I've just come back from attending Tewkesbury Medieval Festival and it seems to get increasingly better with each passing year (if that's even possible). So what is the Tewkesbury Medieval Festival? What happens at the festival itself, and Is it really worth visiting?
Tewkesbury Medieval Festival as its name suggests is a festival, which commemorates the battle of Tewkesbury, that was fought in an area of the town of Tewkesbury, England back in 1471 between the Yorkists and the Lancastrians. The battle itself formed one part of a series of battles now known to many as the Wars of the Roses. Whilst not the bloodiest battle within the Wars of the Roses series, it dealt a devastating blow to the Lancastrian cause, with the death of Prince Edward, son of King Henry VI and his wife Margaret of Anjou being a major blow.
The Tewkesbury Medieval Festival recreates the battle on a much smaller scale that it would have been. It also provides much more such as shopping, fair ground rides etc. It has something for all the family.
Below are my top five reasons why visiting Tewkesbury Medieval Festival should be on your Tudor Bucket List:
1) The Battle
This is quite simply the highlight of the festival and should not be ignored. Hundreds of costumed reenactors (from all over the world might I add) go head to head in a battle recreation, which saw the mighty Yorkists, lead by King Edward IV and his brother Richard, Duke of Gloucester (aka. king Richard III) reign supreme over their poorly organised counterparts the Lancastrians, who were lead by Queen Margaret of Anjou and her son, Prince Edward. There are showers of arrows, men (and women) firing replica guns, men on horseback, and canon fire so loud that the ground shakes...
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| Edward IV (left) and Prince Edward, Son of Margaret of Anjou and Henry VI (right) Go Head to Head |
As Patrons of the festival you might see both of these historians walking around the festival site. Professor Ronald Hutton even commentates on the battle recreation! If you don't know who they are where have you been? Ronald Hutton is an English Historian who specialises in the study of Early Modern Britian, British Folklore, Pre-Christian Religion and contemporary Paganism, and is a professor at the University of Bristol. You might recognise him from his appearance on the television series 'Victorian Farm', in which he sometimes stars alongside historian Ruth Goodman. Ruth specialises in the Early Modern period from a social perspective and offers advice to museums and heritage attractions. She also presents the television series 'Victorian Farm, Victorian Pharmacy, Edwardian Farm, Tudor Monastery Farm, and Wartime Farm', and has written history books, her most well known being 'How to be a Tudor'. They are both well worth talking too!
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| Professor Ronald Hutton and Me |
3) The Battle Procession
As the name suggests this is a procession, but it's not just reenactors walking to the battle site through the town. This also involves musicians, dancers, entertainers, and people from local businesses and schools. They all dress in various costume and walk (or dance) with home made banners and models through the quaint Tudor-esque high street of Tewkesbury, passing by the spectacular Abbey as they go, all the way to the site of the festival. Visitors line the streets to get a glimpse of the king or queen on horseback. This is a must!
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| The Procession Following a York Banner man |
4) Living History Camp
In point 2, I mentioned that the historians Ronald Hutton and Ruth Goodman were well worth talking too if you got the chance, but the men, women and children in the 'Living History Camp' are equally worth talking to and perhaps even more so. They choose to spend their weekends living in replica canvas tents from the Medieval period, cooking on open fires, and drinking ale, when not pulverising their enemies on the battlefield (it sounds quite heavenly actually now I think about it). Ask them about their clothing, their weapons, or what instruments they play and they will be more than happy to show you, and perhaps even treat you to a solo performance of 'The Horses Brawl'...
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| Some of the More Detailed Tents |
5) Guided Battlefield Walks
It's one thing seeing the battle recreated. I mean it fires your imagination and all, but it doesn't compare to actually visiting the site where it happened all those years ago back in 1471. Where men quite literally hacked each other to pieces for the sake of the presiding monarch. These guided battlefield walks are run regularly throughout the festival, and the guides themselves are so knowledgeable that it's couldn't not be mentioned as one of the top 5 reasons to visit the festival. It's not a strenuous walk, but good walking shoes are recommended!
So what are you waiting for? Add the Tewkesbury Medieval Festival to your Tudor Bucket List now!
Have you been to this festival or do you now want to go next year? Comment below.
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