Welock Priory & Buildwas Abbey

http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/daysout/properties/buildwas-abbey/#Left

http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/daysout/properties/wenlock-priory/

Treasures of Heaven: British Museum displays the sacred relics of Medieval Chistendom

The British Museum has opened its latest Block Buster Exhibition entitled 'Treasures of Heaven' which is on display from 23rd of June until the 9th of October 2011 and will encompass for the first time, more than 150 objects of reverie and reliquary loaned from renowned world-wide institutions here in Europe and the U.S.

The website, which is prolific in its exhibition information for this event, describes the exhibition;

Treasures of Heaven

Saints, relics and devotion
in medieval Europe

This major exhibition brings together for the first time some of the
finest sacred treasures of the medieval age.

The exhibition features over 150 objects from more than 40 institutions including the Vatican, European church treasuries, museums from the USA and Europe and the British Museum’s own pre-eminent collection.

Where heaven and earth meet

It was during the medieval period that the use of relics in devotional practice first developed and became a central part of Christian worship. For many, the relics of Christ and the saints – objects associated with them, such as body parts or possessions – continue to provide a bridge between heaven and earth today.

Sacred containers

Relics were usually set into ornate containers of silver and gold known as reliquaries, opulently decorated by the finest craftsmen of the age. They had spiritual and symbolic value that reflected the importance of their sacred contents.

Over a thousand years of history

The earliest items date from the late Roman period and trace the evolution of the cult of the saints from the 4th century to the peak of relic veneration in late medieval Europe.

Relics featured in the exhibition include three thorns thought to be from the Crown of Thorns, fragments of the True Cross, the foot of St Blaise, the breast milk of the Virgin Mary, the hair of St John the Evangelist, and the Mandylion of Edessa (one of the earliest known likenesses of Jesus).

Witness a lost heritage

Treasures such as these have not been seen in significant numbers in the UK since the Reformation in the 16th century, which saw the wholesale destruction of saints’ shrines. The exhibition offers a rare opportunity to glimpse the heritage of beautiful medieval craftsmanship that was lost to this country for centuries.

The eclectic website includes a blog where you can follow the behind the scenes progress from curator James Robinson and his team, a multi-media presentation, an online book shop and ticket booking service, excerpts from the exhibition catalogue which are free to download and additionally there are links to networking sites such as twitter and Facebook.

All this pre-exhibition information that is available for the visitor seems to verify the latest developments in the management of 'the block buster' exhibition trend for eminent Museums and Galleries. It seems they are trying to turn the tide of 'Gallery Rage' experienced by a visitor who is often bustled into an exhibit where viewing is limited and of short duration due to the numbers of other visitors all crowding in.

As we saw with the National Gallery's preparation for the forthcoming Leonardo Da Vinci exhibition, it seems the more information and context the institution can provide to the the avid voyeur before their visit, the better their exhibition experience will become. Although the British Museum has not mentioned any restrictions on numbers allowed into the exhibition space at any one time, as the National Gallery have done, the hope seems to be that equipped with as much information about the objects and artefacts as possible, a visitor to the British Museum will enjoy a greater sense of the display and less a sense of being herded through a money making show.

After being open for a week, it seems that not only art lovers have been flocking to see these rare insights into the Medieval religious mind. Religious visitors too, are flocking to see the exhibition with one member of staff describing himself as being; "knee deep in archbishops".

http://www.britishmuseum.org/whats_on/exhibitions/treasures_of_heaven.aspx

http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/jonathanjonesblog/2011/jun/30/treasures-of-heaven-kiss-relics?INTCMP=SRCH

http://blog.britishmuseum.org/category/exhibitions/treasures-of-heaven/

http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/whats-on/exhibitions/devotion-by-design

http://www.learn.columbia.edu/treasuresofheaven/relics/Arm-Reliquary-of-the-Apostles.php

http://www.britishmuseum.org/whats_on/exhibitions/treasures_of_heaven/introduction.aspx

http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/gallery/2011/jun/20/treasures-of-heaven-british-museum-in-pictures

http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/2011/jun/28/british-museum-top-attraction

Tewkesbury Medieval Festival this Weekend!

This weekend sees the little town of Tewkesbury in Gloucestershire, adorning its historic cap as it holds the largest medieval festival in Europe over a two day spectacular.

Tewkesbury is a small Gloucestershire market town standing at the confluence of the rivers Severn and Avon. It has a magnificent Abbey - now the Parish Church and the second largest in the country. It also has a wealth of medieval buildings and is so well preserved it is one of just six 'gem' towns in the country. Every summer the town centre is decorated with colourful medieval banners, based on those carried in the battle of Tewkesbury.

Now in its 25th year, this completely volunteer organised event, is more popular than ever with locals and historians alike, as the whole town becomes involved in the festival which, centers around the re-enactment of the Battle of Tewkesbury won in 1471.

The battle was the last in the battle of the Civil War of the Roses and took place on May 4th 1471. Both the Houses of York (the White Rose) and Lancaster (the Red Rose) fought viciously to prove who should be King.

The War of the Roses began because Henry VI was considered insane and the country was without a strong leader. Edward of York was believed to be the most able leader left and was was declared King in 1461. He had Henry locked in the tower of London so his wife Margaret of Anjou fled to France with their son who was also called Edward.

When Edward reached 18 Margaret decided to return to England and re-claim the throne for her son. She landed at Weymouth on April 14, 1471, and set off for Wales, where Jasper Tudor awaited with re-enforcements for her small army. As they approached the city of Gloucester they gathered further support for their cause but King Edward locked the City Gates to prevent their attack.

The next crossing point over the River Severn was Tewkesbury, and though the party hoped to cross the River to safety, Edward's army far outnumbered and out-skilled that of Margaret's, who were, in the end, bitterly defeated. It is said that many tried to flea the scene and cross the River Severn, only to be killed by Edward's men. This has lead the nearby Meadow to be known as 'Bloody Meadow'.

Margaret was lucky and escaped with some of her ladies to a Priory in Malvern, her son Edward however, was killed and buried in Tewkesbury Abbey. The Prince's last resting place is still marked today with a brass plaque, which sits directly beneath a ceiling boss of the Yorkist badge; The Sun in Splendour' within the Abbey.

The Festival promises to be very entertaining and interesting and i'm very much looking forwards to visiting this event for the first time. The website lists the events program:-

Saturday

• 11am - Festival opens.
• 11:45am - Mayors Party, with Colchester Watch arrives.
• 12 noon - Official opening by our patron, actor and historian Robert Hardy, outside the public information tent, next to the Black Bear Banner.
• 12 non - Archery competition for re-enactors, in the amphitheatre on Windmill Hill.
• 3pm - Falconry display on the battle arena.
• 3:15pm - Troops start to muster for battle.
• 4pm - Battle re-enactment.
• 6pm - Festival site closes and events move into town.
• 7pm - Re-enactment of the storming of the Abbey.
• 7.30pm - Trial and be-heading of captured Lancastrians followed by Compline (in the Abbey) and presentation of the Tewkesbury Indenture.

Sunday

• 9:15am - Eucharist led by the Vicar of Tewkesbury Abbey at the Kings Camp.
• 11am - Festival site opens.
• 11.30am - Guided walk around the battle field.
• 12 noon - Archery competition.
• 1.30pm - Guided walk around the battle field.
• 2pm - Falconry display on the battle arena.
• 3pm - Battle re-enactment.
• 5pm - Festival ends.

Battlefield walks

Regular guided tours of the battlefield, are conducted during the festival, with a full description of the events leading up to the Battle of Tewkesbury, the conduct of the battle, and the aftermath. These walks are taken at a leisurely pace, and last about two hours.

The walks are organised by the Tewkesbury battlefield Society, which exists to promote knowledge of the battlefield.

Program of events and activities

Tewkesbury Medieval Festival includes a huge re-enactment of the Battle of Tewkesbury, featuring around 2000 warriors, including knights in full armour, gunners, with cannon and hand guns, archers, with the traditional English Longbow, and men at arms with swords, spears and other weapons of the period, all brought to life with a lively and informed commentary, and taking place on part of the site of the original battle of 1471.

The battle in full swing

When not fighting many of them will be living for the weekend as soldiers on the march, sleeping in authentic medieval tents, eating food of the period, cooked over open fires in copies of medieval pots and pans, and preparing for the battle as they would have done in 1471.

Many of the traders on our market are just as authentic, dressed 15^th century traders, they use well researched skills to do everything from making swords and armour, to preparing ginger bread and hand stitching beautiful gowns and colourful tunics.

Medieval entertainer

Outside of the battlefield

Throughout the summer the main streets of Tewkesbury are decorated with banners displaying the arms of some of those who fought in the battle and the event co-incides with the town's entry into The Heart of England in Bloom. Look out too for colourful floral displays and specially decorated windows.

A number of events connected with the festival also take place in the town. Notably the parade including the Colchester Watch, with their Mayor and ours mustering in the Black Bear at ten to ten to march to the site, our tithe collectors will be demanding money of the traders.

There is always a worry that events such as this might verge into the romantic elements of Medieval history, with a possible New Age feel but i shall report back next week and we shall see!

Please visit the website to make a donation, view maps and see the history of the Battle and Festival in full:-

http://www.tewkesburymedievalfestival.org/index.html