Wars of the Roses will come to Wrexham as soldiers garrison castle

Everyone can enjoy a return to the 15th century in September, as Sir William Stanley’s Household and The Montgomery Levy bring soldiers from the Wars of the Roses to a free event at Holt Castle.

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EVENT  -  HOLT CASTLE 17th 18th SEPT

From 11am until 4pm on both Saturday, September 17 and Sunday, September 18,
Re-enactors are presenting life and war in the 1400s at Holt Castle: 15C War of the Roses.
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FOR YOUR ENJOYMENT

Visitors will also have the chance to learn more about the role played by the neighbouring River Dee in transport and trade, with medieval boating and fishing displays. Other hands-on activities will include calligraphy, quern stone flour milling and rush light making.

Arms and armour used by soldiers in the Wars of the Roses will be on display throughout both days, as well as displays of medieval crafts.

​Crafts and trade demonstrations will include metalwork, leatherwork, carpentry, clothes-making and cookery, with living history demonstrations held by History Matters.
HISTORY SIR WILLIAM STANLEY
.As well as soldiers, the event will also give an insight into the household and guards of Sir William Stanley, an English knight who made the castle his home in 1484
Stanley was made Chief Justice for North Wales in 1483 by King Richard III, and also gifted lands in Wales, leading to him taking residence at Holt.

He initially supported King Richard during the Wars of the Roses, but finally in 1485, Stanley switched sides and joined the Lancastrians, led by Henry Tudor.

He helped them to secure a decisive victory at the Battle of Bosworth Fields, leading to the coronation of Henry Tudor as Henry VII and beginning the age of the Tudors.
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Stanley was arrested in 1495 for allegations of treason, and Holt Castle was visited by King Henry VII following his arrest.
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HOLT COMMUNITY

Community groups in Holt – including Holt Local History Society and the local playgroup - will also hold a series of further events on the Saturday with children from both Holt and Farndon schools meeting at Holt Cross at 10:45 to march down to the Castle.
​Exhibitions will also be on display at Kenyon Hall on Saturday

​Visitors are advised to wear sturdy shoes, boots or wellies. 
For full event details www.wrexham.gov.uk/heritage or http://holtlhs.weebly.com

GUIDE TO EVENTS EACH DAY


10:45 am (Sat only) Holt & Farndon school children gather at Holt Cross to be led down to the Castle.

11:00 am Camp opens to public  

All day activities within the encampment - medieval kitchen,  crafts, and traditional skills. Hands-on displays from bread making to calligraphy - come and have a go!

All day display by the river - medieval boats, fishing and river trade.

12:00 midday The Stanley household present a short play about William and Holt,; "The Winning Ways of Sir William Stanley (And Other Bits)"

1:00 pm Arming for War - a talk and display on "how a man may be armed"   Weapons and armour of the Wars of the Roses.

2.30 pm medieval missiles - display and talk on bows, arrows, crossbows.

3.30 pm Mustering the castle garrison -  arms and armour as the company arrays for defence of the castle

Drill display followed by children's drill (hands-on activity)

4:00 pm Camp closes.