Stockport Market Goes Medieval
Stockport Council is topping off Stockport Market’s 750 anniversary celebrations in style with a grand finale weekend on Saturday 23rd and Sunday 24th October.
Visitors are encouraged to join the celebrations by heading to Stockport Market to re-live the historic St. Wilfrid’s Medieval Fair. Stockport Council has resurrected this centuries old tradition of medieval mayhem and merriment with two days of FREE events.
On Saturday 23rd October between 10am until 4pm visitors can enjoy St. Wilfrid’s Medieval Market. Intertwined amongst Stockport’s traditional street market will be strolling performances and thrilling shows including magic, falconry, knights, music, a jaw-dropping bed of nails show and the occasional public execution. Spectators will also be able to watch a ‘cabinet of curiosities’ stage show with an 8ft guillotine, amazing tricks with coins, cards, cups, rope and a fascinating demonstration of medieval street swindles.
On Sunday 24th October from 12.30pm till late people will be able to experience St. Wilfrid’s interactive Medieval village and fire show. The event includes authentic characters in a living history encampment which will show visitors how to strike a coin, make remedies using medicines, herbs and potions and demonstrate traditional weaving and weaponry.
The medieval celebration will culminate in a parade followed by a stunning fire show which will be choreographed to music that will illuminate the market place. Jets of flames will delight and amaze, creating an unmissable finale to Stockport Market’s 750th anniversary.
Also on the programme is The Plantagenet Society re-enactment group who will be on hand to educate and entertain with drama, humour and audience participation. For the brave, there will be a tournament of fully-armoured knights in battle, whilst the more sedate can enjoy squire training, try their hand at archery, create a beautiful brass and watch medieval dancing. Music will be provided from Dante Ferrara and the Brandywine Bridge duo who specialise in romantic and bawdy songs and play a range of period instruments. A performing jester will also charm the audience with tunes, songs and traditional tales, and visitors are urged to look out for the ferocious 14ft smoke-breathing dragon.
Cllr John Smith, Executive Member for Leisure said: “I sincerely encourage everyone to come along and experience what Stockport may have been like in medieval times. This fun and fascinating event is a fitting finale to the celebrations of this landmark anniversary. I hope that it will serve to remind people of the important a role that the market has played in the town’s history and how it continues to serve the local community today and into the future.”
Throughout the finale weekend Staircase House will offer special admission at only £2.00 per person. Resident’s have an opportunity to see the beautifully restored town house with its famous Jacobean cage-newel staircase.
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Date of Press Release 18 October 2010
Photography Competition Showcases Modern Day Market
Stockport Art Gallery organised an exciting photography course and competition named FLASHFORWARD as part of Stockport Council’s 750th anniversary celebrations of Stockport Market.
The aim of the competition was to showcase new contemporary photographs that capture the essence of Stockport Market, one of the oldest street markets in the country, which still trades on its original site.
The competition, which was judged by sector professionals, had four strands: people, produce, architecture and historic buildings around the market place. Course participants spent six weeks working with a professional photographer Paula Carley, exploring the market place in order to create a series of pictures to enter into the competition.
Jane Kelly won the people category with her image entitled ‘Phone Talk’. Jane Fyfe scoped the first prize in two categories: produce and architecture with her works entitled; ‘Mr Potato Head’ and ‘Stockport Covered Market Reflection’. The winner of the historic buildings of the market place category was Tim Smart with a wonderful image of St. Mary’s Church.
The winning entries can be seen on display in the current exhibition at Stockport Story Museum: Tales of a Market Town. The exhibition is showing until Sunday 27th March 2011.
Cllr John Smith, Executive Member for Leisure at Stockport Council said: “I would like to thank everyone involved in FLASHFORWARD for their hard work and dedication to the competition.
“This fantastic collection of images, depict contemporary market life and highlight the vital role that the market continues to play within the local community.”
All of the photographs produced by the course participants have been donated to Stockport Heritage Library creating a lasting legacy of the celebrations and offering a fresh contemporary perspective of the market place in 2010, its 750th year.
This competition was one of many exciting activities taking place to celebrate Stockport Market’s 750th anniversary. The celebrations will be topped off with a grand finale weekend 23rd and 24th October that will resurrect the historic St. Wilfrid’s Medieval Fair.
For more information on the Market 750th Anniversary events contact Stockport Tourist Information Centre on 0161 474 4444
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Date of Press Release 31 August 2010
Stockport Celebrates Fresh Produce
To celebrate Stockport Market’s landmark 750th anniversary, Stockport Council has launched a celebratory fresh food guide to Stockport Market.
To promote this, the Council ran a fun day for the food stalls on Friday 27th August, handing out the food guide along with free samples of cheese, cakes and Tiddlypig sausages donated by various market traders. The day also promoted the forthcoming Historic Street Market event which is taking place on Saturday 4th September.
The event allowed both Stockport Council and the traders a chance to show visitors the many changes that have taken place at the market over the past few years, whilst showcasing the high quality fresh produce on offer.
Cllr John Smith Executive Member for Leisure said: “This is a landmark year for Stockport Market, as it celebrates its 750th anniversary. It is fantastic that we can work with the traders to promote some of the fantastic produce we have to offer.
“This is just one of a number of events we have organised to celebrate. The next event is Stockport’s Historic Market on the 4th September, which allows residents to take a journey through time. I would encourage people to come along and join the fun.”
Stockport is one of the oldest markets in the country and, unlike many others, is still trading on its original site.
To mark the 750th anniversary, Stockport Council has prepared a full programme of events and exhibitions for visitors to enjoy. The events will climax with a grand finale weekend held on the 23rd and 24th October and will give visitors a chance to see a magnificent medieval fair, resurrecting the centuries old tradition of St Wilfrid’s Fair.
For further details about the historic street market and other events planned to celebrate Stockport Market’s 750th anniversary, call the Tourist Information Centre on 0161 474 4444
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Date of Press Release 31 August 2010
Take a whirlwind trip through history at Stockport Market
Press Release - August 2010
During the first weekend in September, Stockport Market reaches the grand old age of 750. To mark this milestone, Stockport Council is taking people on a whirlwind trip through history with a series of special events.
On Saturday the 4th September, as part of the Council’s Stockport Boost programme, visitors can experience a snapshot of key periods in the town’s history and discover how the market has evolved over the centuries into what it is today.
Complete with authentic costumes, objects and sounds reminiscent of the times, this event celebrates the significant role the market has played and continues to play, in shaping the history of the town. It features a haberdashery peddler, gingerbread hawker, rat catcher and strolling minstrels, plus stalls from 1260 to the present day.
The day will include staple foods from 1260 including eggs, cheese, bread and vegetables. And there will be an opportunity to sample the delicious Stockport Cheshire Cheese made by Reece’s Dairy to commemorate the Market’s 750th anniversary. Robinson’s Brewery and 1927 Thorneycroft Dray Wagon will be on display and the brewery is offering a range of beer and ale to sample.
Visitors can learn more about 16th Century Tudor health and beauty, 19th Century hatting, boot and shoe making and can look at books, maps and photographs of old Stockport courtesy of Stockport Heritage Library.
Stalls to celebrate more recent times give visitors a chance to experience what life would have been like in World War II, research 1950’s fashion and browse through 1970s and 1980s records.
On 4th September, entry to and tours of Staircase House, Air Raid Shelters, Hat Works and Bramall Hall are also FREE. Plus, step inside Staircase House and Stockport Story Museum and try your hand at pin hole photography, explore historic textiles, recreate the 1260 Market Place with junk modelling or join a storytelling session.
Councillor John Smith, Executive Member for Leisure at Stockport Council said: “I would encourage everyone to visit Stockport Market on Saturday 4th September to journey through time. The event reveals the town’s rich history and recounts the survival of the market place and visitors are guaranteed to learn something new about the town and its history.
“This event is just one of many events taking place to celebrate Stockport Market’s 750th anniversary. Celebrations will be topped off with a grand finale weekend in October which resurrects the historic St. Wilfrid’s Medieval Fair, so I would encourage people to come along and join the fun.”
Another event that is part of the anniversary weekend is the Music for Stockport Anniversary Concert, held at St. Mary's Church on Churchgate on Friday 3rd September at 7.30pm. Tickets are £5 (under 16s FREE) and are available from Stockport Tourist Information Centre and St. Mary's Church.
For further details call the Tourist Information Centre on 0161 474 4444
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Date of Press Release 26 August 2010
Creating the Stockport Sandwich
Press Release - May 2010
This year Stockport is celebrating the 750th Anniversary of the signing of the Borough’s historic Market Charter.
To mark this important anniversary, Stockport Council is holding a series of events which includes a new competition to find ‘The Stockport Sandwich’. The competition is the local contribution to British Sandwich Week 2010.
All sandwich retailers located in Stockport Town Centre have been invited to submit a new sandwich creation that they feel represents what the town means to them.
There are three categories to enter:
- The Stockport Sandwich
- Vegetarian Sandwich
- Gluten-Free Sandwich
The vegetarian option must include the new ‘Stockport Cheshire Cheese’ that is being launched by the Council in honour of the Market anniversary. The cheese was supplied free to all competitors courtesy of Reece’s Dairies, who will also be demonstrating the versatility of the Stockport Cheshire in the Covered Market Hall the night before the Grand Final.
So far the Council has received 28 entries for the competition by sixteen independent outlets including Cafes, Pubs and Sandwich shops.
The Grand Final will take place at Stockport Market on Saturday 15th May at 1.00pm and this tasty spectacle is open to the public. Don’t miss this opportunity to come and see the panel of judges crown the Stockport Sandwich and to sample some of the new Stockport Cheshire Cheese.
Peter Ashworth, Stockport Council’s Head of Culture, Tourism & Venues, said: “I am delighted that there has been so much enthusiasm for this competition from the town’s catering community. It’s a great opportunity for sandwich retailers to express themselves and experiment with breads, fillings, toppings and accompaniments to create a unique food vision of Stockport.”
For more information about British Sandwich Week visit:
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Date of Press Release 6 May 2010
last updated 18 October 2010
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