GLOUCESTER’S WARRIOR QUEEN 8th-12th

June 2018

ANGLO SAXON FESTIVAL

GloucesterCathedral

CivicTrust

Glos Culture Trust

Glos HistFestival

MarketingGlos

Museum ofGlos

2 BOX OFFICE 01452 396572

8th - 12th JUNE 2018

Aethelflaed (pronounced Eth-el-fled) was the most powerful woman of the Anglo-Saxon era. Daughter of Alfred the Great, she ruled the kingdom of Mercia, and was a successful military strategist, fighting the Vikings, and bringing their leaders to pledge loyalty to her.She came to power at a time when England was made up of many kingdoms, each with its own culture and traditions, with Mercia the largest of all.

Aethelflaed also made a difference nationally, laying the foundations for joining England’s kingdoms into the single country we know today.

Now, 1100 years after her death, we are celebrating her life and the impact she had on our lives today.

Our Warrior Queen festival gives you the chance to find out all about her in our three illustrated talks at Blackfriars Priory, take a free guided tour around the city and discover how she

influenced the design of the city as we know it today.

During the three days of celebrations you can visit St Oswald’s Priory, which she built and was the place of her burial, and visit the museum of Gloucester to see the exhibition that includes the coffin lid believed to be Aethelflaed’s, discovered at the priory in ????.

You can also, see examples of how the Anglo Saxons used to live in a living history village and follow the recreation of her funeral procession on Saturday lunchtime.

INTRODUCING AETHELFLAED

3WWW.GLOUCESTERHISTORYFESTIVAL.CO.UK

GLOUCESTER’S WARRIOR QUEEN

MUSIC AND PERFORMANCE AT ST OSWALDS PRIORYFriday 8th June, 17:30

A relaxed evening of music in the stunning surroundings of St Oswald’s Priory, inspired by Aethelflaed. Relax with an Aethelflaed Ale from the Pelican Inn and listen to an eclectic mix of voices commemorating Gloucester’s Warrior Queen, curated by Creative Field alongside five composers; Philip Lancaster, Graham S Keitch, Stephen Gowland, Jackson Hill and Robin Morton. Local amateur and professional choirs will also join the performance.

Saturday 9th June, 10.00–22:00 Sunday 10th June, 10:00–16:00

Come along to St Oswald’s and enter the Anglo Saxon stockade to experience a taste of life in the 9th Century. From everyday domestic activities to battlefield preparations will provide insights into the life of Aethelflaed and her contemporaries.

GEOPHYSICAL SURVEYSSaturday 9th June, 10:00

What are those old walls and arches on Priory Road? Who built them and why? As part of this year’s celebrations of the life of Aethelflaed we are offering an opportunity to learn about her life, her people and the Priory she built in Gloucester. Using geophysical surveying equipment you will map out the buried foundations of St Oswald’s and examine things left behind by ordinary Anglo-Saxons to explore how they lived, worked, ate and died.

SAXON FUNERAL PROCESSIONSaturday 9th June, 12:00 Gloucester Docks and City

Witness Aethelflaed being carried through the City to her final resting place at St Oswald’s Priory. Her body will be met on the North Quay of Gloucester Docks by her followers and processed along Commercial Road, Southgate Street, Westgate Street through the Cathedral Grounds onto St Mary’s Street and then to St Oswald’s Priory in a celebration of the life of this remarkable woman.

LIVING HISTORY

4 BOX OFFICE 01452 396572

8th - 12th JUNE 2018

SPACESGeorge Moorey

A contemporary song in a modern style about Aethelflaed. The performance is part of the Spaces Project, organised by George and performed by himself, local poet and performer JPDL and Madeline Harwood. The track will be officially released on Friday 8th June and will be being performed at St Oswalds priory and the museum of Gloucester over the weekend.

COMMISSIONED PIECES

We are very much looking forward to retelling the life of a strong woman when the odds were very much stacked

against her. She is an inspiration to women today and proof of patriarchal ignorance, and using poetry, and contemporary-

style music using medieval instruments, we hope to bring a modern twist to recounting her story. Beth & JDPL

FOUNDING MOTHER ON A CHESSBOARD OF KINGSGrove + JDPL

Using a loop station, and sampler along with vocals, this performance aims to immerse the viewer with all senses by using samples from the saxon era manipulated live to create a musical fusion between the sound of the age and contemporary influences. Through the use of sound design grove and JDPL create an audible battle scene to represent the battles that Aethelflaed won.

Saturday 9th June13:45 – Museum of Gloucester16:00 – St. Oswalds Priory

Sunday 10th June12:15 - Museum of Gloucester14:00 - St. Oswalds PrioryQ

UICK

INFO

>>

THE BALLAD OF AETHEFLAED“The Vikings are coming! Only one person can lead us to victory - Aethelflaed lady of Mercia! This lively fun interactive performance tells the story of Aethelflaed and how she led the Britons to victory over the Vikings. Told with songs, rhyme and an interactive battle or two prepare to meet the lady of Mercia!”

5WWW.GLOUCESTERHISTORYFESTIVAL.CO.UK

GLOUCESTER’S WARRIOR QUEEN

AETHELFLAED AND THE BIRTH OF ENGLANDTom Holland, 19:00- 20:00

The formation of England occurred against the odds: an island divided into rival kingdoms, under savage assault from Viking hordes. King Alfred ensured the survival of Wessex and his son Edward expanded it, his grandson Athelstan conquered Northumbria and was hailed as ‘King of the whole of Britain’. But what role did Aethelflaed play? Leading historian Tom Holland, author of Athelstan: The Making of England, explores the story with relish and drama, transporting us back to a time of omens, raven harbingers and blood-red battlefields. Making sense of the family rivalries and fractious conflicts, he tells how a royal dynasty rescued their kingdom from near-oblivion and fashioned a nation that endures to this day.

Tickets cost £5 per talk or £12 for our popular day ticket (A4) which allows entrance to all three talks.

Ring the Box Office on 01452 396572

Book by visiting the Tourist Information Centre in Southgate Street or buy online at www.gloucesterhistoryfestival.co.uk

VISITING BLACKFRIARS PRIORYBook signings organised by Waterstones take place after events at Blackfriars Priory. You can also enjoy delicious food and drink in the Blackfriars Café, relax in the gorgeous medieval courtyard or visit England’s oldest surviving library. There will be a box office on site but we recommend booking your tickets in advance to avoid disappointment. Doors open at 14:30.

AETHELFLAED AND GLOUCESTER: THE GOLDEN MINSTERCarolyn Heighway and Michael Hare, 15:00-16:05 A1

After a series of intriguing digs, archaeologist Carolyn Heighway and historian Michael Hare revealed St Oswald’s Priory as the church built by Aethelflaed and the place where she was buried. The extraordinary works of art they unearthed – truly worthy of a royal mausoleum – include the ornate grave-cover which may have lain over the tomb of the Warrior Queen herself. They explore the inside story of the excavations, their important new discoveries and tell the fascinating Anglo-Saxon tale of St Oswald’s a church so famous for its wealth, its glory and its miracles, it was nicknamed ‘the Golden Minster’.

WOMEN WARLORDS AND WARRIOR QUEENSJanina Ramirez, 17:00-18:00 A2

From Boudica to Joan of Arc, Viking ‘Shield-maidens’ to female Admirals, there’s a fascinating hidden history of warrior women to discover and a powerful mythology to explore. Join bestselling historian and BBC4 broadcaster Janina Ramirez for an intriguing illustrated journey. From Aethelflaed, the original Anglo-Saxon ‘Iron Lady’, to the extraordinary new DNA discoveries casting the Viking ‘Shield-maiden’s in a dramatic new light, she paints a vivid and passionate picture of women warlords through the ages.

EXPLORING AETHELFLAED WARRIOR QUEENWho was Aethelflaed? Why is she our greatest forgotten Queen? How did her legacy shape the birth of England? Why is she buried in Gloucester? Is she really the original Anglo-Saxon ‘Iron Lady’? Join us in the stunning surroundings of Blackfriars Priory for a fascinating afternoon of talks uncovering the life and legacy of the formidable Warrior Queen.

BLACK FRIARS TALKSH

OW

TO

BO

OK>

>

QUI

CK IN

FO>> Sunday 10th June

15.00 – 20.00Blackfriars Priory, Ladybellegate St, Gloucester GL1 2HN

6 BOX OFFICE 01452 396572

8th - 12th JUNE 2018

MUSEUM EXHIBITION MUSEUM OF GLOUCESTERSaturday 9th June – Saturday 15th SeptemberBritain has a long history of inspiring queens: Elizabeth Windsor. Victoria. Elizabeth Tudor. But none are as inspiring as Aethelflaed.Over a thousand years ago Aethelflead ruled Mercia, as one of the strongest rulers this nation has ever seen, uniting kingdoms and protecting cities. On the 1100 anniversary of her death and her burial at St Oswald’s in Gloucester, we celebrate this extraordinary queen and “Britain’s Greatest Woman General”

But who was she and what did she do? Who were the Mercians? What does Aethflaed have to do with Gloucester and how can we still see her influence around us every day?

Through artefacts and written sources of the time, the Museum of Gloucester will answer these questions and more about this nationally important figure, in an exhibition which seeks to answer Who rules the world?

CATHEDRAL SERVICESCIVIC TRUST TOURS AND TALKS FREE GUIDED TOURS OF SAXON GLOUCESTERJoin an experienced Civic Trust Guide on a tour of Gloucester City Centre, and find out more about the Saxons, what life was like for them in Aethelflaed’s time, learn about things they have found in the city that relate to the Saxons and discover how Aethelflaed herself designed the streets that still exist in the city today.

Tours will begin outside St Michaels Tower, at Gloucester Cross and will finish at St Oswalds Priory. The tour will last approx. 1 hour. The tours are free but tickets must be booked as numbers are limited.

Tickets can be booked online atwww.gloucesterhistoryfestival.co.uk or through the Tourist Information Centrein Southgate Street 01452 396572.

ANGLO SAXON CHRISTUS REVEALEDSaturday 9th June onwardsThe Cathedral’s oldest piece of stonework will be back on display to the public in the Bridge Chapel after over a year under wraps due to regeneration work in the building. The Anglo-Saxon carving of Jesus Christ dates from around the 800s - the time of Aethelflaed and is all that remains of the original Saxon monastery founded by Prince Osric and his sister, Kyneburga. The display of this piece corresponds with Gloucester City Museum’s Anglo Saxon Exhibition, working together to open up Gloucester’s Saxon treasures to all.

Tuesday 12th June, 17:30Dedicated Evensong at Gloucester Cathedral commemorating 1,100 years to the day since Aethelflaed’s burial.

TOURS, TALKS AND SERVICES

Tour timesSaturday 9th September, 10:30 & 14:30

Sunday 10th September, 10:30 & 13:00Q

UICK

INFO

>>

7WWW.GLOUCESTERHISTORYFESTIVAL.CO.UK

GLOUCESTER’S WARRIOR QUEEN

Gloucester RoyalesteHospitH

Couda Way

Gloucester Quays

Gloucester Cathedral

Sa insburys

Gloucester Col lege

“Gloucester’s wonderful history is so worth celebrating and the Gloucester History Festival is one of its gems” Griff Rhys-Jones.

Dan Snow, David Olusoga, Bridget Kendall and Tony Robinson are just a handful of the spell-binding speakers who appeared at last year’s Gloucester History Festival. Join us this September to hear Britain’s top historians talk in the beautiful surroundings of Blackfriars Priory. Visit hundreds of buildings open for free and enjoy great events all over Gloucester in our City Voices series. Bookings open in July. Visit gloucesterhistoryfestival.co.uk now to sign up for our newsletter.

1st-16th September 2018

1 St Oswalds2 St. Michael’s Tower3 Black Friars

1

3

2

HOW TO FIND US

DATE TIME EVENT WHERE?

FRIDAY8TH JUNE

17:30 Evening music in the priory ST OSWALDS

SATURDAY 9TH JUNE

10:00 Living History camp open Geo Physical Survey

ST. OSWALDSST. OSWALDS

10:30 Saxon guided tour ST. MICHAEL’S TOWER

12:00 Procession GLOS DOCKS

12:30 – 14:30 Facepainting + childrens activities ST. MICHAEL’S TOWER

13:00 Ballad of Aethelflaed MUSEUM OF GLOUCESTER

13:45 Spaces/Founding mother on achessboard of Kings

MUSEUM OF GLOUCESTER

14:30 Saxon Guided Tour ST. MICHAEL’S TOWER

14:45 Ballad of Aethelflaed ST. OSWALDS

16:00 Spaces/ Founding mother on achessboard of Kings

ST. OSWALDS

16:00 Ballad of Aethelflaed MUSEUM OF GLOUCESTER

17.15 Ballad of Aethelflaed ST. OSWALDS

20:30 Candle lit Service ST. OSWALDS

SUNDAY 10TH JUNE

10:00 – 16:00 Living History ST. OSWALDS

10:30 Saxon Guided Tour ST. MICHAEL’S TOWER

11:30 Ballad of Aethelflaed MUSEUM OF GLOUCESTER

12:15 Space/ Founding mother on achessboard of Kings

MUSEUM OF GLOUCESTER

12:45 Ballad of Aethelflaed ST. OSWALDS

13:00 Saxon Guided Tour ST. MICHAEL’S TOWER

14:00 Ballad of aethelalfaed MUSEUM OF GLOUCESTER

14:00 Spaces/ founding mother ST. OSWALDS

15:00 Aethelflaed and Gloucester, The Golden Minster Caroline Heighway + Michael Hare

BLACKFRIARS

15:15 Ballad of aethelflaed ST. OSWALDS

17:00 Women warlords + warrior QueensJanina Ramirez

BLACKFRIARS

19:00 Aethelflaed and the birth of EnglandTom Holland

BLACKFRIARS

Festival Diary

BOX OFFICE 01452 396572 VISIT WWW.GLOUCESTERHISTORYFESTIVAL.CO.UK