We are delighted to welcome The Festival Players back to Winterbourne Medieval Barn as they perform Shakespeare's As You Like It. As You Like It is probably Shakespeares most entrancing romantic comedy. Rosalind, the daughter of a displaced Duke, is banished from the court by her Fathers brother. Along with her cousin Celia, she escapes to the Forest of Arden and disguises herself as a man. She teases Orlando, a young man, who does not recognise her as the girl he loved at a distance. The pastoral world of the Forest is inhabited with a colourful array of folk, looking for love, and woven into this delightful tale, full of comedy and music. The Festival Players Theatre Company is a professional theatre company in their 39th year of touring, delivering the best in open-air Shakespeare, committed to presenting the very best in touring theatre. As in the Bards day, Festival Players International will be performing with an all-male company of skilled professional actors, and invite you to share in the fun of this amazing play. A Summer treat for the whole family. Parking for this event will be at The Barn. Full details will be sent in the pre-event email a few days before the event. Please email us at [email protected] with your registration number and specific requirements, if you need a wheelchair accessible parking space and any accessible seating for the show so that we can arrange this for you. Please do not park along church lane as this obstructs the road for other users and emergency vehicles. There is plenty of bicycle parking at The Barn for those arriving on two wheels and space for drop off / collection if you would like to arrange this. The Barns pop-up bar will be open for this event serving a small selection of drinks and snacks. Cash and card payments are accepted. The primary purpose of this event is to raise money for WMBT and to support conservation, management, maintenance and improvement of the WMBT site. If you wish to avoid the online booking fee then please contact the office to arrange a time to come and book in person.

Join us for a two hour mosaic workshop session, where you will learn the basics of mosaic and create your very own unique mosaic artwork. This session is suitable for adults and children (5 years +)/ young people to take part in together. Each ticket holder will create their own mosaic masterpiece. Participants will select and arrange tiles into their unique design before setting these in place with adhesive. Three Little Birds will bring a variety of mosaics and samples to serve as inspiration and guidance. You will have full access to a wide range of pre-cut tiles and any board or dish of your choosing. These include a range of fun wooden shaped boards or small terracotta trinket dishes. There should be enough time for grouting, but in any incidences that there is not, Three Little Birds will take the mosaics away to grout and seal in their workshop and return them to The Barn for later collection. Tea, coffee & squash on arrival are included in your ticket. Free parking is available at The Barn. The primary purpose of this event is to raise money for WMBT and to support conservation, management, maintenance and improvement of the WMBT site. If you wish to avoid the online booking fee then please contact the office to arrange a time to come and book in person.

Join us for a two and a half hour mosaic workshop session, where you will learn the basics of mosaic and create your very own unique mosaic artwork. Participants will select and arrange tiles into their unique design before setting these in place with adhesive. Three Little Birds will bring a variety of mosaics and samples to serve as inspiration and guidance. You will have full access to a wide range of ceramic and glass mosaic tiles, tile cutters and any board or dish of your choosing. These include a range of wooden shaped boards, terracotta dishes or mirrors. Three Little Birds will then take the mosaics away to grout and seal in their workshop and return them to The Barn for collection. This session is aimed at ages 16+ Tea & coffee on arrival are included in your ticket. Free parking is available at The Barn. The primary purpose of this event is to raise money for WMBT and to support conservation, management, maintenance and improvement of the WMBT site. If you wish to avoid the online booking fee then please contact the office to arrange a time to come and book in person.

A proper Barn Dance in a real Barn! Gloucestershire band Sargent’s Mess will provide the rousing tunes with Ann on accordion, Naomi on fiddle, and Nick on guitar. And our Caller Rob is in charge of proceedings, helping you turn the right way and do the right moves as you go along! Bar open from 6pm. You can bring food to eat in the grounds if you wish, but please note that only alcohol purchased at the Barn may be consumed on site. Dancing from 7 - 8.30pm, and then 9 - 10pm. Bar open all evening so you can flop down with a drink if you get too hot! So, get your dancing feet on, bring your friends, and enjoy a sociable Midsummer evening down at the Medieval Barn. Free on-site parking. Book online on Ticketsource direct or via the Barn website.

Join us for an evening guided walk (around 1.5 hrs) with naturalist Ed Drewitt followed by a drink and nibbles at the Barn. Dusk in late summer is a great time for looking for bats such as pipistrelles feeding along the local pathways and nature reserve. Ed will be on hand with a bat detector to 'hear' the bats echolocating. We'll also be listening for any birdsong in a dusk chorus and perhaps the hoot of a tawny owl as sunset approaches. Ed Drewitt is no stranger to wildlife and over the past 20 years has been showing people flora and fauna and helping them to spot and identify different species. Ed is a freelance naturalist and works across the west showing people wildlife. He is based in the Forest of Dean which he shares with wild board, deer and many different types of birds. What to bring: outdoor footwear, suitable outdoor clothing , binoculars (not essential as it will be dusk). You will set off from the Barn at 8pm for an hour and a half walk, followed by a drink from the bar and nibbles. The drink from the bar is your choice of a juice carton, tea, coffee, small glass of wine, beer or cider (alcoholic options are strictly for over 18s only). 20 per person, including a drink and nibbles. Please inform of any dietary requirements at the time of booking. Recommended for ages 12+ Please note parking for this event is at the Barn, BS36 1SE The primary purpose of this event is to raise money for WMBT and to support conservation, management, maintenance and improvement of the WMBT site. If you wish to avoid the online booking fee then please contact the office to arrange a time to come and book in person.

Join Steve England, outdoor educator, Horticulturist and Historian, on this family friendly guided walk around the barn site and local nature reserve to explore habitats, plants and trees and learn the fascinating facts & practical uses of them for food, medicine, bushcraft & fire! This walk will very much be determined by what is found along the way and so is likely to be different every time. Please make sure you dress sensibly in comfortable, suitable clothing and wear sturdy footwear. Please bring any snacks or drinks you need for the duration of the walk and ensure you are protected from the sun. Under 18s must remain accompanied by a responsible adult at all times during the walk. After approximately 2 hours out with Steve you will return to The Barn for tea, coffee & squash. The Barn will be open on arrival for use of the facilities and to check everyone in. Tickets are 26 for a 1 adult & 1 child. Additional child tickets are 13 each. Important ratios: maximum of 2 children to 1 adult. About your guide: "All my life I have loved the outdoors. Growing up in Bristol, my childhood was spent exploring the fields and woodlands of Stoke Park, fascinated by every tree, plant, bird & butterfly. I decided to continue my learning with the RHS, studying horticulture alongside teaching myself everything there was to know about the wildlife and history on my doorstep. I began teaching what I had learned over 10 years ago to friends, local people and my local community, and absolutely love sharing everything I know. Whether foraging foods, learning poisonous plants, lighting fires, recognising birds, identifying bats or looking back in time at the history of North Bristol, I come alive when in front of an audience and thrive on sharing my knowledge with others." Steve England Outdoor Learning provides outdoor adult education events, courses and workshops within North Bristol. Please note parking for this event will be on site at the Barn, BS36 1SE. The car park will be locked once the event has finished so please ensure your car is moved if you will be exploring the local area after your visit to The Barn. The primary purpose of this event is to raise money for WMBT and to support conservation, management, maintenance and improvement of the WMBT site. If you wish to avoid the online booking fee then please contact the office to arrange a time to come and book in person.

If you enjoy all the fun and audience participation of a pantomime then you will love IKP's unmistakable brand of "delightfully daft" family theatre! Fully inclusive and in a more relaxed setting than a traditional theatre, we are delighted to welcome back IKP for another adventure for the whole family to enjoy! From the company who brought you The Little Mermaid, Hercules, Beauty & the Beast and The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, the classic fairytale of magic, true love and custom-made shoes is brought to life in this brand new show for all ages. Embark on the most magical fairytale adventure as Cinderella comes to our beautiful main barn. Expect magic, madness and plenty of silliness in this brand new Summer show. Recommended age 5+ but all welcome. Parking is free and will be at The Barn (BS36 1SE). Space is limited so please follow the instructions from our parking stewards on arrival. There is plenty of bicycle parking and space for drop off / pick ups at The Barn if you are able to arrange this. Please do not park along church lane as this obstructs the road for other users and emergency vehicles. We have toilets on site, including a fully accessible toilet and baby changing facilities. The performance will take place within our main barn so there is no need to worry about wet weather. Seating will be provided. There will be designated spaces for guests who may find sitting still for a whole show challenging. There will be seating with more space to move around which is further away from the actors for those who may also need a sensory break. This can be accessed at any time during the show. Please let us know in advance if you need any specifically accessible seating or parking and we can discuss this with you. The Barn Bar will also be open serving a small selection of drinks and snacks. Cash and card payments are accepted. Each child's ticket includes a complimentary cup of squash. The primary purpose of this event is to raise money for WMBT and to support conservation, management, maintenance and improvement of the WMBT site. If you wish to avoid the online booking fee then please contact the office to arrange a time to come and book in person.

Join local glass artist, Rachael Durkan from The Glass Cabin for one of her popular fused glass workshops. In this session there is the choice of options: Lantern, Wave or Panel. Lantern - 68 You will have 2.5 hours to create two panels for your lantern, the door panel and one other panel of your choice. The panels are approximately 913 (door) and 10x14cm. You can choose from a selection of templates to help guide your design and then pick from an array of pre cut glass and glass accessories to create your lantern panels. Lantern is included in your ticket. Wave in a Frame - 55 In this brand new 2 hour workshop you will have the chance to create a stunning fused glass wave design to be placed in an 18cm shadow frame (white frame included in ticket). This workshop involves using mosaic cutters to nibble lots of small pieces of glass to create your mosaic style wave design. You can also use bubble paint to add extra detail to your wave. A very mindful, relaxing workshop. Your wave will be returned to you 2 weeks later in a lovely shadow box frame, which can be hung or, because of its depth, can stand freely. Panel - 48 With this option you have the choice of making a Bristol balloon, flower panel or freestyle hanging. You will have 2 hours to create your masterpiece, using a variety of pre-cut glass and glass accessories in an array of beautiful colours. There will be plenty of templates to choose from or you can create your own design. Both workshops are suitable for complete beginners as well as those whove caught the fused glass bug! Rachael will have lots of ideas to inspire you and is on hand with design advice throughout the workshop. Please select which option you would like at the time of booking. PLEASE NOTE Rachael will take your finished piece away to be fused in her kiln. It will be available for collection from the barn or Rachael directly a couple of weeks after the workshop. This workshop is suitable for age 16+ (under 18's must be accompanied by an adult) For safety reasons, please do not wear open toe shoes such as sandals or flip flops. Also a little reminder for people who wear glasses.... due to close up work, you may wish to bring along your spectacles! Parking for this event is at the Barn, BS36 1SE. Tea & coffee will be provided during the introduction and is included in your ticket price. Due to the nature of working with glass refreshments will not be permitted during the actual workshop. The primary purpose of this event is to raise money for WMBT and to support conservation, management, maintenance and improvement of the WMBT site. If you wish to avoid the online booking fee then please contact the office to arrange a time to come and book in person.

We welcome back David from Bushel+Peck to guide us through the aromas and flavours of a range of cider and perry in this informative but fun workshop. With many years experience in managing his own orchards and producing his own products our expert host will be able to tell you all about the ciders you are tasting and will welcome any questions; it is guaranteed to be a merry evening! David will have a small amount of their cider and perry to sell on the evening should you wish to purchase any. Cash and card payments are accepted and a percentage of these sales is kindly being donated back to The Barn. Strictly over 18s only. Please drink responsibly. Parking for this event is at the Barn, BS36 1SE. There is plenty of bicycle parking available for those arriving on two wheels as well as space for drop off / pick up if you prefer to arrange this. For those who will be drinking there are plenty of taxi firms serving the area and limited buses to Winterbourne. The primary purpose of this event is to raise money for WMBT and to support conservation, management, maintenance and improvement of the WMBT site. If you wish to avoid the booking fee then please contact the office to arrange a time to come and book in person at The Barn.

We welcome Ian Redfearn back to guide us through the aromas and flavours of a diverse range of 8 wines from Spain and Portugal. This will include some festive whites and reds as well as a warming ruby port. An informative and also fun event. With 25 years experience in the wine trade, Ian makes the ideal host for the evening. He will give some background information on each wine's individual appearance, aroma and flavour, and he will welcome questions and comments. Guaranteed to be a merry evening! Ian will have a small amount of the wines sampled to sell by the bottle on the evening should you wish to purchase any. Cash and card payments are accepted. Strictly over 18s only. Please drink responsibly. Parking for this event is at the Barn, BS36 1SE. There is plenty of bicycle parking available for those arriving on two wheels as well as space for drop off / pick up if you prefer to arrange this. For those who will be drinking there are plenty of taxi firms serving the area and limited buses to Winterbourne. The primary purpose of this event is to raise money for WMBT and to support conservation, management, maintenance and improvement of the WMBT site. If you wish to avoid the online booking fee then please contact the office to arrange a time to come and book in person.

Come on in to find out the history of this beautiful barn and admire original medieval timbers. Hear the story of how it was all almost lost in the 1980s, then saved by local supporters in the 1990s, the huge restoration project that took place to bring it back to its former glory and how it is used today! Winterbourne Medieval Barn, built in 1342, is a unique surviving example of a great medieval Barn built by a gentry family. Constructed using green timber methods, cutting edge technology for the time, it has been described as a magnificent example of the builders craft. Come and look around this beautiful building, set in rural South Gloucestershire, just outside Bristol. The Main Barn will be open for you to look around at your leisure with some of our volunteer tour guides on hand to answer any questions you have about our beautiful site. Our pop up caf will also be open serving a small selection of drinks and snacks. Cash and card payments are accepted, Why not combine your visit with a trip to St Michaels Church next door? Check their listing for times. Were also located next to Monks Pool Nature Reserve which makes the Barn an ideal starting point for exploring the local landscape. We will be open from 1pm 4pm. Please arrive at any time within this time slot and stay for as long, or little as you like. Look out for the brown signs on Winterbourne High Street to direct you to The Barn and follow the pink bunting to the entrance! Limited car parking is available onsite. We have plenty of cycle parking for those travelling by bike. The Barn is a short ten minute walk from Winterbourne High Street. Please note parking for this event will be on site at the Barn, BS36 1SE.

June was the time in the Medieval calendar to celebrate Midsummer, and what a celebration it was! Permission to host a June fayre in Winterbourne was granted by King Richard II in 1393 to Blanch, the great-granddaughter of Sir Thomas de Bradeston who commissioned The Barn to be built in 1342, so we are delighted to still be upholding that tradition over 600 years later. Join us as we recreate some of the festivities with combat displays & have a go archery from the Warwick Warriors, wandering jesters, games and live medieval musicians. Plus, a mini living history village from Company of Chivalry so that you can really get a feel for medieval life by walking amongst it! Small, but perfectly formed (and on a genuine medieval site) there will be a programme of activities throughout the day alongside a range of artisan craft stalls where you can watch some of the artists at work. There will be demos on basket weaving and natural dyes plus beautiful work from local jewellers, medieval illustrations, skin care made with local honey, leatherwork, straw craft, planters made from local driftwood and many more! Face painting will be on offer for younger visitors (or those young at heart!) as well as a colouring completion and an owl scavenger hunt. The catering will be keeping the medieval theme too: including a hog roast from Old Sodbury Lamb, British sweet & savoury bakes from Magnolia Mews Bakehouse and traditional Persian (think Byzantine Empire and The Crusades!) from KooKoo Food Ltd. Vegan and gluten free options will be available. The Barn's Bar will also be open serving a small selection of snacks and hot, cold and alcoholic beverages. For full details keep an eye on our website and social media. A perfect family day out at this unique heritage site which dates from 1342. Arrive early and stay all day! Pre book tickets now! 5 adults, 1 children if booked up to 1 week in advance. Tickets booked after 1st June, and on the door, will be 7 for adults and 2 for children. Well behaved dogs on a lead are welcome. Dogs remain the responsibility of the owner within the grounds of the Barn. Please dispose of dog waste in the relevant bins only. We will be operating a park and ride service from Winterbourne Academy (BS36 1JL) with a shuttle bus to and from the Barn site all throughout the day. Both the car park and the shuttle bus are free at Winterbourne Academy. Just park up and see our steward for the next bus. There is plenty of bicycle parking on site for those arriving on two wheels. Please note there is no car parking onsite or in Church Lane for this event. The lane must be kept clear for residents and any emergency vehicle access. Please contact us in advance to reserve a space at The Barn's site if needed. Please be aware that these spaces are limited and must be booked in advance. Please provide your vehicle reg and details of you access / parking requirements at the time of contacting us to book your space. The primary purpose of this event is to raise money for WMBT and to support conservation, management, maintenance and improvement of the WMBT site. If you wish to avoid the online booking fee then please contact the office to arrange a time to come and book in person.

We are delighted to welcome local resident Liz Ferguson to The Barn to share her story of her one woman research into the 53 WW1 and 25 WW2 names on the Whiteshill Common Memorial, Hambrook. As part of her talk on "The Remember Me Project" we will hear stories of brave and talented local folk and also be remembering and acknowledging those in our local villages who did so much on the Homefront during both wars. Liz encourages participants to bring along any artefacts they may have from either of the World Wars to discuss and potentially learn more about. Some may even help further Liz's research! Liz will also be bringing along her teardrop caravan which houses her own mini WW2 museum and baking a traditional Trench Cake for audience members to sample, if they wish. Refreshments available from our pop up bar. Cash and card payments accepted. Limited free parking on site. Parking for this event will be at the Barn, BS36 1SE. The primary purpose of this event is to raise money for WMBT and to support conservation, management, maintenance and improvement of the WMBT site. If you wish to avoid the online booking fee then please contact the office to arrange a time to come and book in person.

We are delighted to welcome international prize-winning musicians, Emily Andrews and Francisco Correa to The Barn for an evening of beautiful South American music, performed on guitar, flute and voice. This multitalented duo break down musical barriers with an evening full of heartfelt songs and virtuosic dances from Franciscos native Colombia, Brazil and Venezuela. Francisco Correa - Guitar Emily Andrews - Voice and Flute About Francisco Wonderful, a truly remarkable performer Sean Rafferty- BBC Radio 3 About Emily: A multi-talented performer, with a rich mezzo voice and a great deal of dramatic presence Susan Elkin, Larks Reviews To get a taste of the beautiful music they will be bringing to The Barn, listenhere [https://youtu.be/9clA5 Vuc3c?si=TWh99mLijdv9VVsD]. Parking for this event will be provided at The Barn.Parking is limited so please advise at the time of booking if you need to book a space. If you need a specific parking space (eg. wheelchair accessible) or any accessible seating for the performance then please email [email protected] ASAP to book this. Please follow the instructions provided in the pre-event email (sent up to 24 hours before the event) and parking stewards on the day to ensure we can fit as many people as possible safely in the designated parking areas. Please do not park along church lane as this obstructs the road for other users and emergency vehicles. Please do not park anywhere other than designated Barn car parks for this event. We cannot control when other car parks are locked and may not be able to assist if you car is parked elsewhere. There is plenty of bicycle parking at The Barn for those arriving on two wheels and space for drop off / collection if you would like to arrange this. The Barns pop-up bar will be open for this event serving a small selection of drinks and snacks. Cash and card payments are accepted. The primary purpose of this event is to raise money for WMBT and to support conservation, management, maintenance and improvement of the WMBT site. If you wish to avoid the online booking fee then please contact the office to arrange a time to come and book in person.

We are delighted to invite you to a unique experience combining feast and drama, of the kind that Winterbourne might once have hosted. In medieval England, short plays often accompanied celebratory feasts. The Life of Job is one of these plays: an English poem from the fifteenth century, telling the biblical story of a good and prosperous man struck by a series of shocking calamities. It will feature God, Satan, and an angry wife, along with medieval music, dance and spectacular acrobatic stunts. Doors open at 7pm. The ticket price includes the performance, a meal of pie and mash (gluten free and vegan options available), and a soft or alcoholic drink. The bar will be open throughout the evening for an after-show drink in the Barn or outside, weather permitting. Bring your partner or a group of friends to experience this communal entertainment together! Recommended for 18+ but all welcome. The performance is being staged as part of a University of Bristol project on poems that retold biblical stories in medieval England. It will be the first public performance of The Life of Job in modern times. We are keen to find out what you think about it, and will invite you to fill in a short questionnaire after the performance as part of our research. Please note that the performance will be recorded and filmed in full for research purposes, and that all ticketholders consent to this by booking their ticket. If you have any questions about the research or filming, please email Dr Cathy Hume, the lead researcher: [email protected]. Developed in an expert collaboration between director Elisabeth Dutton, circus director Gwen Hales and musicians Kira Thomas and William Summers.

We are delighted to welcome local historians and archaeologists, Sally Gallia and Neil Baker to The Barn to share some fascinating insights into Sir Thomas de Bradeston, who was Lord of the Manor of Winterbourne from 1328 until his death in 1360 and had Winterbourne Medieval Barn built in 1342. Each talk will be around 45 minutes each, with time for questions. There will be a short break in-between the talks. Talk 1: Our Very Own Medieval Knight: The Life and Times of Sir Thomas de Bradeston Sir Thomas de Bradeston, 1st Lord Bradeston, was born in Breadstone in 1290 and rose to prominence in the courts of both Edward II and Edward III. So close did he become to Edward III, reports Smyth, that the King called him his beloved valet, the one who does not cease to stay by our side continuously. Knighted by Edward II, riches were poured upon him by Edward III, so much so that there is no reason to think that he was not responsible for the great East Window in Gloucester Cathedral which commemorates the knights who fought, as he himself did, at the Battle of Crecy in 1346. Sir Thomas founded a chantry at Breadstone where his first wife, Isabel, was laid to rest. With the demise of Edward II and Sir Thomass meteoric rise to royal favour, he moved the family to Winterbourne. However, it is recorded that at the end of his long life, broken with arms and age as Smyth writes, he returned to Breadstone and died in 1360. For this reason, although one of the beautiful effigies in Winterbourne Church is probably his, it seems that he was probably buried in Breadstone. The chantry has long since disappeared without trace. The search continues. Talk 2: The Chantry Chapel of St Michael, Breadstone In 1344, that Thomas de Bradeston was granted a licence to appoint a warden of the chapel of St. Michael, Bradeston, & 2 other chaplains to celebrate divine service daily in the chapel for his good estate, for his soul after his death and for the souls of his late wife Isabella and his ancestors and heirs [Calendar of Patent Rolls 1344, EDW III, VOL 6 membrane 22, pp 240]. Neil will talk a little about the history of the chantry chapel up to the time it was dissolved, and the work being done by BLAG to rediscover it. About your speakers: Sally Gallia Sal developed a love of history and archaeology while living in Turkey for eighteen years. While there, she made a study of the Anglican cemeteries in Izmir and joined in Oxford Universitys Continuing Education Departments first online course ever. This propitiously resulted in an Advanced Diploma in Local History. Returning to the UK to live in Breadstone, Sal became acquainted with Sir Thomas de Bradeston and became intent on discovering more about him and the place where he grew up, especially the whereabouts of the chantry in which he seems likely to have been buried. When not imagining life in medieval Breadstone or pretending to be a historian, Sal returns to reality as a forensic odontologist using her knowledge and experience as a dentist with numerous post graduate qualifications including a PhD from the University of Cambridge. Neil Baker Neil is a Stroud based archaeologist, and product of Time Team. Inspired by the tv program, he did a night school O Level in archaeology, then an A Level, and then went back to the University of Bristol, graduating in 2009 with a first-class degree. Neil currently runs the Heavens Archaeological Research Project. This focuses on the landscape history and archaeology of 102 acres of land to the east of Stroud that has recently been purchased by and for the local community. He has also surveyed all the vessels at the Purton Ships' Graveyard which were deliberately beached beside the River Severn near Purton, Gloucestershire, England, to reinforce the riverbank. Refreshments available on arrival and in the interval. Cash and card payments accepted. Free parking on site. Parking for this event will be at the Barn, BS36 1SE. The primary purpose of this event is to raise money for WMBT and to support conservation, management, maintenance and improvement of the WMBT site. If you wish to avoid the online booking fee then please contact the office to arrange a time to come and book in person.

This ticket is to view these talks online over Zoom. Please buy one ticket per device. The viewing link will be sent out at least 1 hour before the start time. To book a ticket to view this talk in person at The Barn, please clickhere [https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/winterbourne-medieval-barn-trust/2-talks-the-life-times-of-sir-thomas-de-bradeston-the-chantry-chapel-of-st-michael-breadstone/2025-09-25/19:00/t-qjdrdpv]. We are delighted to welcome local historians and archaeologists, Sally Gallia and Neil Baker to The Barn to share some fascinating insights into Sir Thomas de Bradeston, who was Lord of the Manor of Winterbourne from 1328 until his death in 1360 and had Winterbourne Medieval Barn built in 1342. Each talk will be around 45 minutes each, with time for questions. There will be a short break in-between the talks. Talk 1: Our Very Own Medieval Knight: The Life and Times of Sir Thomas de Bradeston Sir Thomas de Bradeston, 1st Lord Bradeston, was born in Breadstone in 1290 and rose to prominence in the courts of both Edward II and Edward III. So close did he become to Edward III, reports Smyth, that the King called him his beloved valet, the one who does not cease to stay by our side continuously. Knighted by Edward II, riches were poured upon him by Edward III, so much so that there is no reason to think that he was not responsible for the great East Window in Gloucester Cathedral which commemorates the knights who fought, as he himself did, at the Battle of Crecy in 1346. Sir Thomas founded a chantry at Breadstone where his first wife, Isabel, was laid to rest. With the demise of Edward II and Sir Thomass meteoric rise to royal favour, he moved the family to Winterbourne. However, it is recorded that at the end of his long life, broken with arms and age as Smyth writes, he returned to Breadstone and died in 1360. For this reason, although one of the beautiful effigies in Winterbourne Church is probably his, it seems that he was probably buried in Breadstone. The chantry has long since disappeared without trace. The search continues. Talk 2: The Chantry Chapel of St Michael, Breadstone In 1344, that Thomas de Bradeston was granted a licence to appoint a warden of the chapel of St. Michael, Bradeston, & 2 other chaplains to celebrate divine service daily in the chapel for his good estate, for his soul after his death and for the souls of his late wife Isabella and his ancestors and heirs [Calendar of Patent Rolls 1344, EDW III, VOL 6 membrane 22, pp 240]. Neil will talk a little about the history of the chantry chapel up to the time it was dissolved, and the work being done by BLAG to rediscover it. About your speakers: Sally Gallia Sal developed a love of history and archaeology while living in Turkey for eighteen years. While there, she made a study of the Anglican cemeteries in Izmir and joined in Oxford Universitys Continuing Education Departments first online course ever. This propitiously resulted in an Advanced Diploma in Local History. Returning to the UK to live in Breadstone, Sal became acquainted with Sir Thomas de Bradeston and became intent on discovering more about him and the place where he grew up, especially the whereabouts of the chantry in which he seems likely to have been buried. When not imagining life in medieval Breadstone or pretending to be a historian, Sal returns to reality as a forensic odontologist using her knowledge and experience as a dentist with numerous post graduate qualifications including a PhD from the University of Cambridge. Neil Baker Neil is a Stroud based archaeologist, and product of Time Team. Inspired by the tv program, he did a night school O Level in archaeology, then an A Level, and then went back to the University of Bristol, graduating in 2009 with a first-class degree. Neil currently runs the Heavens Archaeological Research Project. This focuses on the landscape history and archaeology of 102 acres of land to the east of Stroud that has recently been purchased by and for the local community. He has also surveyed all the vessels at the Purton Ships' Graveyard which were deliberately beached beside the River Severn near Purton, Gloucestershire, England, to reinforce the riverbank. The primary purpose of this event is to raise money for WMBT and to support conservation, management, maintenance and improvement of the WMBT site. If you wish to avoid the online booking fee then please contact the office to arrange a time to come and book in person.