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The events list for 2007 has been archived as a record of the places we visited. We are returning to some of these venues in 2008 as well as many new events which are on our current calendar.
JUNE 9-10 COLCHESTER OYSTER FAYRE, ESSEX A popular medieval event with a traders' market, archery competition and events. Look out for the nuns with tales of relics and dubious cures. http://www.oysterfayre.flyer.co.uk/index.html JUNE 23-24 JANE IN JUNE AT BASILDON PARK, BERKSHIRE Throughout June there are weekend themed events ranging between period flower arrangements and story telling. The last weekend in June sees members of The Guild bringing the period to life as characters of the time. Photos from this event are in the gallery. http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-vh/w-visits/w-events/w-events-find_event.htm?propertyID=254 JULY 1 HINCHINGBROOKE COUNTRY PARK, CAMBRIDGESHIRE A return of the increasingly popular day when Cambridgeshie Archaeology explain finds and sites in their area. Activities for children. Living history interpretation is given by The Guild and Dark Ages groups. http://www.camlearn.net/events/events.php?id=589§ion=6 JULY 7-8 TEWKESBURY MEDIEVAL FESTIVAL, GLOUCESTERSHIRE The whole town is invaded by the medieval period. Battles, traders' market, demonstrations, compline in the Abbey and re enactment of a particularly bloody moment in English history. Try playing spot The Guild members in all that! http://www.tewkesburymedievalfestival.org/ JULY 21-22 & 28-29 BERKELEY CASTLE, GLOUCESTERSHIRE (M5 Jct. 13 or 14, then A38, AA signposted for Joust) Joust is a huge and well established event with everything anyone can expect from a sequence of medieval events. All sorts of events, battles and a traders' authentic market for retail therapy. PLEASE NOTE: according to the official Joust website this event has had to be completely abandoned for the second weekend, that of the 28-29th. The unprecedented flood levels and strain on local infrastructure mean that everything including the banquets has been cancelled. Make a note in your diairies to support next year's event. http://www.joust.info/ AUGUST 3-4 ROTHERHAM, SOUTH YORKSHIRE 800 years ago in 1207 King John gave Rotherham its charter as a market town. This anniversary is being celebrated over the Friday and Saturday with the recreation of a bustling medieval market, with demonstrators and entertainers as well as traders. Local producers are involved with a Farmers' Market, and there will also be a Continental Market. All in all a fantastic opportunity to get involved and shop, shop, shop, whilst getting a taste of what life was like all that time ago. AUGUST 25-27 HERSTMONCEAUX CASTLE, SUSSEX (off the A271 Hailsham - Battle road, but clearly signposted) Thousands already come to this enormous medieval event sited around the brick castle. Pitched battles, smaller demonstrations, whole households of living history and, of course, period retail therapy. A dancing bear, jesters and horsemanship usually also feature. Members of The Guild will be there with their feet firmly on the ground. http://www.mgel.com/ SEPTEMBER 8-9 HAM HILL, SOMERSET (Look for Stoke sub Hamdon, off the A3088 from Yeovil, and follow brown tourist signs for Ham Hill) A multi period event, with the characters from all periods up to Victorian in a fantastic open site setting. The Guild will be showing aspects of Romano- British life, including story telling and textile making. http://www.southsomerset.gov.uk/index.jsp?articleid=687
SEPTEMBER 8 HOUGHTON REGIS,BEDFORDSHIRE Lots of events going on here today as part of a town festival. Look out for medieval Guild nuns with tales of relics and life, have a go calligraphy and the musical instrument maker. http://www.southbeds.gov.uk/leisure_culture/events/Events_Calendar.aspx SEPTEMBER 13-14 WALSINGHAM VILLAGE, NORFOLK
This exciting event staged on the Thursday afternoon/ Friday is the culmination of a proper medieval pilgrimage from Norwich to the shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham. A bunch of intrepid pilgrims are walking between these two points in full medieval attire, sleeping where invited, and due to arrive in Walsingham during Thursday afternoon. They will be met by traders, hucksters, charlatans and the riff raff of medieval life who will also entertain visitors. The following day is for school children, with educational events at three points in the village particularly associated with medieval pilgrimage. The Anglican church can help with more information. SEPTEMBER 29-30 QUEENHYTHE PIRATES FESTIVAL, SHEPPEY Yo ho ho and members of The Guild will be amongst the 1660s pirate mayhem in this festival organised by the Sheppey Pirates. This year commemorates the occasion when the Dutch fleet attacked up the River Thames. http://www.sheppeypirates.org/Raids-a-planning.htm OCTOBER 20-21 MANNINGTON HALL, SAXTHORPE, NORFOLK The Norfolk History Fair will be taking place at this 15th century site for the first time. This new multi period event sounds most exciting and the Guild will be there in the form of a Georgian tea dealer and a smuggler. There is far more to tea than Typhoo and similar brands, so if you want to know more about its aphrodisiac qualities, call by their tent. Don't trust what the smuggler offers; like most of his ilk he is a cad and a bounder which is how he became so wealthy. http://livinghistory.co.uk/homepages/MANNINGTON OCTOBER 27-28 GWLEDD CONWYFEAST, WALES This is an exciting food festival which has run for three years and is in venues in the town and the spectacular castle. Celebrating the best of Welsh produce and its place in history, there are demonstrations and stalls. The Guild will be there with dodgy traders (look but don't try to buy) and sailor's stories. http://www.conwyfeast.co.uk/ DECEMBER 13-15 NORWICH CATHEDRAL MEDIEVAL MARKET This event in the cloisters of the Cathedral promises to be a spectacular finale to the events we've attended this year. There is a river boat park and ride available, lots of costumed traders, a spectacular setting (with heating), on-going entertainments and a hog roast to stave off hunger pangs. Best of all it stays open until 7pm each evening. See our front page article for more details, or click the link below. http://www.cathedral.org.uk/pages/html/downloads/med_fayre.pdf |
