THE CROWD-PULLING Battle of Evesham re-enactment is set to become an annual event after an estimated 10,000 people came to watch over a hundred fully armoured knights and footsoldiers recreate the historically important conflict.
Crown Meadow and Corporation Meadow have been booked-out for the first weekend in August, every year following the latest event over the weekend which once again saw visitors pack into Evesham.
Mick Hurst, local businessman and one of the battle directors, said: “Evesham is often overshadowed by the tourist hotspots of Worcester, Cheltenham and Stratford, and so holding this annual extravaganza of medieval mayhem in the centre of our beautiful town will highlight Evesham as a destination.
“I know of people who travelled from London and Liverpool just for the Battle of Evesham, so the appeal of this sort of historic event is far reaching.
“Other Medieval battle festivals, such as Tewkesbury and Bosworth have visitors travelling from across Europe and America.
“As our event grows and becomes a regular fixture, I suspect we will attract fifteen to twenty thousand visitors, great for local businesses and will really put Evesham on the map.”
Fellow director and organiser, Kate Varvedo, added: “It looks like everyone who went to the Battle of Evesham on Saturday and Sunday enjoyed the festival, with all of the traders, re-enactors and helpers enthusing about the positive comments from members of the public.
“I am already taking stand bookings and sponsorship enquiries for August next year. If budgets allow, we are hoping to have more war-horses, a Falconry demonstration and maybe an authentic 13th century surgeon, performing operations on animated prosthetics.
“Each year we will add something new, interesting and educational from the mid-medieval period.”
Ashleigh Jayes, who also manages the Almonry, said: “The Battle of Evesham is so historically important in England’s political landscape that it should be celebrated, not only did 5,000 men gave their lives in just one day of the battle, but it resulted in the shaping how parliament runs to this day.”
“For the success of next year’s festival, we do need the support of the good people of Evesham and the council. I am already taking names for volunteers who could lend a helping hand during the first weekend in August.”
The event provoked a strong response on social media including a Facebook post which read: “I found the event by accident, I was driving from Northampton to Cornwall and stopped for a 30-minute break in Evesham. I left five hours later!
“The participants were very informative and enthusiastic. So many times, I have driven over Simon deMontfort Bridge and not realised who he was. Thank you to everybody involved, now we know it happens I think it will become a regular date in our diary.”
Call Kate on 07921 030286 or e-mail [email protected] for more information on supporting the 2019 event.
• E-mail [email protected] for more on becoming a volunteer.
