Blore 550 – What’s Involved?

2009 will be the 550th anniversary of the Battle of Blore Heath, 23rd September 1459. The Blore Heath Heritage Group (BHHG) see the anniversary as an opportunity to bring the battle and the events of 1459 to a wider audience than hitherto, increase community awareness of this heritage, promote community involvement, and to preserve and enhance the battlefield site for future generations. Blore 550 is a programme of events designed to achieve this.

The activities proposed within Blore 550 are:

• 2009 Re-enactment and Fair – The 2009 open day will be held on the 19th and 20th September and has been the principal activity of BHHG. To mark the anniversary year, we are aiming to make this event bigger and better than ever

The event will include:

• A re-enactment of the battle featuring 300 participants;
• Living history displays within the medieval camps;
• Medieval Fayre with over 40 traders;
• Falconry displays;
• Children’s activities;
• Free guided walks and talks on the battlefield;
• Local food and drink
• Touring Exhibition/Display - As part of our efforts to bring the battle to a wider audience, BHHG intends to upgrade our existing display boards (currently only exhibited during the Group’s annual open day on the anniversary of the battle). The intention is to take them “on tour” to regional museums with a connection to the battle, in the winter-summer of 2009/2010. We envisage the display to comprise 6 to 8 AO display boards, a small display of archaeological finds and possibly also some replica armour and weapons of the period.
• Blore Heath 1459 Overture – A concert to perform this piece specially written for the Battle.
• Talks and educational visits - A short programme of speakers on topics related to the battle will also be provided.
• School Visits - The BHHG hopes to undertake school visits, either to the associated museum displays or independently. Interest from local schools is being sought.
• Creation of a Battlefield Trail - Currently large parts of the battlefield are inaccessible, including Audley’s Cross, the memorial to the Lancastrian commander. The group wish to improve access and create a Battlefield Trail with interpretation boards, explaining the various stages of the battle. This would also provide access to Audley’s Cross.
• Produce a book on the battle - The last original and truly definitive book on the battlefield was written in 1912. BHHG want to publish a new book which includes all the subsequent discoveries about the battlefield.

Sponsors

Blore Heath Heritage Group is very pleased to acknowledge the support of the following Sponsors:

Mouchel, a large Consulting and Business Services Group are supporting BHHG through Mouchels Community Involvement Programme. Volunteers from the company are assisting BHHG in the following areas:

• Fundraising– From other businesses and funding bodies.
• Advertising and publicity – assisting with press releases, contacting what’s on and similar event websites.
• Development of display & interpretation materials – Mouchel is generating all the display materials and accompanying mapping and artwork, that will be used as the basis of the museum displays.
• Stewarding at the 2008 and 2009 open days – assisting in staffing the annual open day.

The company has pledged to match volunteer time with time from normal working hours in the ratio of 2:1 volunteer/company, in a similar fashion to “pro bono” legal work. The company has donated £3,000 worth of volunteer time.

Newcastle Under Lyme Borough Council – Cultural Grant

Newcastle under Lyme Borough Council has generously donated £1,150 to the production of new exhibition and display boards. The boards will be used in the winter/spring/summer of 2009/2010 to form a touring exhibition about the battle, starting with the Newcastle under Lyme Museum and Art Gallery, but progressing on to other regional museums.

The funds will also cover a short series of talks and educational visits on topics related to the battle.

On completion of the touring exhibition the boards will continue to be used for BHHG’s annual re-enactment and open day and it is hoped will form the basis of a permanent display near the battle site which remains the ultimate aspiration of the Group

Please check our news page to keep track of developments regarding Blore Heath 550.