Come and celebrate Cadw’s 25th anniversary at Wales’ largest Castle, Caerphilly Castle on Thursday 29 October 2009 (10am-4pm).
Cadw, the Welsh Assembly Government’s historic environment service, is proudly celebrating a quarter century of active conservation and promotion of Wales’s historic environment. Cadw has organized a feast of events for the whole family from art work and living history to Halloween tours and craft exhibitions!
Former British triple jumper and Olympic Gold medallist and London 2012 Nations and Regions Group Deputy Chair Jonathan Edwards CBE will launch the day’s proceedings at 10am. He will visit Caerphilly Castle to award an Inspire Mark – the badge of the Inspire programme which recognises projects and events inspired by London 2012 -to the Cauldrons and Furnaces project. The Castle is one of the locations for the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad inspired Cauldrons and Furnaces initiative, which Cadw is delivering in partnership with the Arts Council of Wales over four years.
Jonathan Edwards will meet with children who will be working on a Cauldrons and Furnaces art project with artist Eric Heyman at the Castle on the day, as well as taking the opportunity to see the colourful banners hung up in the Great Hall, created by Caerphilly schoolchildren as part of previous workshops inspired by the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad.
Visitors to the castle’s Great Hall will be invited to create a giant medieval market street style mural where visitors will have the opportunity to colour or add things to the mural throughout the day. The banner, once completed, will be hung up at the Medieval Christmas Fayre at the Castle in December.
Wannabe draculas are invited to visit the set of BBC’s Young Dracula series in the Inner East Gatehouse. Find out where they filmed, try on the costumes and have your portrait sketched by artist Eric Heyman (a small charge will apply for the sketches).
Looking for some fiendish fun in the run up to Halloween? Why not consult medieval barber surgeon Obadiah Carver for a Halloween cure and listen to his medieval medicine methods in Caerphilly’s Great Hall at 11am, 1pm and 3pm. Or, if you’re brave enough, join Margaret Butler as she conducts a number of spooky tours of Caerphilly Castle throughout the day. Tour times will be posted within the Castle on the day. Craftspeople from Cadwraeth Cymru will also be on hand during the day to showcase their stonemasonry and carpentry skills.
Heritage interpretation theatre company, Chance Encounters will also be at the Castle to prove the past is still present! Storytellers and actors will provide visitors with a whole new perspective on past traditions, customs, folklore and habits from the story of Owain Glyndwr to herb masterclasses and quizzes on the castle’s attack and defence strategies.
Visitors wanting to take a break and refuel can take advantage of a fantastic hog roast on site which will sure to make mouth water!
Following the day activities a special 25th anniversary lecture, titled ‘Wales – Churches, Houses, Castles’, by eminent historian, journalist and author Sir Simon Jenkins will be held in the Castle’s Great Hall from 7pm. Tickets are limited, but free and available on a first come, first serve basis. Anyone wishing to book a ticket should call Rhodri Owen on 029 20 257075 or email [email protected].
Heritage Minister, Alun Ffred Jones, said:
“Cadw’s 25th celebrations at Caerphilly Castle promise to be a fun-packed day for all the family, a chance for people to engage with the historic environment while having fun at the same time. Cadw’s 25th anniversary is a great opportunity to celebrate Wales’ historic environment. There’s no denying the wealth of our heritage – whether it be the castles, prehistoric monuments, industrial heritage, chapels tradition or the humble vernacular cottage. We have grown up with our historic environment and it has helped make us what we are. Everyone has a story to tell, many of those stories will come alive at Caerphilly Castle during these celebrations.”
London 2012 Board Member Jonathan Edwards CBE said:
“The Cauldrons and Furnaces project will be a highlight of Cadw’s 25th anniversary celebrations, I’m honoured to be invited to launch the celebrations and award a London 2012 Inspire Mark to the project. I’d encourage families to come and experience this outstanding London 2012 Cultural Olympiad project, learn more about their heritage and join in the fun.”
