Jane Austen Fayre

The Walled Garden, Down Grange, Basingstoke

Saturday 21 August 2004, 10am to 4pm

A superb event! Excellent performers and fine weather combined to bring the walled garden to life and entertain many hundreds of visitors.

EventPlan arranged the historical displays, co-ordinated the performers and linked displays with announcements at this special event to celebrate the life and times of novelist Jane Austen on behalf of the event organisers, Basingstoke & Deane Borough Council.  

Visitors stepped back to the elegant Regency era at the beginning of the C19th and enjoyed living history, a fashion talk, equestrian displays by a dashing redcoat officer, soldiers recruiting for King George, musket firing, duellists, a Punch & Judy show (complete with Napoleon as the villain!) and more. There were dancing displays and a chance to learn the steps if wished, crafts and stalls to enjoy, and refreshments.

A guard of honour of redcoats greeted the Mayor of Basingstoke on her arrival. Visitors in period costume were particularly welcome - lots of visitors came suitably attired - and indeed, if in Regency costume, visitors were admitted free of charge!

A gallery of photographs will follow soon. Click onto Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council's review of the event.

The 2004 show was such a success that we shall be returning with a 2-day fayre on 20-21 August 2005, with additional performances including music, song and Jane Austen readings.

 

The Participants (who should all be back this August)

Elegant living history by members of the Regency Club

Equestrian displays by Andy Smerden and his horse Mack

Dancing arranged by Ursula Adam

Fashion displays by Hands on History

Duelling displays by the Duelling Association

Redcoats of the 42nd Royal Highland Regiment and 52nd (Oxfordshire) Light Infantry. 

Regency Punch & Judy by Ancient Wisdom

Crafts and stalls

Chawton Cottage (Jane Austen's home) - Jane Austen bookstall.

Chawton Cottage Garden - traditional herbs and plants for sale from Austen's garden. 

You2Toys – handmade traditional wooden toys

Whitchurch Silk Mill - displaying locally woven silks and selling pieces.

Oakley Lace Guild - demonstrating the craft and selling pieces.

Oakley Hall - functions and conference centre within the hall built in 1796, and visited by Jane Austen.

Lady Patience Bellmont and Lady Angelica Warburton - demonstrating calligraphy and beadwork in costume and character!

Court Lane Vineyard - locally produced English wine.  Wine tasting and for sale.

Mrs Taylor’s preserves – traditional handmade chutney, jams, pickles & mustards

Farmer Gosden's Ice Cream Stall - Real dairy ice cream made on a local farm.

Plus refreshments by the Wessex Cancer Trust, using recipes from the "Jane Austen Cookbook"

Trading opportunities

 Pitches were free of charge, with 6 foot trestle table and chair provided.

 Timetable of displays 2004 - even more planned for 2005!

Time

Display

Performers

10.00am

Living history opens/runs to 4pm

All

10.30

Guard of Honour for The Worshipful the Mayor of Basingstoke and Deane, Councillor Mrs Gwen Richardson 

The Regency Club,  52nd (Oxfordshire) light Infantry and Andy Smerden on his horse Mack

11.00

Dancing

The Regency Club Dancers

11.30

Redcoat drill and musket fire

The 42nd Royal Highland Regiment  & 52nd (Oxfordshire) light Infantry

12.00pm

Mounted officer/Mr Punch versus Napoleon 

Andy Smerden/Ancient Wisdom

12.30

Duelling

The Duelling Association

1.00

Dancing

The Regency Club Dancers

1.30

Redcoat drill and musket fire

The 42nd Royal Highland Regiment  & 52nd (Oxfordshire) light Infantry

2.00

Fashion display

Hands on History

2.30

Mounted officer/Mr Punch versus Napoleon 

Andy Smerden/ Ancient Wisdom

3.00

Dancing

The Regency Club Dancers

3.30

Redcoat drill and musket fire/ Duelling

The 42nd Royal Highland Regiment, 52nd (Oxfordshire) light Infantry & Duelling Association

4.00

Living history closes

All

Admission 2005

This will be as follows:

£3.50 adult, £2.50 child under 16, visitors in Regency costume FREE! Free parking.

Directions

The Walled Garden is a very pleasant spot and well worth a visit. Admission is normally free.

At Black Dam Roundabout on the A30 London Road, take the 2nd exit following Ringway South and signs for A30, Andover and Winchester.  
 
At Hackwood Road Roundabout take the 2nd exit continuing to follow Ringway South. 
 
At Winchester Road Roundabout, take the 1st exit along Winchester Road. 
 
At Brighton Hill Roundabout, take the 4th exit right following the signs to Down Grange Playing Fields.  Pass Homebase on your left and join Pack Lane.
 
At the brown Walled Garden sign, turn left into the sports complex.  Follow the road that runs past the athletics track, pass the Hockey club on the left and drive into the car park.  The Walled Garden is easily identified by the large ornate front gates.

Enquiries

Displays and performers: E-mail us or call 01509 815645

All other enquiries: Please contact Helen Trebble,  Parks and open Spaces, Basingstoke and Deane borough Council, Civic Offices, London Road, Basingstoke, Hampshire RG21 4AH. Tel: 01256 845649. E-mail:  h.trebble@basingstoke.gov.uk

 

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Updated 19 March 2005