Gloucester Tall Ships 09
(incorporating Gloucester through the ages)Saturday 30 to Sunday 31 May 2009
11am to 4.30pm Free admission (a small admission fee to board the tall ships applied on Saturday and Sunday mornings)
A hugely enjoyable festival of Gloucester's history through the ages - 5 historic tall ships - living history, re-enactments and displays - music , song and dance - children's entertainments and games - guided tours - timed displays and activities throughout each day!
Following
the success of our previous events in Gloucester, EventPlan was asked by
Marketing Gloucester
Ltd
to stage another weekend festival celebrating the rich
heritage of the city, from the Romans to WWII, set at a number of key
locations including the historic docks, Cathedral, Blackfriars,
East Gate, folk and city museums. Around 30,000 people basked in the summer
sunshine whilst enjoying displays staged by re-enactors, minstrels, singers, entertainers and
others. Highlights included the tall ships
(open to visitors) ongoing living history, military and other displays, children's entertainments,
games, have a go activities and much more.
The Tall Ships
A major highlight of the weekend was the 5 tall ships berthed at the historic docks, the Earl of Pembroke, Kaskalot (with C18th sailors of Senior Service and Nelsonian sailors of HMS on board), Matthew (Tudor-themed), Joanna Lucretzia and Tangaroa. All the ships were open to visitors over the weekend. A small admission charge was payable during the morning, when pre-bookable activities such as art classes were staged on board some ships. Free admission during the afternoon. The tall ships were arranged by overall event organisers Marketing Gloucester.
Historical performers
Early Roman: Legio II Augusta
Late Roman:
Britannia
(sailing their two Late Roman hide boats)
Post-Roman Colonia dark age Germanic warriors: Weorod
Viking:
The Viking
Longship Experience (with scaled down longship) and
Cwmwd Ial (The
Vikings)
Norman: Les Miles de Marche
Medieval: Deus Vult, The Wars of the Roses Federation; Plantagenet Medieval Society; Higgler; Soutares and Clerces; The Ringwoods of History; Drudion; plus music and song from Misericordia.
Tudor: Farthingale and a Tudor jolly boat (rowing boat), also owned by the Viking Longship Experience (above)
English Civil War: The Earl of Essex's Regiment of Foot and other members of The English Civil War Society
C18th: Sailors from the Senior Service with some redcoats from Lace Wars, plus music and song by Hautbois musicians
Napoleonic/Nelsonian era: Sailors of The Historical Maritime Society, who will be rowing their 23 foot launch, The Coldstream Regiment of Foot Guards, 1815, plus members representing and recruiting for the 28th (North Gloucestershire) Regiment of Foot.
Victorian: The
Festival Players, Hands on History, Nostalgia Unlimited and
Gerry Burrows
Edwardian:
Suffragettes recreated by
Discover History
World War Two: 43rd Reconnaissance Regiment (The Gloucester Regiment) Living History Group with (Saturday only) The Glosters, plus 40s music & song both days from The Spitfires
Plus
Storytelling by Maureen James of Telling History and Ruth Moore Williams
Street entertaining by Zooted
Plus guided tours, and other activities including at the Folk and City Museums.
In addition to invited groups, all pre-registered Allied and civilian 1940s re-enactors, vehicle owners and enthusiasts were warmly invited. Visitors were also invited to join in with the spirit of the event by coming in period dress (completely optional, of course!).
Re-enactment groups and other performers interested in taking part in events like this one are invited to contact us for further details and click the link for our terms and conditions for participation (see link above).
Programme of displays, activities and entertainments
Time |
Display or activity |
Performers |
Location |
Mornings |
Arts and craft workshops (small fee applies)– details an tickets from the Tourist Information Centre 01452 396572 |
Various |
Tall ships, Historic Docks |
11.00 |
Living history commences |
All |
All |
|
|
C18th music and song |
Hautbois |
Historic Docks, North Quay |
|
|
3 Mans Morris – a medieval game, with children as the players and “pieces”! |
Higgler |
Cathedral grounds (Medieval encampment). |
|
|
Victorian School Room experience |
Museum staff |
Gloucester Folk Museum |
11.30 |
Viking combat, followed by a chance for children to become Viking warriors! |
Cwmwd Ial (The Vikings) |
Historic Docks arena |
|
|
Storytelling |
Telling History |
Historic Docks, antiques centre |
|
|
Medieval archery and have a go archery |
The Plantagenet Medieval Society |
Cathedral |
|
|
Victorian song |
The Festival Players |
Adjacent to St. Michael’s Tower Cathedral arena |
|
|
Medieval music and song |
Misericordia |
Blackfriars |
Noon |
Saturday only: arrival of Nelsonian launch, rowing in from Saul boatyard, greeted by the other small historic boats and re-enactors. |
The Historical Maritime Society |
Historic Docks, Main Basin |
|
|
The Roman Army |
Legio II Augusta |
Historic Docks arena |
|
|
C18th music and song |
Hautbois |
Historic Docks, North Quay |
|
|
Have a go at Medieval squire training |
The Plantagenet Medieval Society |
Cathedral arena |
|
|
Medieval combat and an opportunity for children to (safely) learn to fight like knights |
Drudion |
Blackfriars |
|
|
Roman storytelling |
Ruth Moore Williams |
East Gate Chamber |
|
|
Victorian School Room experience |
Museum staff |
Gloucester Folk Museum |
12.30pm |
C18th sailors and musket firing |
Senior Service |
The Phoenix, adjacent to Biddle Warehouse (viewing from the quayside) |
|
|
English Civil War drill and musket firing |
The English Civil War Society |
Historic Docks arena |
|
|
1940s music and song |
The Spitfires |
Historic Docks |
|
|
Victorian song |
The Festival Players |
Cathedral arena |
|
|
A talk about medieval pilgrimages |
Kay Rouse |
Cathedral (Main entrance) |
|
|
Guided Tour |
Civic Society |
Blackfriars |
|
|
Storytelling |
Telling History |
Historic Docks, antique centre |
1pm |
Norman knights, men-at-arms and combat |
Les Miles de Marche |
Historic Docks arena |
|
|
C18th music and song |
Hautbois |
Historic Docks, North Quay |
|
|
Medieval circus skills and a chance to have a go! |
Drudion |
Blackfriars |
|
|
Have a go Roman soldiers’ drill for children |
Legio II Augusta |
Cathedral arena |
|
|
Medieval archery and have a go archery |
The Plantagenet Medieval Society |
Cathedral |
1.30pm |
Napoleonic Redcoats and musket firing |
The Coldstream Regiment of Foot Guards 1815 and 28th (North Gloucestershire) Regiment of Foot |
Historic Docks arena |
|
|
Dark ages warriors and weaponry |
Weorod |
Cathedral arena |
|
|
Medieval music and song (Saturday only) |
Misericordia |
Cathedral (Nave) |
|
|
Sunday only: A Medieval pilgrimage to the tomb of Edward II |
The Wars of the Roses Federation, Deus Vult and the Plantagenet Medieval Society |
Cathedral (Quire) |
|
|
Meet Roman soldiers! |
Legio II Augusta |
East Gate chamber |
|
|
Storytelling: St. George and the Dragon! |
Kay Rouse |
Cathedral ((by main entrance) |
|
|
Music and storytelling |
Ruth Moore Williams |
Blackfriars |
2pm |
English Civil War drill for children |
The English Civil War Society |
Historic Docks arena |
|
|
Roman, Viking and Nelsonian replica boats on the water |
Britannia, The Viking Longship Experience and Historical Maritime society |
Historic Docks, Main Basin |
|
|
C18th music and song |
Hautbois |
Historic Docks, North Quay |
|
|
Medieval ladies dancing (and a chance for all to have a go!) |
The Plantagenet Medieval Society |
Cathedral arena |
|
|
3 Mans Morris – a medieval game, with children as the players and “pieces”! |
Higgler |
Cathedral grounds (Medieval encampment). |
|
|
Storytelling |
Telling History |
East Gate chamber |
|
|
A talk about medieval archery and arrowheads |
Drudion |
Blackfriars |
|
|
Victorian School Room experience |
Museum staff |
Gloucester Folk Museum |
2.30pm |
1940s fashion show |
The Spitfires |
Historic Docks |
|
|
Viking combat, followed by a chance for children to become Viking warriors! |
Cwmwd Ial (The Vikings |
Historic Docks arena |
|
|
Dark Ages burial ritual |
Weorod |
Cathedral arena |
|
|
Victorian song |
The Festival Players |
Adjacent to St. Michael’s Tower |
|
|
Storytelling |
Ruth Moore Williams |
Blackfriars |
|
|
Storytelling: St. George and the Dragon! |
Kay Rouse |
Cathedral (by main entrance) |
3pm |
The Roman Army |
Legio II Augusta |
Historic Docks arena |
|
|
C18th sailors and musket firing |
Senior Service |
The Phoenix, adjacent to Biddle Warehouse (viewing from the quayside) |
|
|
C18th music and song |
Hautbois |
Historic Docks, North Quay |
|
|
Medieval tourmament with armoured knights (on foot) |
The Plantagenet Medieval Society |
Cathedral arena |
|
|
Medieval music and song |
Misericordia |
Adjacent to St. Michael’s Tower |
|
|
Guided Tour |
Civic Society |
Blackfriars |
|
|
Medieval combat and an opportunity for children to (safely) learn to fight like knights |
Drudion |
Blackfriars |
|
|
Victorian School Room experience |
Museum staff |
Gloucester Folk Museum |
3.30pm |
English Civil War drill and musket firing |
The English Civil War Society |
Historic Docks arena |
|
|
Roman, Viking and Nelsonian replica boats on the water |
Britannia, The Viking Longship Experience and Historical Maritime society |
Historic Docks, Main Basin |
|
|
Victorian song and dance |
The Festival Players |
Historic Docks |
|
|
A talk about medieval pilgrimages |
Kay Rouse |
Cathedral –Main entrance |
|
|
Storytelling |
Telling History |
Blackfriars |
4pm |
1940s music and song |
The Spitfires |
Historic Docks |
|
|
Meet Medieval knights |
The Plantagenet Medieval Society |
Cathedral arena |
|
|
Norman knights, men-at-arms and combat |
Les Miles de Marche |
Historic Docks arena |
|
|
3 Mans Morris – a medieval game, with children as the players and “pieces”! |
Higgler |
Cathedral grounds (Medieval encampment) |
|
|
Medieval music and song |
Misericordia |
Blackfriars |
|
|
Medieval circus skills and a chance to have a go! |
Drudion |
Blackfriars |
|
|
Storytelling |
Ruth Moore Williams |
Historic Docks, antique centre |
4.30pm |
Living history closes |
All |
All |
Saturday evening |
Medieval banquet. Ttickets £35 from the Tourist Information Centre, 01452 396572. |
Plantagenet Medieval Society/ ticket holders |
Chapter House, Gloucester Cathedral |
8pm Friday and Sunday |
Ghost stories. Tickets £5 from the TIC (above) |
Matthew crew |
The Matthew, Historic Docks |
|
Activity |
Performers/organisers |
Location |
|
Various entertainments |
Various performers |
Historic Docks |
|
6 historic tall ships to visit (Noon onwards) |
The Earl of Pembroke, Joanna Luctretzia, Kaskalot, Matthew, Phoenix and Tangaroa |
Historic Docks |
|
5 replica historic boats with Roman, Viking, Tudor, C18th and Nelsonian sailors |
Britannia, The Viking Longship Experience, Senior Service and The Historical Maritime Society |
Historic Docks, North Warehouse |
|
Roman military camp and “cut away” houses with a living room, kitchen, doctor etc |
Legio II Augusta |
Cathedral grounds |
|
Meet Germanic warriors of the post-Roman Colonia “dark ages” |
Weorod |
Cathedral grounds |
|
Viking, Norman, and C15th medieval encampments & living history |
Cwmwd Ial, Les Miles de Marche and The Wars of the Roses Federation |
Cathedral grounds |
|
Medieval monastic living history |
The Ringwoods of History, Soutares & Clerces and Justin & Claire Hall |
Blackfriars |
|
Crusaders |
Deus Vult |
Historic Docks |
|
Candle Rolling (a small fee applies); trying on armour; Corn Grinding and medieval games |
Drudion |
Blackfriars |
|
Medieval music and song |
Aelfric of Axeholme |
Cathedral cloisters |
|
Have a go medieval games |
Higgler |
Cathedral grounds |
|
A visit by the young Henry VIII (and his courtiers) |
Farthingale |
Cathedral grounds/Promenading |
|
Tudor themed children’s activities (tbc) |
The Matthew Crew |
The Matthew |
|
Living history set during the siege of Gloucester 1643 – children invited to try on a pikeman’s armour! |
The English Civil War Society |
Cathedral grounds |
|
C18th Sailors on board ship |
Senior Service |
The Phoenix |
|
Nelsonian sailors on board ship |
The Historical Maritime Society |
The Kaskalot |
|
Napoleonic redcoat encampment |
The Coldstream Regiment of Foot Guards 1815 and 28th (North Gloucestershire) Regiment of Foot |
Cathedral grounds |
|
Special activities including make your own fossil box |
Museum staff |
Gloucester City Museum |
|
Victorian everyday life, fashion and hands on activities including a chance to try Victorian crafts |
Hands on History and Museum staff |
Folk Museum |
|
Victorian games |
Gerry Burrows |
Historic Docks |
|
Edwardian suffragettes |
Discover History |
Historic Docks/Promenading |
|
WWII soldiers and vehicles |
43rd Reconnaissance Regiment (The Gloucester Regiment) Living History Group and (Saturday only) The Glosters |
Historic Docks |
|
Big wheel, standing 35m high, with views of the city. Charge applies. |
The World’s Fair Wheel |
Historic Docks |
Admission
With the exception of morning access to the tall ships and the big wheel (see above), admission to all venues was free! All venues were within a modest walk of each other.
Visiting Gloucester
If local take the bus or walk. But if driving, Gloucester is close to Junctions 11 and 12 of the M5, on the A38, A40 and A417. Park in the city centre or take the park and ride service (see below for details).
Parking
City parking fees can cost anything up to £6 for 6 hours, jumping to £11 for over 6 hours, depending on the car park, although some car parks are free on Sunday and there are excellent value park and ride services. Click for details of parking or park & ride.
A brief history of re-enactment
Interested in how and why re-enactment has become so popular in recent years? Click on the link to read a history of re-enactment.
Events 2009
Click here for details of the historical events organised by EventPlan for 2009.
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Updated 2 June 2009