations for the Magna Carta, the great charter agreed in 1215 between King John and his barons. St Albans and its abbey played their part in the events surrounding this momentous step on the way to many of our most valued freedoms.

At the time of Magna Carta, the monastery at St Albans was famous for its learned monks, like Matthew Paris, who produced many handwritten and beautifully decorated books for their own and other libraries. The first letter of a chapter as beautifully decorated although it was still recognizable. We call these letters illuminated letters.

Example of a modern copy of a medieval illuminated letter

This is the sort of illuminated letter you might come up with. Add as many amazing creatures and patterns as you can!

As part of our celebrations, we are holding a competition for children of primary school age. We would like you to produce an illuminated letter. This could be either the initial of your first name only, or you could write your first name with the first letter decorated. Remember to make the initial/first letter as attractive as you can.

It can be any size up to A4 and you can use paints, crayons, or any medium you choose. It can be in a medieval style, or something you think a modern monk might do. Scripts of any language will be welcome.

Illuminated letters

You can do a single illuminated letter or your whole name.

Download an information sheet about how to enter the competition: