Stafford
Castle 1000 Year
Fair
Stafford
Castle 1000 Year
FairRe-enactments - fighting knights - children's activities - drama - comedy - music & dance - archery - living history - fascinating historical crafts - and much more!
Click here for pictures.
Celebrating the long life of Stafford’s Norman castle, the
1000 Year Fair 2001
was considered one of the most enjoyable events of the whole year by
participants and visitors alike. However, the 2002 fair was thought by all to be even better!
EventPlan was commissioned by Stafford Borough Council to organise a second event on the new annual date, the weekend of 18-19 May, on a multi-period historical country fair theme. The Event Director was Howard Giles, who also acted as “host” over the PA.
Although quite small, Stafford Castle is a very attractive venue, the walls standing on a tall motte high above grass and wooded areas, ideal for interesting events. It also has a visitor centre and museum with "hands on" exhibits. It proved an ideal location for the show, which attracted crowds of visitors on the Sunday, following very poor weather on the Saturday. Audience reaction was extremely positive, with one delighted visitor we chatted to saying it was the most enjoyable historical event he and his family had ever attended.
This year the event once again took the form of a multi-period re-enactment, featuring a small number of carefully selected groups and individuals noted both for their high quality and ability to engage visitors. Displays and entertainments ran continuously from 11am to 5pm, offering an amazing variety of things to enjoy, including children’s activities and audience participation (all completely voluntary of course!).
v Colourful medieval pageantry and action, with armoured knights battling for victory, music & dance, drama, squire training, archery and the arming of a knight.
v A Medieval household recreated in the keep, with more archery demonstrations.
v A chance to meet Queen Elizabeth I during her visit to Stafford in 1575. Due to bungling courtiers the Queen's entourage had apparently been sent to Uttoxeter by mistake, so members of the audience were hastily recruited by panicking Royal staff to play the role of local dignitaries and townsfolk, to give a suitably loyal welcome. On the Saturday this included the current Mayor of Stafford, who we thought stood up very well to the wrath of the great queen!
v A redcoat recruiting party of 1777, who staged displays of drill and attempted to entice the unwary into taking the King' shilling!
v A hilarious Victorian traveling show involving an epic restaging of the Battle of Rorke's Drift with vegetables representing Zulus and redcoats. Completely ridiculous, this audience participation show had visitors in stitches.
v Lively C17th tunes and great music and song from the 1940s.
v Civil War soldiers demonstrating muskets, cannons and pikes, along and camp followers showing what everyday campaign life was like.
v Kids dressed up in period costume, had a go at other activities and enjoyed a Tudor puppet show of "Robin Hood and Sir Guy of Guisbourne"
v Recipes & cooking from the Tudor age.
v Fascinating historical crafts to explore, with demonstrations and items for sale.
v A Medieval castle & catapult game for kids
v Hogarth’s Heroes
v Hands on History
v The Vaughan Household
v The 47th Foot
v Historic haute Cuisine
v Trevor James
In addition
around a dozen top historical craftsmen and
traders participated, offering unusual hand-made crafts and gifts
including hand-blown
glass; rope-making; wooden furniture, boxes, bowls and toys; medieval coin
minting and brass rubbing; period haberdashery; spinning, weaving, dying and
fabrics; candles, ironwork and much more. Click the above link for a list of crafts and traders,
together with links to their sites/catalogues.
Admission Prices
These represented amazing value for money, especially for families.
On the day:
Adult £3.00, Concession (under 16s, Senior Citizens, UB40 holders, Students bearing a student card) £1.50p, Family ticket (2 adults and 2 concessions max.) £6.00.
Parking was free.
Advance discount booking:
Those who bought tickets in advance not only make a handsome saving, but avoided queues on the day too;
Adult £2.50p, Concession £1.00, Family £5.00.
Advance booking was via the castle or Stafford Tourist Information Centre with credit card details.
Stafford Castle is well worth a visit. And there's other events and activities to enjoy - ask for a leaflet at the castle.
It is situated just west of the town on the A518 Stafford to Newport road. Access from the M6 is either via J13, then A449 north into the town centre or J14, then south on the A34. Pick up signs for the A518 to Newport in the town centre.
Due to the nature of the topography, some disabled visitors may find access to parts of the castle and grounds difficult. Please call the castle for details (see below).
Public transport
Arriva bus services 481 and 482 run from Stafford railway station to the Castle ( bus stops outside Castle Church) on both Saturdays and Sundays. Further information about times can be obtained by phoning Traveline on 0870 6082608.
Stafford Castle, access and facilities: Please ring the castle on 01785 257698.
The Stafford Castle 1000 Year Fair 2001 & 2002: Call EventPlan on 01509 815645.
Traders
If you are interested in trading at EventPlan events, please click here.
If you are the owner or administrator of a historic property or park, we can stage the above or similar top quality events for you too. Please contact us for further details.
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Updated 19 March 2004