Knights and Princesses, Heroes and Villains (Stokesay)

SUMMER AT STOKESAY CASTLE!
Every Wednesday, 3 – 24 August 2011

The best and worst characters from history will take centre stage at Stokesay Castle this summer with the launch of English Heritage’s Time Traveller season, featuring swashbuckling knights, feisty princesses and horrible highwaymen!

Four Wednesdays in August (3 - 24 August) will herald the arrival of a duo of time travelling experts from the past, all looking for new young recruits to join them in their endeavours – but parents be warned! Whilst the skills of the noble medieval knight might bestow heroic and chivalrous qualities on their children, they might also fall under the cloak of a highwayman, to learn some of the sneakier tactics employed to liberate a purse from a nobleman!

Indeed, on Wednesday 3 & 17 August, it will be the rogues of the road who welcome visitors to Stokesay Castle as the Time Travellers Go... Heroes and Villains. Far from the romantic view of characters such as Dick Turpin proclaiming ‘stand and deliver’, children will hear what it was like to be an outlaw on England’s roads, and how desperate times would often force law-abiding citizens to turn to a life of crime. As part of the training, children can take part in a thrilling musket drill and plan their own ambush – with parents the willing victims to these dastardly schemes!

However, if it is heroes rather than highwaymen that you want to emulate, Stokesay Castle’s Time Travellers on 10 and 24 August embrace the medieval life of knights and princesses. Stokesay’s young visitors trying on armour will have an idea of just how tough it would have been for the knights trying to fight whilst wearing many kilos of metal to protect themselves from potentially fatal blows, or try on costumes designed for noble ladies made from the finest cloth that medieval money could buy! There is also squire drill and – most important for any knight trying to court a lady off the field of combat – lessons in medieval etiquette.

“This summer promises to be so much fun at Stokesay Castle, exploring both heroes and anti-heroes from England’s colourful history,” comments Lucy Dhiman, English Heritage’s sales and marketing manager. “Within the walls of this fantastic fortified manor house, our Time Travellers will immerse visitors in the 15th and 18th centuries – two very different periods that have both become legendary in their own rights!”

The Time Travellers Go... activities run each Wednesday from 3 to 24 August at Stokesay Castle from 11.00am to 5.00pm, with the castle itself open from 10.00am each day. Admission prices are £5.80 for adults, £5.20 for concessions and £3.50 for children, or £15.10 for a family ticket (two adults and up to three children). English Heritage members get in free. An additional £1 will be charged on standard admission of every child (member and non-member) to help fund the Time Travellers activity.

Stokesay Castle’s summer season will come to a fantastic climax on Sunday 28 & Bank Holiday Monday 29 August with an English Civil War re-enactment, “With Musket and Drum”.

Stokesay Castle is located seven miles north west of Ludlow off the A49. For more information, please call 01588 672544 or visit www.english-heritage.org.uk/stokesaycastle

ENDS

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