Saxon Craft Week is coming to the Anglo-Saxon Village at West Stow this half-term, with a wide variety of crafts on display, including woodwork, forge work, textiles, felt making, cooking and much more!
All these crafts will be demonstrated by a tribe of Anglo-Saxons known as the Ynglingas, who wear Anglo-Saxon costume and specialise in the crafts used by our ancestors 1,500 years ago. The Ynglingas will be taking up residence in the Anglo-SaxonVillage from 22 – 28 October, living and working the reconstructed houses.
Head of the Ynglingas, Russell Scott says:
“The real Anglo-Saxons that once lived at West Stow would need to be experts in these crafts, because they lived directly off the land; skills to make cooking pots, clothes, tools, houses, weapons, baskets and to grow, harvest and cook food would have been essential for every family. Without these crafts they would not have survived for very long! The Ynglingas try to do these crafts in the same way the Anglo-Saxons would have, which is a real challenge, but helps us learn a great deal about how they lived”.
Then, following Saxon Craft Week, the Wulfinga tribe of Anglo-Saxons will be bringing the ‘Death of the Saxons!’ to West Stow on Saturday 29 & Sunday 30 October. Over the weekend there will be special burial demonstrations at 12noon and 2pm on both days, giving visitors a fascinating opportunity to observe the burial rituals of our ancestors and learn about the valuable objects and weapons that they buried with their loved ones.
These special events will be running 10am – 5pm (last entry at 3.30pm) every day 22-30 October, and entry to the Village will include an opportunity for visitors to see a collection of original archaeological finds from West Stow and other local early Anglo-Saxon site on display in a specially built centre.
Which ever tribe you meet at West Stow this half-term, you’re sure to get a hearty welcome and a fascinating insight into the crafty lives (& deaths!) of our ancestors!
The Anglo-Saxon Village is set in West Stow Country Park, 7 miles NW of Bury St Edmunds off the A1101, with an excellent play area, café, gift shop, nature walks, lake, river and bird-hides all on site. For further information about this event and others at WestStowCountryPark and Anglo-SaxonVillage, call 01284 728718, email weststow@stedsbc.gov.uk or visit www.stedmundsbury.gov.uk/weststow.htm.
