Revisit a 16th century job fair at Mary Arden’s Farm
Mary Arden’s Farm, once the childhood home of Shakespeare’s mother, will host its first ‘Tudor Hiring Fair & Market’ over the bank holiday weekend from Saturday 28 – Monday 30 August.
The three day event will transport visitors back to the 16th century to a typical hiring fair where people traditionally gathered to find work and hire workers for the next six months. Between 12pm – 3pm, visitors can watch maids and day labourers including shepherds, wood craftsmen and Thatcher’s showcasing their skills to secure work on the Farm. On the hour the Tudor master and mistresses will be walking around selecting their working household. The public will also be encouraged to have a go at demonstrating their trade skills in an attempt to secure the highly coveted roles!
Visitors can also enjoy live music, story-telling, listening to Mummer’s Plays (short traditional verse sketches), Elizabethan dancing, archery and falconry plus Tudor games including Skittles, Quoits and Nine Men’s Morris, one of the world’s oldest board games. A sight not to be missed will be a Tug of War contest which will be see Tudors from the 16th century compete against members of the public from the 21st century!
The Fair promises to be a spectacular insight into Tudor Life enveloping visitors in the hustle and bustle of a busy Tudor community. Expert local re-enactors will join forces with the folks at the Farm to re-create an unmissable Tudor themed event for all the family. With a hog roast, bar, craft stalls and a huge wealth of Tudor traditions for visitors to participate in including lace-making, quilting, felt-making, stick-weaving and making stained glass, the Fair is set to be a fun historical event. There are plenty of activities for children such as face-painting and exploring the Bard’s Corner and Trail for mask-making, creating spells and potions and having a go at writing sonnets.
Tickets costs £9.50 for adults, £5.50 for children, £7.50 for concessions and £24.50 for a family and are valid for a full twelve months, so after the Tudor Fair memories have faded visitors can go back again and again throughout the year, for free!
Mary Arden’s Farm is situated in Wilmcote, just outside Stratford-upon-Avon. There is free parking, a café and adventure playground, as well as further Tudor events and activities throughout the year.
Visit shakespeare.org.uk for more information.
