Over the Gate

David Smith · Joined: 22 Mar 2008 Posts: 43

The largest Medieval Show in Wales, the 2009 Bodelwyddan Medieval Festival will feature leading re-enactment groups from far and wide. As well as locals such as the Marcher Freemen, The Sons of The Dragon, and the Montgomery Levy, we have the Cu-Glas Knights Hospitaller from Ireland and the Company of the Black Serpent from Cornwall.

A packed programme of Displays and Demonstrations will include Falconry, Dance, Juggling, Story Telling, Sword Fighting, Archery, Mounted Cavalry Skills, and Medieval Black Powder Artillery. Each day culminates in the re-creation of a battle or skirmish from the long history of armed conflict between the English and the Welsh throughout the middle ages. This will involve men at arms, archers, knights, artillery and cavalry, and is being scripted and run by local re-enactor Andy Sherriff of the Marcher Freemen, who is also responsible for a great deal of the local organisation of the whole event. Organiser David Smith is based in Wellingborough, and having someone who is locally based and who can be relied upon to liaise effectively and reliably with all of the myriad of things that need to be done is invaluable.

The setting for the festival is the park at Bodelwyddan Castle, which also provides a dramatic backdrop. With views out to the sea over the Vale of Clywd, taking in Rhuddlan Castle and St. Asaph cathedral, it is probably the finest location in North Wales for such an event. There is plenty of room for parking, and considerable emphasis is placed on having a sufficiency of clean toilet facilities for participants and visitors. Local specialists Glasfryn Hire not only provide the portaloos, but a full time cleaning crew is on hand to ensure they are kept in good condition.

The famous Trollsbottom Bar will be on hand to provide for liquid refreshments, and there will be a selection of good quality and fairly priced caterers.

Retail therapy will be available at the medieval market, where a surprising variety of things can be purchased, from a suit of armour to a photographic poster of your child in medieval dress. You can also step back in time amongst the Living History camps where the re-enactors live in colourful tents as families and retinues would have done on campaign in the Middle Ages.

A great day out for all the family!

Full details at www.medieval-fayre.co.uk

Lots of pictures at http://www.flickr.com/photos/john...an/sets/72157606731020299/detail/

Best wishes
David