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King Harold Day 2006
"The Battle of Hastings" by Marriott Edgar
Harold, Crowned King and Killed in a Year
New Boards for the Abbey Gardens
Sites for the Interpretative Boards
Schools' Art Competition
Other places connected with 1066
Harold's Links with Waltham Abbey
How it all Began
King Harold Day people
King Harold Day 2004 and 2005
The Eve of Conquest
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King Harold Day 2004 and 2005
Location: Essex
In its first and second years, King Harold Day was hugely successful -
3,000 people in 2004 and 4,000 in 2005.
This is a report of what happened.
King Harold Day 2004 and 2005
Would the Abbey Gardens be a Sea of Mud?
For the first time, the town marked the anniversary of King Harold’s death with a major event, King Harold Day, held on 16th October 2004 to celebrate the last Saxon King of England.
It had rained heavily during setting-up on Friday, but fortunately the weather cleared on Saturday and it was not even muddy.
What a Day!
The event took place around the Abbey Church in the Churchyard and the Abbey Gardens, (by permission of the Lee Valley Park Authority). It was a Medieval Festival and included music in the Abbey Church, living history enactments, a drama about the Death of King Harold performed by the Becket Drama Company, jugglers, jesters, demonstrations of medieval crafts, a craft fair, an exhibition staged by Epping Forest Museum, have-a-go archery provided by Epping Archers, and lots more. And, of course, there was food and drink of the period, including a celebration of English ales and a hog roast. All the town’s schools took part in art competitions, which were sponsored by HSBC Bank plc.
Prefects from King Harold School acted as marshals, and security was provided by the Waltham Cross Detachment, No 1 Company, Hertfordshire Army Cadet Force. All these young people were magnificent, and quickly became known as “Harold’s Army”.
+++++++ 3,000 people attended this first event. +++++++
2005 - Could we make it even better?
In 2005, King Harold Day was held on 15th October. Even the weather was perfect, with warm October sunshine showing just how lovely the Abbey Gardens are.
VIP visitors included Cllr Mrs Ann Haigh, Vice Chairman of Epping Forest District Council, who, as a historian herself, was greatly interested in all that was going on. She received a very special King Harold Day coin from Grunal Moneta, the medieval mint. The Mayor of Waltham Abbey, Cllr Antony Watts, also attended.
Joint Organizer, Elaine Fletcher, said, “we were delighted that Ann Haigh and Antony Watts were with us because it gave us the opportunity to thank both Councils for their support. Waltham Abbey Town Council gave us a grant to buy our new Medieval Trader’s Tent, which is our headquarters on the day, and Epping Forest District Council came to our rescue at the last minute with a grant of £3,000 which enabled us to hire marquees, etc.”
Two Links from a High Level
The organizers were pleased and honoured to receive letters of support from HRH Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, and Sir Hereward Wake, Bart, MC. As King Harold was Earl of Wessex, Prince Edward’s letter was very welcome. Sir Hereward is a descendant of Hereward the Wake, who continued the Saxon fight against the Normans after 1066. In the 17th century, Sir Hereward’s family became Lords of the Manor of Waltham Abbey, and he still holds that position.
The medieval music recital in the Church, arranged by Director of Music, Stephen Bullamore, was excellent. Carla Rees, on alto Flute, provided a peaceful interlude in a busy day. There were queues all day to climb the Abbey Church tower, giving a splendid bird’s eye view of the whole event. The Church and the Waltham Abbey Historical Society arranged special tours of the remains of the old Abbey Church, and the Lady Chapel played host to the local schools’ artwork competition.
One of the judges of the primary schools’ competition, Isabelle Perrichon from Philpott’s Tea Rooms, who is also a member of the organizing committee, said, “the standard of artwork this year was quite amazing. It was difficult to come to a decision as to which primary schools had won. There was also some remarkable pottery produced by King Harold School’s art department, in the form of plaques with designs and lettering, some in Latin, which looked as though they could have been masonry fallen from the old Abbey walls.”
The Feudal Archers re-enactment group attracted much attention during the day, as people asked them about the food they were cooking, the weaving, the arrow making, and the armour they were preparing - all done as it would have been done in 1066. Set piece displays of “Arming the Knight” took place, together with an engagement between archers and knights, and children were drilled, with swords and shields - wooden ones, of course. There was great interest too in the Becket Drama Company, who acted a piece about the death of King Harold. The Company also provided individual performers who roamed the site as stilt walkers, jugglers, and an offender who was pursued and put in the stocks. There was a demonstration of embroidery representing part of the Bayeux Tapestry, and a potter hard at work at her wheel. Children were able to have a go at clay pottery and at brass rubbing.
Once again, “Harold’s Army” consisted of King Harold School prefects who were marshals, and the Waltham Cross Detachment, No 1 Company, Hertfordshire Army Cadet Force who camped on site to provide security from Friday evening to Sunday morning.
Some Thoughts on the Day and the Future
Joint Organizer, Tricia Gurnett, said, “there were long queues all day at some of the most popular attractions, such as the Have a Go archery provided by Epping Archers; Brother Stephen who was showing children calligraphy and letting them have a go; Old Macdonald’s Farm, who had brought guinea pigs, a giant black rabbit and Annie the Eagle Owl; and the immensely popular horse and cart rides, which were provided by three heavy horses pulling lovely old painted carts. The craft marquee and individual craft tents all did a roaring trade, with everything for sale being items which would have been available at the time.
We ourselves tried some merchandising this year, mainly toy swords, shields, daggers, and archery sets, purses, caps, helmets and badges for children, and we sold out of most items. We had a special newspaper all about what happened in 1066, but written as a modern journalist would do. Also very popular was the booklet specially published by the Historical Society about the evidence of where King Harold is buried. Finally, on this anniversary of King Harold’s death, we had a beautiful floral bower around the memorial stone in the Abbey Churchyard, kindly provided by Paul Horton and by Abbey Flower Designs.
“We believe that King Harold Day has already become an established event, and we started working at once for the 2006 event, which will be on Saturday 14th October, the actual anniversary date of the battle. “
+++++++ In 2004 3,000 people attended the first ever King Harold Day. There were many more in 2005, and organizers estimate an attendance of 4,000. What is more - the visitor survey showed that they had come not just from the town, but from a very wide area of Essex, North and East London, Hertfordshire and other areas. +++++++
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