Staffordshire Heritage Day 2013 : Staffordshire 913

Staffordshire 913  are celebrating 1100 years of the founding of the Stafford Burh and planning a day of talks by experts on the Saxon period, including demonstrations by The Poor Cnichts of St Chad.

Æthelflæd and the Mercians at Stafford

Last month Stafford saw Big Burh Day celebrations in the Market Square and Victoria Park. Now Staffordshire Heritage Group, an umbrella organisation for history, archive and archaeology groups throughout the county, is organising its first Heritage Day on the theme of the town's Anglo Saxon origins. Following the success of its history fairs, held every two years, a day of talks has been set up for 7th September, at Castle Church Hall,  Newport Road, Stafford, ST16 1DP.

Stafford 913
Steve Dean, Principal Archaeologist of Staffordshire, will set the scene for the day by giving his ‘Stafford 913’ talk, describing the Burh of Stafford, including an update on the recent excavations and continuing progress on the Staffordshire Hoard restoration work.

The Poor Cnichts of St Chad
The Stafford based group, The Poor Cnichts of St Chad, a historical re-enactment group who work and re-create life in Britain in the 10th and 11th centuries, will describe life in Anglo-Saxon times through a talk and various artefacts, demonstrating trades and general way of life. (Cnichts with a 'C' - 'Cnight' is the Anglo Saxon spelling of Knight they say).

Made Worthy by Weapons: Warfare in the Time of the Hoard
After a buffet lunch and opportunity to examine artefacts and browse at the bookstall, Steve Pollington will deliver his talk ‘Made Worthy by Weapons: Warfare in the Time of the Hoard’ will present an overview of the social context of warfare in the pre-Christian and post-Conversion age, focusing on how and why people fought, what they fought with. Including a display of weaponry.

The Anglo-Saxon Landscape
Following a break for tea Della Hooke, from Birmingham University, an expert on Anglo-Saxon Landscape, will talk generally about her subject and offer an insight into Stafford’s relationship with its wider Anglo-Saxon landscape.


Tickets : £15.00, from Staffordshire Heritage Group. Price includes refreshments and lunch.
For a booking form and further information visit the website of the Staffordshire Heritage Group.

* * *