ACTIVITIES
Living history
Peterborough celebrates its history and heritage this month in a new festival. Sue Dobson investigates
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Roman legion is on the march, Vikings are rampaging, Civil War muskets fire, medieval knights joust…welcome to Peterborough’s colourful Heritage Festival. It’s the UK’s only city-centre, multi-period, living history festival, and it’s free. Previously part of the Peterborough Festival, the Heritage weekend proved one of the most popular events in the city’s calendar. Now in its fourth year, it has grown to become a festival in its own right, complete with a Fringe, spanning two weeks from 16th to 30th June. At its core is the Living History weekend on 23rd and 24th June, which will see 2000 years of history come to life as costumed re-enactors take centre stage in front of the Guildhall on Cathedral Square. Watch battles rage and falcons fly. Back in their encampments in the Cathedral Precincts, visitors will be able to meet characters that have shaped the city down the ages, from Saxon warriors and Roman soldiers to Civil War Roundheads, Napoleonic Redcoats and World War II airmen (complete with a Spitfire). While archers show off their longbow skills in the Dean’s Gardens, demonstrations of traditional crafts and trades offer the opportunity to buy some suitably historic gifts at the period market on the Cathedral Green. In the Cloisters, jesters and storytellers are among the entertainers in the Children’s Zone, which offers an array of games and activities. Among the highlights here are a Victorian travelling Cabinet of Curiosities, an Egyptologist and his Mummy, tales from a big game hunter and the chance to get a 360o view of Peterborough through a Camera Obscura. As costumed characters mingle and musicians play period music, displays by local
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history societies, community groups and historic attractions shine more light on the city’s heritage. There’ll be dancing to wartime swing from the 1940s, plenty of suitably themed refreshments and local crafts on sale from stalls along Long Causeway.
Fringe events Fringe events reveal different aspects of Peterborough’s many-faceted story. On the Gladstone Street Heritage Tour, a guided walk reveals the history of the buildings, streets and residents over the past 150 years and visits many of the community and faith buildings where local residents tell their stories. Going way back in time, Sir Robert Thorpe and his wife Lady Margaret will be ‘at home’ in Longthorpe Tower to tell of life there 700 years ago. The costumed interpreters add another aspect to the tower that boasts medieval wall paintings deemed the finest in western Europe. For two Heritage Festival Specials, locations not usually visited are being added to Peterborough’s famous Ghost Walk and there are more sinister stories on the Crime and Punishment Walk. Ramble from River to Rail will
be a much more peaceful stroll. Organised by the Nene Park Trust, this Ranger-led walk along the River Nene to Wansford includes a visit to the Nene Valley Railway Station and return to Ferry Meadows by train. At Thorney, Park Farm’s open weekend coincides with a national gathering of Vintage Machinery enthusiasts. As well as animals and historic machinery, expect to find traditional Romany vardos and three barns of displays, stalls and activities for children. Talks by historian Geoffrey Hindley on the Magna Carta and the bestselling historical fiction writer Conn Igguiden are on offer at Peterborough Central Library’s John Clare Theatre, while the festival-long Art of Print exhibition at the John Clare Cottage in Helpston explores the heritage and skills of printmaking. There are behind-the-scenes tours of Flag Fen, Peterborough’s internationally renowned Bronze Age archaeological site, and the beautifully refurbished Museum in Priestgate, where the summer blockbuster exhibition Vikings! will be on throughout the Festival. Find out about the Heritage Lottery funded Buildings in Need Project at a free Celebration Event in St John’s Church on Cathedral Square and if you think you know a lot about Peterborough’s heritage and history, get a team together for the Heritage Pub Quiz at the Brewery Tap! • The Living History weekend events on 23rd and 24th June from 10am to 5pm in the city centre are free. Some of the Heritage Festival’s fringe events such as walks, talks and behind the scenes tours have admission charges and require advance booking. Visit the Festivals pages on www.vivacity-peterborough.com or Tel: 01733 864663 for details.
NENE VALLEY LIVING june 2012
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