Step back in time this weekend for a medieval fair at Barrow’s Furness Abbey.
Living history groups, craftspeople and stallholders will be at the abbey on Saturday, August 31, for the fair, which is now in its 11th year.
Visitors can find out what life was like for people in that period of history and music from the medieval era will be played. There will also be bird of prey flying demonstrations.
The abbey site will also be filled with stalls and craftspeople and demonstrators of traditional medieval skills; basket making, wood turning, spinning and weaving, medieval alchemy, bow and arrow making, archive materials on display from Cumbria Archives and Greenlane Archaeology and more.
This year, new demonstrators will be teaching visitors about the making of different sorts of medieval pottery and the skills of medieval glass painting.
Attractions include:
- Owen Jones, maker of traditional swill baskets
- Trouvere Minstrels, bringing authentic medieval music, instruments and song
- Iain McNichol as our Cistercian brother John
- Terry Harvey Chadwick presents Albert Harvey Alchemist, exploring the magic and mysteries of medieval alchemy
- York Levy, a living history group portraying life as experienced by men, women and children in the second half of the 15th century
- Iron Shepherds Living History group, displaying every day life of the Norman period
- John Harrison, wood turner
- Siverband Falconry with flying demonstrations
- Local sculptor and ceramicist Kathryn Stevens, the making of pinch pot pottery
- Therese Assouad will display the making of clay coil pots as done in medieval times
- Materials on display from Barrow Archives and Greenlane Archaeology
- Furness Spinners and Weavers
- The Friends of Dalton Castle
- Refreshments available from Abbey Mill Cafe and Mansergh Hall Hog Roast
- Glass painting in a medieval style led by Sharon Tait for ArtWorks Art4All
The event is organised by the Furness Abbey Fellowship, a small volunteer charity set up in 2012 to support English Heritage in promoting the history and heritage of Furness Abbey.
It has organised small and larger scale events over those years to raise awareness and reach out to the local community and schools.
But, it said, its most successful event has been the annual medieval fair which has grown in size and popularity over the years.
Furness Abbey Fellowship will offer shield painting, brass rubbing, tile designs, ‘Guess The Name’ competition, Gargoyle Hunt, abbey related books for sale
Entrance is free to local residents living in LA 13 14 15 on proof of residency otherwise English Heritage entry fees apply.
A free park and ride bus will operate throughout the day from the Dock Museum as parking at the abbey is restricted to blue badge only.
