Projects
The Sculptures
Two sculptures have been commissioned by the Tewkesbury Battlefield Society to mark the site of one of the crucial battles of the Wars of the Roses. They also celebrate the historic character of the town of Tewkesbury.
They will be placed on and near the Stonehill roundabout, where the A38 Gloucester Road meets the new Tewkesbury relief road on the southern edge of the town. It was from here the Yorkist forces would have had their first sight of their Lancastrian opponents on the morning of the Battle.
The piece is entitled ‘The Arrivall’. This is taken from the title of an abbreviated account of Edward IV’s recovery of the English throne from Henry VI in 1471. The opposing armies are each represented by a single monumentally-scaled oak sculpture. The Yorkists by a 5 meter high horse carrying a knight who holds an 8 meter long stainless steel lance topped with a pennant. This piece will be located on the roundabout.
The second piece, a riderless horse with a similar lance resting across its back, stands on the verge south of the roundabout and facing the mounted knight. Its head is bowed and represents the defeated Lancastrian army. The sculptures will be constructed using selected boughs of green English Oak, their natural bends and forks recreating the limbs and outline of the horses. These boughs also reflect the timbers seen in many of the historic buildings in Tewkesbury.
Victory
Defeat
The artists chosen to create these pieces are Philip Bews and Diane Gorvin who live and work in Coleford in the Forest of Dean. Whilst working in Cheshire, they completed many public commissions in the North West, including Liverpool and Manchester. After producing several sculptures for the London Docklands redevelopment, they have created works in the South West, South East, Midlands and Wales and have also worked in Hong Kong, France, Australia, Sweden and Canada.
The project has been running since 1997, beginning with a design competition funded by the Town Council. Since then we have been steadily ploughing through the treacle of planning regulations. With the final approval given this August we now tackle the next challenge – finding the funding to make the sculptures a reality. Due to the protracted planning process, costs have escalate from the original £30,000. But this has given us the chance, through our regular activities, to raise enough money to commission the work. However, we still need help to generate more funds to allow us to pay for them on their completion. Do you think you can help?
If you can assist with fund raising please use our contacts page.
If you would like to make a donation please see 1471 Fraternity.
The Street Banners
Royal arms of King Edward IV
Arms of Margaret of Anjou
The Society organizes the production and display of medieval banners that brighten the streets of Tewkesbury every summer. Each is based on the arms of those who fought at the Battle and is made from cotton ‘duck’ and then hand-painted, only the acrylic paints are modern.
They are subject to a rolling programme of refurbishment to keep them looking fresh and one of our aims is to increase the number every year, in 2011 there were over 120 on display. Whilst deliberately kept at a level easily affordable by even the smallest of the Town’s traders the rental income not only funds the banner project itself, but also supports the Society’s wider work.
All the work on the banners, from painting at our weekly sessions, on a Monday afternoon in Barton Street’s community Annexe, to erection (a good job for those who enjoy ladders!), marketing and rental collection is carried out by a team of volunteers. If you fancy wielding a paintbrush, or helping in any other aspect of the banners project, why not contact us via our contacts page.
Battlefield Maintenance and Interpretation
Key to meeting our aims is protecting the Battlefield itself and promoting interpretation on site. Our regular walks mean that we are constantly monitoring the condition of the various surviving elements of the Battlefield and every Spring we carry out a full clear-up, removing litter and cutting back the scrub which can impede access.
We also work closely with the owners of the Battle sites – mainly the Borough Council and Tewkesbury School – to advise on more major work. Current projects include refurbishment of the information plinth on the Bloody Meadow, recreating the Bloody Meadow sign that used to hang on the fence in years past, and the creation of interpretation panels at key points around the Battlefield. We are also working on a new issue of the Council’s Battlefield Trail leaflet. Ultimately, we hope one day to create a visitors centre on the Gaston Field – but that’s another project!
The Town Museum
We work in partnership with the Trustees of the Town Museum to maintain the Museum’s displays related to the Battle. This includes not only the historic material but also the Battlefield model created in the 1970s to mark the 500th anniversary of the Battle. Featuring some 2000 individual figures (many of them originating in the Airfix Robin Hood and Sherriff of Nottingham sets), the model was reduced in size to fit its current home, but still provides a stunning 3-D impression of how the Battle could have looked. Find out more at the museum’s website.
Outreach Events
A key role for the Society is in raising awareness of the Battle amongst members of the local community in Gloucestershire and Worcestershire who might otherwise be unaware of the heritage on their doorstep. Consequently, we take our mobile display to a range of local events, usually manned by Society members in Medieval Costume. Recent events have included the Malvern Fringe Festival, Worcester Three Battles Festival, Evesham ‘Wartime in the Vale’ event, Tewkesbury Christmas Lights Fayre and, of course, Tewkesbury’s own Medieval Festival.
Tewkesbury Battlefield Society Stall
In addition, we organise a variety of outings to allow Society members to broaden their own knowledge of the medieval period whilst enjoying each other’s company. Past trips have included the Mary Rose in Portsmouth, castles at Chepstow and Kenilworth (part of our annual Spring ‘castles and churches’ events), a ‘What If’ evening with other local history groups, and a social outing to the Worcester Re-enactors ‘Time Travellers Ball’.
Members at the Time Travellers Ball
Merchandise
Battlefield Society T-Shirts are available, carrying the Society Logo on the left breast, black with a white design and white with black design. Sizes available are Small, Medium, Large and ‘Re-enactor’! T-Shirts cost £10 each, plus £2.50. To order, please send an order and cheque payable to the Tewkesbury Battlefield Society to:
The Tewkesbury Battlefield Society
PO Box 147
Tewkesbury
Glos GL20 9AP
Please allow 28 days for processing your order and delivery.