Knights and Princesses, Heroes and Villains (Goodrich)

SUMMER AT GOODRICH CASTLE!
Every Thursday in August

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

Every Thursday in 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!

Goodrich Castle’s Time Travellers on 4 and 18 August embrace the medieval life of knights and princesses. 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. Alternatively, visitors can experience the trappings of medieval noble ladies, trying on costumes made from the finest cloth that 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.

However, if a chivalrous knight is just too squeaky clean and you would rather explore the life of an 18th century scoundrel , on Thursday 11 and 25 August, it will be the rogues of the road who welcome visitors to Goodrich Castle at 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!

“This summer promises to be so much fun at Goodrich Castle, exploring both heroes and anti-heroes from England’s colourful history,” comments Lucy Dhiman, English Heritage’s sales and marketing manager. “From its stunning vantage point overlooking the Wye Valley, Goodrich has seen many legendary characters come and go over the last 1000 years – from the soldiers who fought here to the recent filming of an episode of the BBC series ‘Merlin’ within its walls. Our Time Travellers Club 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 Thursday in August at Goodrich Castle from 11.00am to 5.00pm, with the castle itself open from 10.00am to 6.00pm 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 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.

Goodrich’s summer season draws to an end over the August bank holiday weekend, with a Medieval Tournament taking place on Sunday 28 & Monday 29 August.

Goodrich Castle is located five miles south of Ross on Wye, signposted from the A40. For more information, please call 01600 890538 or visit www.english-heritage.org.uk/goodrich

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