When I was a cub reporter in the Spen Valley I covered a living history event at Oakwell Hall - and discovered my Room 101.

A troupe of actors had taken on the roles of 17th century soldiers, gentry, servants and peasants but they took it so seriously they wouldn't talk to me, or pose for photographs. They refused to acknowledge anyone from the future. "We don't know what a newspaper is," sniffed a servant girl, far too haughtily for someone of her social standing.

They were a bit too comfortable with their roles and they ended up getting on my nerves with their rather smug 17th century chatter. I developed a pet hate of people who spend their weekends re-enacting history.

In the interests of Saturday Space, I took my niece and nephew along to Oakwell Hall for a Living in the Past event featuring the Fairfax Battalia of the English Civil War Society - and I could feel my hackles rising when I spotted a couple of stony-faced guards clutching muskets at the doorway.

But as soon as we entered the hall a friendly guide explained to us, in hushed tones, what was going on. It sounded like we were in for some excitement. "The year is 1647, not long after the Civil War, and the family are sitting down to a banquet," he said. "There is unrest growing among the local poor though, and there may be a riot. You might want to stick around for that." "A riot? Cool," grinned 10-year-old Alex.

Oakwell Hall was built in 1583 and furnished as a family home of the 1690s. Built by John Batt, whose initials appear on the porch, it was home to his colourful family for more than a century. Dominating the landscape, the house established the Batts as one of the area's leading gentry families and John fought with the Royalists as a Captain in the Civil War.

The house was later owned by several landlords and in the 19th century it was a school. When Charlotte Bronte visited the school, it left a strong impression. Oakwell appears in her novel Shirley as Fieldhead, the home of her heroine, and Charlotte describes it as grand but lacking in comforts.

Oakwell Hall may not be there today if it wasn't for Charlotte's involvement.

In 1926 absentee owners decided to sell it amid rumours that the entire structure would be dismantled and shipped to America! At a time of growing interest in the Brontes, a public appeal was launched to save it and two wealthy benefactors bought it for £2,500. It was passed into public ownership in 1929 and the Oakwell Hall Country Park was formed in the 1970s.

Set in 100 acres of woodlands, grasslands, wetlands, ponds and streams, with nature trails, an orienteering course, wildlife garden, picnic garden, equestrian arena and adventure playground, it's a gem of an attraction. Regular battle re-enactments, candle-lit period evenings and other living history events bring its past to life.

You can stroll around the period garden, take a cuppa in the Oak Tree cafe, browse around the gift shop and explore the Discover Oakwell interactive display introducing children - and grown-ups - to the ecology of a country park.

Back in the house, the day-to-day life of 350 years ago was unfolding right in front of us. We shuffled into the main hall, where the Batts' were dining, and the guide talked us through the banquet; trout, crab cakes, home-made belly pork sausages, beetroot salad, spinach on oatmeal biscuits and hunks of bread all washed down with goblets of wine.

The family scoffed away, oblivious to the crowd of visitors peering over their table. In the kitchen, a cook was explaining how he'd made several feet of sausages that morning using an old earthenware pot.

On a large wooden table was an assortment of food, including bowls of spices "worth their weight in gold" in the 1600s. There was a smoky smell from smouldering logs in the huge hearth and various pots and skillets, (three-legged saucepans, common in the 17th century kitchen), stood on a stove where sauces and oatcakes were prepared away from the smoke of the main fire.

A stream of servants came and went, the constant activity and the aroma of food and smoke brought the house alive. We'd stepped back in time to taste and touch history.

We wandered back through the great hall, where a man in a large red hat was talking about old coinage, then upstairs where costumed guides talked us through various aspects of daily life.

Alex and Ellie were particularly intrigued by the urine collectors who came to relieve' the household. Urine came in for all manner of uses and Charles I even put a tax on it! They also liked the idea of everyone living on beer. "Everything ended up in the rivers so you didn't drink the water," said one guide.

When Oakwell entered public ownership it was an empty shell, gradually furnished over the decades.

The furniture includes walnut and cane chairs, great chests of drawers and elaborately-carved beds, including a 1590 tester bed.

In one bedroom a lady with a spinning wheel was turning black fleece into yarn, then there was an announcement of a parish relief court in the great hall.

We made our way to the landing to peer down at the action below; a few visitors had formed a jury to decide whether the poor of the parish deserved financial hand-outs and a series of people in rags trooped in to state their case. Those who left empty-handed were naturally disgruntled.

I noticed a noisy gathering of people outside, someone shouted: "You've got all the food in there," and there were murmurings of discontent. I predicted a riot - a 17th century riot.

Suddenly the guards stormed outside, descending on the peasants. I grabbed the children and we followed the crowd rushing out of the building, where a violent struggle was taking place. Needless to say, the poor folk came off worst. A boy wounded' by a musket was carried into the hall screaming, covered in something resembling blood. His wailing mother followed behind and the guards started roughly rounding everyone up.

It was all very exciting, and a thrilling history lesson for the children. "Was that real blood?" gasped Ellie, her eyes as wide as saucers.

We were pushed for time so we didn't find out what happened to the poor boy. Reluctantly turning out of the car park, we followed the road back to the 21st century, leaving the blood, woodsmoke and sausages of post Civil War life behind.

Hopefully we'll be back there before long.

Information

Destination: Oakwell Hall, Nutter Lane, Birstall How to get there: Take the M606 to the Chain Bar roundabout, take the A58 towards Leeds and the right turn at Birkenshaw roundabout to the A651 Bradford Road, towards Gomersal. Branch left on to the A652 Dewsbury Road and turn left on to Nutter Lane.

Information: Oakwell Hall is open Monday to Friday 11am-5pm and Saturday and Sunday 12 noon to 5pm. There's a small admission charge to the hall, but not the grounds, from March 1 to October 31.

For more details ring (01924) 326240 or visit the website at www.kirklees.gov.uk /museums