The Judge’s Lodging, a fascinating museum in Presteigne, (north of Kington) has been awarded the Sandford Award for Heritage Education - for the second time! This is from the judges’ report - ‘It is a refreshing change to visit a historic property and to be told that you are able to handle any of the Victorian artefacts on display’. The Judge’s Lodging was once described as ‘the most commodious and elegant apartments for a judge in all England and Wales’ and today you can still visit the restored rooms, dingy cells (complete with straw mattress, privy and graffiti) and impressive court room (virtually unchanged since 1830). An audiotour enables the visitor to eavesdrop the world of Richard Lister Venables, Chairman of the Magistrates  (played by Robert Hardy) and Mary the maid. The courtroom echoes to the sound of the trial of William Morgan a local duck thief! You can sit in the judge’s chair and pump water in the kitchen if you like. You can even get married here and there are wonderful events throughout the year like the wine tasting in the judge’s rooms on Aug. 15th, concerts and masterclasses. Often these involve food, prepared by the staff at the Judge’s Lodging, who are masters at creating historical dishes. Click on the photos to take you to the Judge’s Lodging website.