THE CLASH of steel will be ringing out across Evesham over the next three days as Europe’s largest 13th Century battle re-enactment arrives in town.
The Battle of Evesham Festival will see more than 800 reenactors, along with 25 knights on warhorses, commemorate 760 years since the historic defeat of rebel baron Simon de Montfort in 1265.
Today (Friday, August 1) the event kicks off with a special tourney or tournament day from 12 to 5pm on Crown Meadow – think chivalric competition featuring jousting and armed combat.
On Saturday (August 2) festivities begin with a spectacular grand parade of knights on horseback through the town centre.
It leaves St Lawrence’s Church at 10.30am through the church gates, and turns right onto Vine Street, before heading down Bridge Street and into Abbey Park for a commemoration service.
The main festival area is on Crown Meadow opens at 10am and will feature an artisan craft fayre with 150 traders, a medieval market, living history camp as well as a large battle reenactment area.
There is also a second demonstration arena, showcasing siege warfare attacking an 18ft model of Kenilworth Castle, the seat of Simon de Montfort in the mid-1200s.
In addition to thrilling free displays of warfare, falconry, music and dance there are a host of interesting ticketed talks to whet the historical appetite including a chat from one of TV’s favourite knights, Sir Tony Robinson on the subject Our Cunning History.
Tickets for Tony’s talks, which take place on Saturday and Sunday at 2.30pm in the festival pavilion, cost £25.
Sunday (August 3) opens at 10am and brings more medieval mayhem with a Battle of Lewes reenactment in addition to the main event – a recreation of the bloody Evesham massacre (without the blood)!
A separate miniature wargaming convention will take place at Wallace House Community Centre, Oat Street on both Saturday and Sunday.
A park and ride service will operate from Evesham United FC grounds (WR11 2LZ) at £10 per vehicle and closes at 10pm. Last bus back at 8pm.
Visit battleofevesham.co.uk to buy tickets for talks and events.
