Can anyone remember what this children's programme was called?

[HeadFairy]

Sometime in the early 80s I think, about a group of children (they may have been related) either living in or near a big castle/stately home. One of them discovered a ring, which when he put it on, it stuck for 24 hours, during which time all the statues in the gardens and house came alive, when the ring fell off, one of the other children put it on, and this time it stuck for only 12 hours but again all the statues came alive... and so on. It's been bugging me forever, I really loved it, but can't remember the name of it.

[MrsSprat]

I remember it, but b*ggered if I can remember the name

[wotsits]

Ooh yes, what was it called? (sorry, not helping)

[BitOfFun]

Was it an E nesbit type thing with statues of dinosaurs?

[justkeepswimming]

on this thread there are various suggestions?

[PortAndLemon]

Could have been an adaptation of E. Nesbit's The Enchanted Castle -- the BBC did one in 1979 that I vaguely remember.

[boogeek]

The Enchanted castle! Based on a book (which I have upstairs) by Noel Streatfield I think.

[HeadFairy]

Annoying isn't it? I can remember one scene when they make an "audience" for a play they're putting on, they're all kind of scarecrows, and then one of them puts the ring on and all the scarecrows come alive and they love the play. There was also a temple to the Godess Flora in the gardens and the statue of Flora comes alive in one bit too....

[Winetimeisfinetime]

Were there any songs in the prog ? I couldn't remember the name of a children's tv programme from my past, which was really bugging me until I tried putting the words from the theme tune into Google and it came up with the name of the show.

[boogeek]

Oops, cross posted. Yes, E. Nesbitt.

[HeadFairy]

that must be it, the Enchanted Castle!! Blimey that's bugged me all day. It was terribly BBC, the children were all from the Children's theatre workshop or something, very enthusiastic and had posh accents...

Wow, thanks everyone. Now I've got to try and see if it's on DVD... my niece would love it.

[BitOfFun]

Blimey, it doggone terrified me when I was a kid!