Rachel Bellerby's Blog
Posted by Rachel Bellerby
The tenth annual Living History Fair will be held in Warwick between 30 October and 1 November 2009. The popular event attracts history enthusiasts, re-enactors and traders from across Europe.
Organisers are expecting more than 100 traders, selling historical goods relating to periods from early medieval times to the late twentieth century. A number of historical and re-enactment societies will also have stands.
Opening hours are Friday 12am – 6pm, Saturday 10am – 5pm and Sunday 10am – 4pm.
For more information, e-mail Anne Farnsworth or visit the website.
Posted by Rachel Bellerby
Stirling Castle, one of Scotland’s most historic and well-known castles, will play host to a Meet the Legends event on 19 and 20 September. The event, which runs 12 noon – 4pm each day, gives visitors the chance to meet characters including Robert the Bruce, Mary Queen of Scots and Bonnie Prince Charlie.
Tickets are £9 per adult, £4.50 per child and Historic Scotland members have free entry.
For more information, tel 0131 6688885, or visit Historic Scotland’s website.
Posted by Rachel Bellerby
Anyone interested in the world of the Vikings is invited to Bede’s World, Jarrow, in the North-East of England, for a special Meet the Vikings weekend, to be held at the medieval museum on 15 – 16 August.
Visitors will explore the culture, daily life, and military equipment of the Vikings and all the usual attractions, including the medieval farm, medieval herb garden and interactive museum will be open as usual.
For more information, see the website, or tel: 0191 489 2106
Address: Bede’s World, Church Bank, Jarrow, Tyne and Wear NE32 3DY
Posted by Rachel Bellerby
Linlithgow Palace, birthplace of Mary Queen of Scots is the venue for an exciting weekend of medieval-themed activities for all ages.
Visitors will be treated to the sight of armoured knights jousting, alongside falconry displays, archery and costumed performers around the grounds of the castle. The event runs 12.30pm – 4.30pm on both days and is part of Historic Scotland’s programme of the Year of Homecoming.
For more information, tel 01506 842896 or see Historic Scotland’s website.
Posted by Rachel Bellerby
The Old Hall park at Tatton Park, Cheshire, is the venue for the eleventh annual Tatton Park Medieval Fayre, due to take place 20 - 21 June 2009.
The event is designed to recreate the sights and sounds of medieval England, with musicians, traders, and children taking part in re-enactments, alongside medieval soldiers, who will recreate the Battle of Tatton Field.
Other attractions include living history cooking displays, craft displays, falconry, archery and cannon demonstrations.
The event takes place 11am - 5pm and tickets are £5.50 adult, £3 children.
Call 01625 374400 or visit Tatton Park's website for more information
Posted by Rachel Bellerby
Stephen Rippon, professor of landscape archaeology at the University of Exeter, is one of the keynote speakers billed to appear at the York Medieval Seminar, at the University of York.
Stephen will speak on 9 June on the perception and value of medieval wetland landscapes and the following day on Reconstructing estates and territoriality in early medieval England.
On 11 June, the university will host the late medieval French studies symposium conference.
For more information, visit the University of York website events page.
Posted by Rachel Bellerby
Important and previously unpublished English medieval manuscripts relating to the Hundred Years War will be digitised and made available online as part of a three-year project by the University of Oxford and the National Archives.
More than 100 manuscripts, covering the years 1317 – 1468 include writs, grants and diplomatic material relating to English rule in Gascony. Once the documents are online, users will be able to search an online version of the rolls, with a printed version also available.
Posted by Rachel Bellerby
York’s annual Viking Festival, established in 1985, offers a range of Viking-themed events for all ages. Highlights include Making Time Team with Professor Mick Aston of TV’s Time Team, Viking-era crafts, river events, battle re-enactments, story-telling and a Best Beard competition.
An excellent chance to find out more about what life was like in York during the Viking era.
A full programme is on the festival website, or telephone: 0044 1904 543403.
Posted by Rachel Bellerby
More than fifty speakers will appear at the Cardiff Archaeology Festival, organised by Cardiff National Museum and Cardiff University School of History and Archaelogy.
Visitors will have the chance to tour the Roman fortress at Caerleon and the medieval settlement at St Fagans, with expert guides. Speakers confirmed include Brian Fagan, Neil Faulkner and James Barrett.
The festival will also include the first ever archaeology awards, which will honour the best digs, discoveries, books and personalities in the world of archaeology.
For more information, see the festival website.