ST BARTHOLOMEW’S DAY CELEBRATIONS
AT BLISTS HILL
Tuesday 24th August
St Bartholomew’s Day celebrations are being revived at Blists Hill Victorian Town in the Ironbridge Gorge, Shropshire on Tuesday, 24th August with drama, wizardry and fun family entertainment.
Once a celebration for printers, St Bartholomew’s Day was traditionally held on 24th August at Smithfield in London between 1133 and 1855, and in other parts of the country until the 1880s. A master printer provided entertainment - or Wayzgoose - for his workers to mark the end of summer and the arrival of shorter days making it necessary to work by candlelight.
Blists Hill will celebrate the day with street actors on The Green courtesy of Kaleidoscope Theatre, while the town’s own Prince Albert Players will perform St George and the Dragon and a magician, the Great Yendor, will amaze the audience with his tricks. Other fun activities will include china smashing, skittles and traditional games plus a chance to try printing using Victorian techniques.
|
