Event - Medieval Weekend (Wetlands Animal Park)

There is a Medieval Weekend at Wetlands Animal Park in Sutton Cum Lound near Retford this weekend (7-8th April)


Visit The medieval camp with the knights and ladies of the court carrying out their daily duties and crafts from the Middle Ages. In full costume of the time you will almost believe you are back in the Middle Ages yourself.


Attend the mock battle where the fights appear anything but mock, with costumes that can withstand full blows in combat struck by the highly trained knights and ladies. See a range of authentic weapons from pole arms to broad swords, great helms to sallets

The Three Shires Medieval Society actively seeks to promote not only the factual history of the medieval period but also daily life, costume, weapons and traditions of the time.

Why not have a go at the archery range bringing a taste of the Middle Ages past time to the 21st century where visitors to the park will get a chance to use the deadly Longbow (at targets of course!)

One of the Three Shires most popular events is the “Childrens Battle” where younger members of the audience are encouraged to join in a mock battle with assorted knights and ladies of the court and fight against the parents for the glory of the crown (armed with safe lengths of foam) or why not take part in a Mini Joust to win favours from the court.

Admission: Adult£7.50 Children £6.50 Disabled Access£6.50 Senior Citizens £6.50 Children 2 years and under Free Family (2 adults & 2 Children) £21.00 Groups over 10 people £6.00 each

From: http://wetlandsanimalpark.co.uk/?page_id=538

News - Sheffield Fayre 2011: History comes alive

THOUSANDS of people flocked to the annual Sheffield Fayre for a summer extravaganza of history, horrors and horticulture.

More than 600 historical re-enactment enthusiasts have been camped out in Norfolk Heritage Park since Friday, living in authentic period camps and recreating dramatic battles.

The 11th annual Fayre, a two day event - Sunday and Monday, August 28 and 29 - also features a large gardening show and competition, 1950s illusions such as ‘the horrific Monster Girl’, and dozens of stalls and funfair rides.

Around 25,000 people are expected to attend the free event over the two days.

The actors’ mission is to recreate famous battles from Roman times through the Middle Ages to World War Two, wearing authentic costume and living in period tents.

John McConnell-Smith, from Halfway, visited with with wife Rachael and six-year-old son Thomas.

“It’s a great day,” he said. “This is much better than I thought it would be. The re-enactments are really good.”

Jane Ibbotson, from Stannington, had brought along her grandson Finlay, five.

She said: “It’s the only event I come to in Sheffield, and it’s very good.”

“It’s great for the lad. It’s a nice day and it teaches him something different.”

Christian Sprakes, a telesales worker from Bentley, Doncaster, was among the re-enactors attending the event with the American Civil War Society.

He said: “We do about six or seven major festivals every year and Sheffield is very good, because you get lots of different period groups here.

“Our members come from all across the country, from every walk of life.”

William Brown, a tattoo artist from Edinburgh, was playing the role of the commander of the Confederate Battalion.

He said: “We go all over the country but this is a great event, it has a great atmosphere.”

In the horticultural show tent, green-fingered residents entered competitions in more than 100 categories, from best chrysanthemum to largest marrow to finest homemade wine.

Horticultural show steward Gill Capewell said: “This show is a celebration of all things home-grown. We want to celebrate the community spirit in Sheffield, and welcome more entries next year.”

But organisers raised concerns about whether there would be a Sheffield Fayre next year.

Event organiser Claire Taylor, the council’s parks area officer for east Sheffield, said: “It’s been going really well. The weather has helped - at one point we thought it would be very wet.”

She said there were doubts as to whether the council could afford to run the event next year because of funding cuts, but added: “We think it’s very good for this area, there’s not a lot else that happens like this.”

Arbourthorne ward councillor Jack Scott said: “It’s been a fantastic day and it’s great to see so many people here.

“I think events like this really put Sheffield on the map. We want to do everything we can to support it.

“However, the massive government cuts have an impact on everything the council does, so we are going to have to look really hard next year at all our priorities.”

From: http://www.thestar.co.uk/community/sheffield_fayre_2011_history_comes_alive_slideshow_1_3724008

News - St Fagans Museum recreates medieval organ (Worksop Medieval organ)

VISITORS to St Fagans National History Museum will be transported to the Middle Ages after a medieval organ was created from scratch.



The organ is based on a few surviving medieval organ parts and has been built using traditional materials and manufacturing techniques and using cutting edge research and creative archaeology. It will be housed at the St Teilo's Church, and will play authentic music from the era.


Professor John Harper, who is leading the research at Bangor University's School of Music, said: "The organ is attempting to recreate the type of instrument known to have been used around 1520, the period that St Teilo's itself has been decorated and furnished to represent."


Also part of the research team is Sally Harper, senior lecturer at Bangor University, who explained that the organ was modelled on one of the very last medieval organ cases left in Wales. "We found the case in Old Radnor [in Powys], it had new pipes, but the case was an original, we don't know how it survived," she said.

The organ was constructed by the Worksop firm of Goetze and Gwynn

Read More http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2011/04/09/st-fagans-museum-recreates-medieval-organ-91466-28488780/#ixzz1JD3vR3W6