SAINT OSWALD - Life in Anglo-Saxon Northumbria
The Festival includes events that illustrate life in Anglo-Saxon Northumbria through living history activities, exhibitions and open days at archaeological sites.
We have chosen Oswald to represent this theme because he was a great king of Northumbria as well as a Christian saint. He was a son of Aethelfrid, who created the kingdom of Northumbria. He spent his early life in exile in the monastery on Iona, off the west coast of Scotland, where he was brought up as a Christian by the Celtic monks.
In 633AD Oswald returned to Northumbria and defeated his pagan enemies led by Penda of Mercia at a battle near Hadrian’s Wall. To celebrate his victory, Oswald brought the Irish missionary Aidan from Iona to convert the Northumbrians to Christianity.
The Northumbrian kings had their fortress-capital at Bamburgh and there were other royal palaces in north Northumberland at Old Yeavering (Ad Gefrin) and Milfield (Maelmin) in Glendale.
Oswald was killed in battle in 642AD by King Penda and was made a Christian martyr.
The Golden Age of Northumbria Festival includes a variety of events that will help you find out about life, work and warfare in the Anglo-Saxon period.These include open days at archaeological sites, talks, living history displays and historical re-enactments throughout the Borough of Berwick-upon-Tweed.
Programme of Events
Life in Anglo-Saxon Northumbria
Viking
Invaders
Saturday 24th-Monday 26th May, 11.00am-4.00pm - Lindisfarne Priory
An exciting weekend of re-enactments and battle combat at Lindisfarne Priory brings to life the turbulent times of the Viking raids. The event is organised by English Heritage.
Visit the English Heritage website to find out more about Lindisfarne Priory
Learn more about the Vikings and life on Lindisfarne in the 8th century by visiting the new 793AD Exhibition Room at the Lindisfarne Heritage Centre.
ADMISSION CHARGES APPLY FOR ENTRY TO LINDISFARNE PRIORY AND LINDISFARNE HERITAGE CENTRE
Lost
Palaces of Glendale
Saturday 11th/Sunday 13th July, 11.00am-4.00pm - Old Yeavering, Milfield and Kirknewton
During the first weekend of National Archaeology Week, visitors to Glendale will be able to discover the stories behind two lost palaces of Northumbrian kings.
The Gefrin Trust is offering guided tours, interpretation and other activities on the site of King Edwin's palace of Ad Gefrin (Old Yeavering). Overlooking the site is the hill of Yeavering Bell, which is topped with the largest prehistoric hill-fort in North umberland.
Find out more about Ad Gefrin and The Gefrin Trust
iAn exhibition in nearby Kirknewton Village Hall illustrates the variety of Northumberland’s archaeology.
The heritage trail on the site of Maelmin palace near Milfield is brought to life for the weekend with an Anglo-Saxon encampment, crafts and historical re-enactments staged by St. Cuthbert's Land, a branch of the national re-enactment organisation Regia Anglorum and Rent-a-Peasant.
Find out more about Maelmin.
A free shuttle bus service will run throughout the weekend, linking the sites in Glendale with public transport in Wooler (Details from BerwickT.I.C. 01289 330733).
Click here for Shuttle Bus details
FREE ADMISSION
Bamburgh
Research Project Open Days
Saturday 19th/Sunday 20th July, 11.00am-4.00pm - Bamburgh Castle
Archaeological excavations on the site of Oswald’s royal ortress at Bamburgh continue to produce fascinating insights into life in the period.
The Bamburgh Research Project open days on the second weekend of National Archaeology Week provide an opportunity to meet the archaeologists and discover more about their work and the finds they are making in the grounds of Bamburgh Castle.
Join one of the guided tours being run by the Bamburgh Research Project to allow free access to the excavations.
Tours will gather at the entrance to the Castle car park at 11.00am, 12.00noon,
2.00pm and 3.00pm each day and be led directly to the excavation in the
West Ward.
Tickets for an internal tour of the Castle, which includes the archaeological
museum, can be purchased at the ticket office.
In addition to the guided tours, finds processing will be undertaken at
the trench side (as far as the weather will permit) by Bamburgh Research
Project staff, who will be happy to ask answer any questions.
A demonstration of archaeological metalworking will be provided adjacent
to Trench 3 in the West Ward, timed to commence at the end of each guided
tour. Metalworking is one of the indicators of a high status site in the
early medieval period and at Bamburgh there is increasing archaeological
evidence for this activity, including the discovery of early medieval pattern
welded swords that may be the product of a sophisticated weapon workshop
operating in the West Ward area.
Also during the weekend there will be living history displays by costumed
re-enactors and displays relating to the making and use of early medieval
armour and weapons.
At 11.30am on Saturday 19th July there will be a colourful performance
of a traditional local legend "The Laidley Worm of Spindlestone",
staged in the Castle grounds by the Belford Players.
Click here for more
information about the Bamburgh Research Project
Click here for more information
about Bamburgh Castle
Admission FREE to the excavations (Entry to Castle - £7 adult, £6
senior, £3 child)
St
Oswald's Festival
Saturday 2nd/Sunday 3rd August, 11.00am-4.30pm
Members of Regia Anglorum, the country's premier Anglo-Saxon re-enactment group, stage an impressive living history event in the shadow of Bamburgh Castle, where the kings of Northumbria once had their capital.
There will be an Anglo-Saxon encampment illustrating life in the period, demonstrations of crafts of the time, and displays of weapons skills and combat between the Northumbrians and pagan invaders from Mercia.
For more information about Regia Anglorum and a wealth of material about life in Anglo-Saxon times visit www.regia.org.
FREE ADMISSION
St
Cedd's Family Festival
Thursday 23rd/Friday 24th October (School parties only) - Longridge Towers, Berwick-upon-Tweed
Saturday 25th/Sunday 26th October, 11.00am-4.00pm - Longridge Towers, Berwick-upon-Tweed
Cedd was one of four young brothers who were taught by St. Aidan in the monastery school on Lindisfarne. They all went on to spread Christianity throughout Britain.
St. Cedd’s Festival recreates an Anglo-Saxon village scene where young people can try their hand at weaving on a replica loom and take part in activities such as making pottery and costumes, manuscript design and weapons skills.
The activities are presented by Berwick Borough Museum Service and Bede's World, together with staff from Longridge Towers School and historical re-enactors from Vikingsaga and St. Cuthbert's Land.
School parties by arrangement on Thursday and Friday. Open to the public on Saturday and Sunday (11.00am-4.00pm).
FREE ADMISSION
