Event - Time Travel with a cast of thousands at Newark Castle

Thousands of people will have the chance to sample some living history at Newark Castle on july 28 when Romans, Saxons and more will be in action for the third and possibly final Time Travel Trent Vale event.


The family event attracts re-enactors from Roman, Saxon and Viking periods right through to World War II as well as featuring storytellers, a chance to explore normally closed castle rooms, storyteller Thor Ewing, medieval heritage and combat group Team Falchion, medieval music and much more.

Re-enactors include The Lone Legionary, English Civil War Camp and Conroi de Vey, a group of enthusiasts who re-create aspects of life in Nottinghamshire from around 1,000 years ago.

Nottinghamshire County Council Conservation Projects Officer Gill Grayson, organising the Heritage Lottery-funded event on behalf of the Trent Vale Partnership, said: “The re-enactors interact with the crowds and put on displays in the arena as well, so you might hear English Civil War muskets firing at some point!”

The first Time Travel event in 2010 attracted around 3,000 people and about 4,000 attended last year. Gill says this year’s event could be more popular than ever: “We took on board the feedback we had last year that people wanted more children’s activities, so we’ve got a lot more children’s activities this year.”

These include face painting and children’s craft activities. There will be talks, demonstrations and displays by local history groups too. “It’s about getting people to find out about the heritage of the Trent and the villages and towns along it,” said Gill.

Volunteers are also wanted to help with the running or stewarding of the event, including people willing to conduct tours of the castle, and drama students willing “to be left to rot in a damp and dingy dungeon.” Give the team a call on 0115 969 6525 if you are interested in helping.

But what promises to be the best Time Travel event yet at Newark Castle could also be the last: “This is probably the final year unless we can find someone who will take on the organising of it. It doesn’t cost a lot of money to put on but that money has to be found from somewhere,” said Gill.

From: http://www.newarknotts.co.uk/time-travel-with-a-cast-of-thousands-at-newark-castle/

Website: New website for Trent Vale (Notts)

At last! The long-awaited Trent Vale website is finally here after months of hard work.

The new website will act as the main noticeboard for all Trent Vale events, news and activities, as well as providing lots of information about the heritage and wildlife of the area. This is the place where you will, in time, be able to download all our circular walks and cycle routes. We are encouraging the community to suggest features and places of interest to add to our interactive maps, so feedback welcomed! View the new site at:www.trentvale.co.uk

From: http://trentvale.wordpress.com/2011/11/21/new-website-for-trent-vale/

News - Want to join the graveyard shift? (Notts Community Archaeology)

As part of Trent Vale, Nottinghamshire County Council archaeologists are encouraging people to investigate their local graveyards. 

Old graveyards bring about mixed feelings in people; some find them eerie while others find them places of peace and memory. This dichotomy of feeling is easy to understand. They are, at the same time, both places of mourning and places where lives are celebrated, and snippets of history encapsulated. They are an important genealogical resource; there is nothing like the feeling of connection when you discover the grave of a great-great ancestor.

Graveyards are often overlooked as an historical resource, and yet they are full of information.  Each one is unique, some having distinctive styles of gravestone, others charting the rise and fall of local industries or families. Each graveyard plays memory to bygone days, and each contains curiosities urging the researcher to learn more.

There is a lot of information that can be gleaned from grave markers, but they are being continually eroded by the weather. Graveyard surveys aim to record the inscriptions on the stones, as well as the style and design. A condition survey is a standard element; this records how damaged the stones are, and if they are being damaged by something that could be prevented.

Archaeologists are looking for people to join in the ‘Graveyard Shift’, to come along with them to graveyards and help record the information on the memorials and gravestones.

If you are interesting in finding out more please get in touch with the community archaeologists. Contact Emily Gillott, Community Archaeology, Nottinghamshire County Council 0115 977 2160 email Emily.gillott@nottscc.gov.uk

From: http://trentvale.wordpress.com/2011/04/14/want-to-join-the-graveyard-shift/