850 Celebrations step up for summer

Published: 1 June 2023

Cllr simon tagg leader of newcastle under lyme borough council pictured right with cllr simon white mayor of newcastle under lyme borough council with 850th anniversary commemorative mug and plate
Simon Tagg, Leader of Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council, is pictured right, with the Mayor, Cllr Simon White, and a 850th anniversary commemorative mug and plate.

A year-long celebration of Newcastle-under-Lyme’s heritage will reach a peak this month with a whole series of events.

This year is a special one for the Borough, as it marks the 850th anniversary of King Henry II’s granting of the Royal Charter of Incorporation, issued in 1173.

Celebrations and activities this month range from a mini-circus and a re-enactment of medieval life, to military parades, yarn-bombing the Ironmarket and rediscovering the stories of famous residents.

Simon Tagg, Leader of Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council, said:

We want these celebrations to reach many different parts of our community, uniting residents of all ages in a shared appreciation of this Borough’s special nature.

 

We are steeped in in history and it’s important we take time to celebrate and reflect on the spirit and determination of people who made the town thrive and prosper through the centuries.

 

Knowing your local area’s history, where you are from and what makes it stand out is an essential part of taking pride in your roots and I hope this year leaves us all with a strong sense of what it is be from here.”

A full list of this month’s community events can be found here. Highlights include:

  • Saturday June 3: Free family day of medieval entertainment and fantastical fun at Brampton Museum and Park, including re-enactments, combat displays, wandering minstrels and a dragon!
  • Saturday, June 10: Castle Yarn Bombers will be adorning Ironmarket trees with their handiwork.
  • Thursday, June 15: A special archive film show looking at the father of the modern circus, Philip Astley.
  • Saturday, June 17: Celebrate a famous son of Newcastle-under-Lyme, with Astley’s Homecoming to the town centre, a day of outdoor circus fun featuring plenty of acts to keep children of all ages amused or enthralled.
  • Thursday, June 22: a special tour of ‘The Lost Charter’ exhibition, looking at attempts to conserve the Borough’s historic collection of subsequent Charters through the centuries.
  • Saturday, June 24: Armed Forces Day sees a parade, scores of military vehicles, food, drink and a vibrant general market, including young traders taking a stall for the first time.

Simon White, the Mayor of Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council, said:

I am looking forward to all the events and particularly the Armed Forces Day: this Borough has a long tradition of supporting the military and this will be no exception.

 

These celebrations are an opportunity for us to come together and celebrate our community, its people and its special heritage and I hope all our residents find something to enjoy.”