Mounted knights to ride at Beeston Castle

Saturday 20 & Sunday 21 August 2011

The celebrities of the medieval world – valiant knights riding their noble steeds – will arrive at Beeston Castle on Saturday 20 & Sunday 21 August as they bring their retinue to the iconic site for two days of combat, music and feasting!

The event will recreate the atmosphere and celebrations of a 15th century Lammas feast, which marked the first harvest festival of the year and was marked with friendly tournaments – and a chance to showcase their skills - for knights, music and dance for members of the nobility and a well-earned day off for the hard-working peasants.

The festival opens with an archery tournament at 11.00am, with a variety of longbows and crossbows being demonstrated by men and women. Archery skills were one of the most important disciplines for just about every English citizen, with men required to practice regularly to keep their eye in, in case they were called up to serve king and country.

A trio of mounted knights will demonstrate how accurate their skills can be even when travelling at a gallop on a warhorse from noon, completing challenges that include hitting static targets with sword, spear or lance, and the tricky art of tent-pegging – a skill used when an advance party of mounted soldiers would gallop into the enemy camp and using a spear, remove the tent pegs from their enemy’s lodgings, allowing foot soldiers to take advantage of the resulting confusion to defeat their foes.

“We’ve had a fantastic summer of events at Beeston Castle, with some amazing re-enactments, and this event will bring an end to our events season with a flourish,” comments visitor operations manager, Mark Hodgson. “The medieval festival was an opportunity for people of every class to let their hair down and relax, and visitors can step inside to this feast weekend to see for themselves how people would unwind in the 15th century.”

Each day continues with music and dancing at 1.00pm, followed by drill exercises at 2.00pm, in which visitors will learn some of the techniques required to come out on top in a sword fight! The story of George and the Dragon will be retold from 3.00pm in a fantastically entertaining show for the whole family, with more music and dancing from 4.00pm bringing each day’s festivities to a close.

Families will also be welcomed into a living history encampment throughout the weekend to watch as food is prepared, join in games and learn some medieval dances.

Medieval Mounted Skill at Arms runs from 11.00am to 5.00pm on Saturday 20 & Sunday 21 August, with the castle itself open from 10.00am to 6.00pm. Admission prices are £6.00 for adults, £5.50 for concessions and £3.50 for children, or free for English Heritage members. Please note: car parking charges will apply (these are not controlled by English Heritage.)

For more information, please contact Beeston Castle on 01829 260464 or visit www.english-heritage.org.uk/beeston

ENDS

For further media information, please contact:
Jay Commins PRO – English Heritage (Beeston Castle)
Tel: 0113 251 5698
Mob: 07810 546567
Email: jay@fim.org.uk