Church art talks:
Medieval Stained Glass in the Cotswolds
Explore the development of stained glass in Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and around from the 13th to the 16th centuries. Discover Fairford’s wonderful glass alongside medieval treasures from Gloucester cathedral, glass hidden away in Oxford college chapels, and in our parish churches.
Wonderful Wall Paintings
Once upon a time our churches were full of colour and imagery but today often only ghosts of those decorations remain. We are very lucky in the Cotswolds in having exciting schemes of wall paintings from one of the very earliest schemes to survive in Britain at Kempley, terrifying dooms at Mitcheldean and Oddington, to Tudor wall paintings in Gloucester and vivid Victorian art at Highnam – and so much more!
Ridiculous Monstrosities: a rather too close look at the naughtiest things in Cotswold churches
Why are our medieval churches chock full of naughty, naughty things? Men and women showing off their naughty bits, domestic violence, strange beasts and monsters. What’s going on? Is the world turned upside down? From our very earliest churches, grotesque creatures have guarded our churches , and monsters and shocking scenes are found within! We’ll explore the best – or worst? – of Gloucestershire and the Cotswolds’ most curious church sights in this talk!
Folklore talks:
Wonder Workers!
Miracles, murder, marvels! Discover the lives, deaths, yes, and the afterlives of saints from all around the British Isles. Stories of saints were among some of the most popular and famous tales of the Middle Ages and beyond. Join storyteller, writer and speaker Kirsty Hartsiotis in exploring a selection of fascinating saints' tales - expect the unexpected!
King Arthur was Here!
Here lies King Arthur, king once - and king to be. Explore the many local legends that claim King Arthur as their own. Join storyteller, writer and speaker Kirsty Hartsiotis for a journey around the British Isles in search of King Arthur, uncovering the local stories told about the once and future king.
Medieval Wonder Tales: Exploring the weird in the Middle Ages
Aliens! Vampires! Zombies! Giants! Space travel! Think the Middle Ages is all tales of knights and ladies? The truth is much more exciting! From zombie ghosts in Yorkshire, to sky ships over Bristol, to Alexander the Great's space adventure, and a vampire in Hereford, medieval wonder tales - or mirabilia, as they were called - have puzzled and delighted people for generations.
Monsters, Heroes and Saints: Tales of the Anglo Saxons in English folklore
Listen! Tales of war, of lost treasure, of heroes and of doomed love. Discover the tales the earliest of the English have inspired. Journey around the folk tales that people have told about the Anglo-Saxons - from the first invaders Hengist and Horsa right up to Harold I getting it in the eye. Kirsty explores the landscape of England, searching out those places in England with legendary associations with kings, queens, warriors and saints.
