Church Stretton Medieval fair celebrates 800 years of history
[gallery] Eight hundred years of history was celebrated in perfect sunshine as Church Stretton marked the founding of its market by King John.
The Church Stretton 1214 Medieval Fair began on Friday with a banquet at the Sylvester Horne Institute, where guests tucked into medieval food and also enjoyed period entertainment from musicians Merrie Noyse.
The festivities got into full swing on Saturday with a procession through the town led by Shrewsbury Town Crier Martin Wood and children from local schools wearing medieval garb.
The procession made its way from Sanford Avenue to the Rectory Field, where a medieval village was recreated, with 30 traders and a host of historical entertainment.
Rectory Field hosted battling re-enactment groups, a tug of war, a circus workshop, Punch & Judy puppet shows, ferret racing and have-a-go archery with The Bowmen of Caradoc.
Visitors had the chance to make their own commemorative coins under the supervision of Dave Grunal, an internationally recognised producer of hammered coins based on the medieval period.
Sally Betton and husband David said it was the "perfect" weekend for their family to entertain their five little girls Tamara, eight, Summer, seven, Beatrice, six, Scarlet, six and Millie, three.
Mrs Betton, of Hazler Road, Church Stretton said: "It's been a fantastic weekend and the weather has made it. The girls really enjoyed jousting and going on the bouncy castle.
"The girls loved the ferret racing and playing with the medieval toys like stilts and spinning tops.
"They spent ages in the little village watching people in medieval dress cooking .
"There was some beautiful food. There were huge crowds watching the trebuchet, tug of war and blind mans buff. And the dragon puppets and Punch and Judy were fantastic. It's been brilliant for the kids it's been such an entertaining weekend. Well worth the visit, it's been perfect."
