Saturday is King Harold Day

Next Saturday, 17^th October, will be the Sixth King Harold Day, and a bumper day out is planned. There will be more attractions than ever, some exciting new ones and the return of some old favourites, including:-

The Household, a living history re-enactment group representing the Norman period, will set up their medieval camp, and engage in combat in the Arena.

The Grinnigogs, a band of medieval musicians and performers - fantastic music.

Sweete Harmonie, five singers who will perform medieval songs.

The English Companions, a society of people with great interest in the Anglo Saxon period, will talk to visitors about Anglo Saxon life.

The beautiful eagles, hawks and owls from PL Falconry - on display all day, and flying twice from the Arena.

Chingford Morris Men - will dance and also perform The Mummers’ Play.

The Black Raven Knight and his trusty horse.

Epping Archers - with Have-a-Go Archery.

Exhibitions by Epping Forest District Museum, The Ray Sears Photographic Collection and Waltham Abbey Historical Society.

Small animals - including from Lee Valley Park Farms.

Bees from Pebadale Apiaries in an observation hive.

Magnificent heavy horses - giving rides in their traditional carts.

The Wise Woman, Debbie Harding, will be strolling round the Gardens.

The Craft Marquee will have crafts which might have been practised in the 11^th century, and more of them will be found around the Gardens.

The Abbey Church - Tower visits, climb to the top and look over town and countryside. Tours of the Abbey at 11.30am and 2.30pm. Exhibition and Gift Shop in the Crypt. Traditional bread-making - demonstration by Barbara Utting.

Artwork by Waltham Abbey’s Schools - on display in the Lady Chapel; this year the theme is “The Vikings and Norse Legends”.

Music 4 Lunch - A concert in the Abbey Church at 12.30pm will feature Sam Liu, piano.

Book Fair - meet four authors who write books on the medieval period.

The Orchard Initiative - Lee Valley Regional Park has arranged for the Orchard Initiative to be at King Harold Day. There will be a working apple press, peeling competitions, fruit pressing and apple juice tasting. What’s more there will be microscopes where people can look at mosses and lichens found in the Waltham Abbey Orchard.

Red Squirrel Explorer Scouts, based in Waltham Abbey, will be building a Trebuchet - a giant catapult - in the Abbey Gardens.

Children’s Activities and Have-a-go activities - Lots for children to do, in addition to the Have-a-go Archery. They can try making greetings cards; learn to make clay figures at the pottery workshop; have a henna tattoo in a fascinating celtic design; do some drawing or colouring; have a nasty gaping wound .... painted on them; have a go at the medieval games; and try to find the answers to a Quiz.

There will be a Hog Roast and plenty of other refreshments.

Procession and Ceremony - At noon, the costumed performers and traders will gather at Epping Forest District Museum at the end of Sun Street, and will walk in procession along Sun Street, through the Market Square, under the Lychgate and into the Abbey Churchyard, where a ceremony will take place at the Harold Memorial Stone. A guard of honour will be formed by the Waltham Cross Detachment, Hertfordshire Army Cadet Force. Fresh flowers will be laid on the memorial stone by our principal guests, the Vice Chairman of Epping Forest District Council, Cllr Mrs Anne Grigg, and the Mayor of Waltham Abbey, Cllr Ricki Gadsby.

King Harold Day will be held in the Abbey Church, the Abbey Churchyard and Abbey Gardens, (by kind permission of the Church authorities and Lee Valley Regional Park), from 10.00am to 4.00pm. Admission, which includes a programme, is £2.50 per adult, £1.50 for senior citizens, with children who are accompanied by an adult free of charge.

All in all, it looks like another bumper King Harold Day!