Tewkesbury Medieval Festival

Blackmore's Night Become Festival Music Patrons

The festival is honoured to welcome Blackmore’s Night, featuring Ritchie Blackmore, Candice Night & their Band of Minstrels, as Music Patrons to the festival. The "fantasy" inspired folk-rock band, featuring legendary Deep Purple/Rainbow guitarist Ritchie and singer/songwriter Candice, are a multi-award winning band, that have achieved gold record status across the globe. Their new CD "Autumn Sky" debuted at No. 1 on the US Billboard New Age Charts and the band will be touring the UK in the autumn. Richie was an integral part of Deep Purple and the seminal album Deep Purple In Rock, prior to further global success with his own band, Rainbow. In more recent years, he has turned to Renaissance and early music, forming, with Candice, Blackmore’s Night. They were married at a medieval inspired wedding in 2008. It was this interest that led Bill Hunt, one of the festival’s organisers, to try and contact the band, in order to invite them to become the festival’s music patrons.

I was unsure what their reaction might be, even if we could get through to them – given Ritchie’s ‘Rock God’ status - so I was knocked out when they accepted, Bill said. He added that the sponsorship means that the band's website, which attracts thousands of hits from all around the world, will be linked to the festival's own site, giving the event worldwide coverage. Replying to Bill's request on behalf of the band, Ritchie said that the festival was not far from where he was born (Weston Super Mare) and he hopes that they can perform at it someday soon, if a suitable venue can be found. Festival organisers say they are excited at the prospect, but it is too early for any definite plans.

Festival tipple from Goffs Brewery

Goffs Brewery did not sponsor the original Battle of Tewkesbury in 1471, but have been a major sponsor of Tewkesbury Medieval Festival, which annually re-enacts the Bloody Meadow battle, since 2009. At the same time, they also started brewing "1471 Tewkesbury Medieval Festivale", a 3.8% bitter, in order to commemorate this decisive battle in The War of the Roses. It is brewed using nettles instead of hops, which were then relatively new and imported, not being introduced to brewing in this country until 1412. There was no attempt to cultivate the plant here until early in the 16th century. Goffs 1471 will again be available, with other heraldic Goffs ales, at this year’s Medieval Festival on Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th July and in local outlets leading up to the event.

Learn About Medieval Surgery

You can find out all, and probably a lot more than you wanted to know about medieval health care, at this year's festival. A Barber Surgeon will be setting up his tent and giving talks and demonstrations about the way Medieval medics found out what was wrong with their patients, and what they did to put it right. Lots of grisly details and plenty of audience participation make it great fun, but certainly not for the squeamish or easily offended. The medieval surgery will be found, unsurprisingly, near the beer tent.

Advertising banners

We would like to thank all the businesses who have kindly agreed to sponsor our advertising banners. Thanks to their help 14 brand new, bright yellow banners will go up in and around the town in the run up to the event, advertising both the event and their sponsership. We hope that they benefit from their link with us. In line with our policy of using local businesses whereever possible they are being made for us by Sign Link, which is based at Highfield Business Park.

Important Document Coming to Tewkesbury

An important historical document, with links to both Tewkesbury Abbey and the Battle of Tewkesbury is coming back to the town. It was sold recently by auctioneers Bonhams, and bought, for £5,000 by an American, who has not been named. He has agreed that during his life time the document will be kept in Tewkesbury Abbey.

It will be officially handed over during the annual Medieval Festival on Saturday July 9. It is too fragile to be taken to the festival site, so the handover will probably take place in the Abbey on Saturday evening immediately after the trials and executions of the defeated Lancastrians. The agreement, dated between King Henry VII and the Abbey arranges for daily masses to be said for the king, his wife Elizabeth and son Arthur. His other son, who later became King Henry VIII was not born when the agreement was made. It also arranges for the anniversary of the battle, May 4th, to be marked with dirges, masses and remembrances for his father, Edmund Tudor, the Earl of Richmond, Edward Prince of Wales, the son of King Henry VI, Edmund Beaufort, the Earl of Somerset and his brother, Lord John Somerset.

Historian and Battlefield Society chairman, Steve Goodchild said, I am delighted that it is coming back to Tewkesbury, and the hand over will make this year’s festival very special.

The 'elmcam!

We've been featured on BBC Gloucestershire, with an interview from Graham Field and an interesting viewpoint at the battle.