Events - 2025

​Click here to find out more about our living history work or click here to meet our team of living historians and contributors. 
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​If you're interested in booking the Thegns for an event in 2025 do get in touch !  Click: Contact 
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  • 17-18th of August 2024    -  Sutton Hoo - Our summer event at the UK's foremost early Anglo-Saxon archaeological site.   As well as our full Anglo-Saxon encampment, with displays of reconstructed treasures and craft demonstrations, we'll be delivering a special programme of talks and performances exploring life in the Early Anglo-Saxon period. Included in normal admission; visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/sutton-hoo . ​
  • 17th of March 2024    -  King Offa's Procession - Tamworth.   Celebrating the first documented reference to Tamworth as a centre of Mercian royal power, we'll be bringing to life one day in the year 781, with a parade marking the triumphal return of King Offa to Tamworth; the reenactment of the creation of King Offa's famous charter (taking place within St Editha's Church - close to the site of his royal hall) and a living history festival in the town square, with music, poetry, and demonstrations of crafts including tabletweaving, jewellery-making, Anglo-Saxon writing and more. Visit tamworthcastle.co.uk/offa
  • 26-28th of August 2023    -  SUTTON HOO - 'Queens of the Gold Age'.   ​Our second long-weekend encampment event at the UK's foremost early Anglo-Saxon archaeological site, alongside the special temporary exhibition "Rendlesham Revealed", displaying finds and discoveries from archaeological investigations of the royal site which was home to the dynasty buried at Sutton Hoo. As well as our full Anglo-Saxon encampment, with displays of reconstructed treasures, craft demonstrations, we'll be delivering a special programme of talks and performances exploring the lives of Anglo-Saxon women, with a simulated grave excavation, and the unveiling of two fabulous reconstructions based on womens burials from the 6th century. Included in normal admission; visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/sutton-hoo . 
 
  • 27-29th of May 2023    -  SUTTON HOO -Thegns of Mercia return to the UK's foremost early Anglo-Saxon archaeological site, alongside the special temporary exhibition "Rendlesham Revealed", displaying finds and discoveries from archaeological investigations of the royal site which was home to the dynasty buried at Sutton Hoo.  Expect a full Anglo-Saxon encampment, displays of reconstructed treasures, craft demonstrations, and a programme packed with talks and performances. Included in normal admission; visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/sutton-hoo . 
 
  • 19th of April 2023 - Soulton Hall, Wem.  "Solved: The Greatest Country House Mystery" - a lecture by Thegns of Mercia team member James D. Wenn which will present parts of a wider research project, discoveries made among the team from 2020-23, and their impact on later history and architecture. "This lecture by James David Wenn, English social and architectural historian, reveals research into some of the most profound meanings built into the design of this prodigy house. The talk is aimed at a wide audience, and a substantial Q&A session is scheduled into the event. It will be revealed how secrets within Soulton's design unlock profound new depths across English architecture as a whole.  From 16:30. Tickets from www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/solved-the-greatest-country-house-mystery
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  • 3rd-4th of December 2022         Yule at Sutton Hoo  ​'Join Anglo-Saxon living history group Thegns of Mercia as they turn the High Hall exhibition building into an Anglo-Saxon feasting hall. Discover what this time of year meant to Anglo-Saxons living 1500 years ago through the objects they left behind and find out where many of our traditions came from in this special weekend of living history.'  Included with normal admission. 10:30-16:00   - www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/suffolk/sutton-hoo/yule-at-sutton-hoo#cb-6115065-0         
  • 11th of September 2022                    TAMWORTH CASTLE  - Marking the acquisition of, and unveiling a die used to produce decoration for making early Anglo-Saxon helmets, discovered locally, this public event will include demonstrations of the pressblech technique by our team. Other activities will include recitals of Beowulf. http://www.visittamworth.co.uk/saxon-die-public-launch. Activities from 11:00-15:00.   Included with normal admission 10-16:00.​
 
  • 15th of September 2022                    TAMWORTH CASTLE  - "The Secret Legacy of Aethelflaed";   A talk by Aed Thompson about Aethelfaed - the Lady of the Mercians and the concept of "female kingship". Research focusing on evidence around the lifetime of Aethelfaed has revealed some novel discoveries in the Saxon Chronicles which might fundamentally change the story of how Wessex and Mercia became 'England' in the 920s, and it all hinges around events in Tamworth.  Admission time: Doors are 6.30pm for a 7.00pm start. The talk is expected to last for 90 minutes with an optional 30 minutes at the end for any questions.   Admission: £12.50  Purchase tickets online www.tamworthcastle.co.uk or call 01827 709618
     http://www.visittamworth.co.uk/secret-legacy-aethelflaed
 
  • 27-29th of August 2022             SUTTON HOO -  Making up for lost time, a three-day extravaganza at the UK's foremost early Anglo-Saxon archaeological site, in support of the special temporary exhibition "Swords of Kingdoms", displaying items from Sutton Hoo, the Staffordshire Hoard, and Norwich Castle Museum collection for the very first time.  Expect a full Anglo-Saxon encampment, displays of reconstructed treasures, craft demonstrations, and a programme packed with talks and performances. Included in normal admission; visit https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/sutton-hoo . 
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  • 22nd of May 2022                    Tamworth Castle - Evening talk: "Secret Meanings in Early Anglo-Saxon Art" by Aed Thompson, & announcement / unveiling event. (Private Function)
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  • 28-29th of May 2022                    SUTTON HOO -  Our triumphal return to our favourite site after almost three years away! One of our biggest solo-shows of the year at the UK's foremost early Anglo-Saxon archaeological site, this time in support of the special temporary exhibition "Swords of Kingdoms", displaying items from Sutton Hoo, the Staffordshire Hoard, and Norwich Castle Museum collection for the very first time.  Expect a full Anglo-Saxon encampment, displays of reconstructed treasures, craft demonstrations, and a programme packed with talks and performances. Included in normal admission; visit https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/sutton-hoo . 
 
  • 22nd of May 2022                    Tamworth Castle - Evening workshops on jewellerymaking and bladesmithing. (Private Function)
   
  • 17-18th of July 2021 - Nottingham Castle - "Founding of Nottingham - Saxons and Vikings" - An event exploring the 'Dark Age' history of Nottingham - homestead of the folk of Snotta. The Thegns will be providing a 6-7th century camp and series of displays representing the time in which the settlement was likely founded. ​