Latest news with #ChalkeHistoryFestival
Yahoo
05-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Wiltshire in Pictures: A star visits and baking sun
As the county sweltered this week, Olivia Colman visited Salisbury District Hospital as part of her role as patron of the Stars Appeal. The Oscar-winning actress brought a smile to patients' faces and paid tribute to the charity's donors, fundraisers and volunteers. Meanwhile, patrons of a pub in Corsley, near Warminster, welcomed back a characterful owl – and elsewhere, our weather watchers were out capturing the best of the sunshine. Meet me halfway: Janet Baldock has just reached the mid-point on her trek of the entire Wales Coast Path, having set out from Chester in April. Ms Baldock, from Shalbourne near Great Bedwyn, is raising money for the Support Dogs charity after learning about autism assistance dogs. Wetting my beak: This owl is the unlikely new regular at The White Hart in Corsley. Named Arllo, he has made himself at home, visiting the pub at least once a week with his keeper. Field of gold: The sweltering sun has shown no mercy this week – beating down on crops such as the wheat in this field in Grittleton near Castle Combe. Parched land: On the opposite side of the county, weather watcher Nerea M captured this image of Stonehenge, where the grass is yellowing in the heat. Moody mornings: In Upavon, weather watcher TAG caught a misty moment as the sun rose over a country path. Toast of the village: The Chalke History Festival came to an end on Sunday after a week of talks, events and living history performances. Jane from Jane's Historical Kitchen exhibited period-appropriate crockery and showed visitors how to make a decorative pie lid. Moving out: In another blow to Swindon town centre, it has been announced that the Swindon & Wiltshire Pride Hub will be leaving the Regent Circus shopping centre. Nando's is now the only company trading at the complex, which opened in 2014. Follow BBC Wiltshire on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630. Wiltshire in Pictures: Steeds and sunrises Wiltshire in Pictures: Special solstice sunrise Wiltshire in Pictures: Strawberry moon and cycling


BBC News
05-07-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Wiltshire in Pictures: A star visits and baking sun
As the county sweltered this week, Olivia Colman visited Salisbury District Hospital as part of her role as patron of the Stars Oscar-winning actress brought a smile to patients' faces and paid tribute to the charity's donors, fundraisers and patrons of a pub in Corsley, near Warminster, welcomed back a characterful owl – and elsewhere, our weather watchers were out capturing the best of the sunshine. Meet me halfway: Janet Baldock has just reached the mid-point on her trek of the entire Wales Coast Path, having set out from Chester in April. Ms Baldock, from Shalbourne near Great Bedwyn, is raising money for the Support Dogs charity after learning about autism assistance dogs. Wetting my beak: This owl is the unlikely new regular at The White Hart in Corsley. Named Arllo, he has made himself at home, visiting the pub at least once a week with his keeper. Field of gold: The sweltering sun has shown no mercy this week – beating down on crops such as the wheat in this field in Grittleton near Castle Combe. Parched land: On the opposite side of the county, weather watcher Nerea M captured this image of Stonehenge, where the grass is yellowing in the heat. Moody mornings: In Upavon, weather watcher TAG caught a misty moment as the sun rose over a country path. Toast of the village: The Chalke History Festival came to an end on Sunday after a week of talks, events and living history performances. Jane from Jane's Historical Kitchen exhibited period-appropriate crockery and showed visitors how to make a decorative pie lid. Moving out: In another blow to Swindon town centre, it has been announced that the Swindon & Wiltshire Pride Hub will be leaving the Regent Circus shopping centre. Nando's is now the only company trading at the complex, which opened in 2014.


BBC News
28-06-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Chalke Festival hosts jousting and historic re-enactments
While music fans are at Glastonbury Festival, history lovers are enjoying a very different Chalke History Festival in Broad Chalke, Wiltshire, is in full swing, demonstrating historic methods of jousting and hay 23-29 June, the festival is hosting talks about history from 175 experts, including the likes of Kevin McCloud, Al Murray, Michael Palin and Ian Hislop, alongside a programme of re-enactments from different time Holland, founder of festival, said: "I'm absolutely thrilled, we had lots of people here, the sun has been shining." Meanwhile, Dominic Sewell has been preparing for a jousting demonstration."Children are often captivated by knights and jousting and as there are no princesses or dragons here, we have to make do with fighting each other," Mr Sewell said. The horse armour is designed to protect horses from splinters or "anything else that might come their way," Mr Sewell said."As well as that we have a specialised helmet for jousting which is called a frog mouth helmet, it has a wide aperture where the eye slits are." Mr Holland built a traditional hay stack over the week and said he had "the time of his life" doing it."I'm very interested in the history of agriculture," he added.
Yahoo
28-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Wiltshire in Pictures: Steeds and sunrises
The memories of last weekend's dramatic summer solstice linger on, but life in Wiltshire keeps going. Racing returned to Salisbury this week, and a festival in Chalke is offering visitors the chance to travel back in time. Alongside these events, nature as - as ever - been putting on a show as the sunny days keep coming. Time-travellers paradise: Chalke History Festival is on all this week, featuring more than 170 experts and numerous re-enactors. The first few days have school visits during the day. Sublime solstice: While 25,000 went to Stonehenge for the summer solstice, a few thousand went to Avebury for the sunrise. However, the celebrations started very much in the dark and went past sunrise at the ancient site, where people gathered round with fire tricks and later on a sacred druid ceremony took place (below). Job done: Local dignitaries, including local MP John Glen, could not resist recreating a certain well-known Beatles album cover when celebrating the £4.5 million revitalisation of Salisbury Railway Station forecourt. Peaceful scenes: Stourhead near Warminster remains a popular place to visit - weather watcher Marciaspictures snapped this photo. Wildflowers: Weather watcher CraigRich captured the ups and downs of a British summer near the village of West Dean. Break in the clouds: Contributor Chully went out in the countryside near Calne to get this sunny moment. Seeing stars in Trowbridge: The town's Civic Centre hosted more than 80 children and young people for the annual Star Awards – an event to honour the resilience, talent and triumphs of Wiltshire Council's children in care and care-experienced young people. Follow BBC Wiltshire on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630. Wiltshire in Pictures: Special solstice sunrise Wiltshire in Pictures: Strawberry moon and cycling Wiltshire in Pictures: A Royal visit to the county Wiltshire in Pictures: Shindig and crop circles Wiltshire in pics: Shindigs and a princess visit Wiltshire in Pictures: Stunning Salisbury blooms Wiltshire in Pictures: VE Day and bank holiday sun Wiltshire in Pictures: Sunshine and school success Wiltshire in Pictures: Flowers and Easter flames Wiltshire in pics: Magical murals and an Easter donkey Wiltshire in Pictures: Blossoms and celebrations Wiltshire in pictures: Sun, wonky roads and pigeons Wiltshire in Pictures: Let the music play Wiltshire in pics: Spring equinox and indoor moon Wiltshire in pics: cows, Crufts and challenges Wiltshire in pictures: Sunshine and Shrove Tuesday Wiltshire in pictures: Crocuses and a tiny newt Wiltshire in pictures: Bird life and art hunt Wiltshire in Pictures: Romance in the animal world Wiltshire in Pics: Football, floods and remembrance Wiltshire in Pictures: Tunnels, murals and sunrises Wiltshire in Pictures: Toothbrushes, tigers and barges Wiltshire in pictures: animals enjoying the snow Wiltshire in pictures: Cold snap brings frosty scenes Wiltshire in pictures: Presents, bats and meerkats Wiltshire in Pictures: Star Wars and 'Fudgehenge' Wiltshire in Pics: Prince William and Storm Bert Wiltshire in pictures: Remembrance and light shows Wiltshire in pictures: Royal visit and mason's award Wiltshire in pictures: Halloween and sacred stones Wiltshire in pictures: Daleks, bats and pigs Wiltshire in pictures: Welcoming the troops home In pictures: Dragons, cows and Jane Austen Wiltshire in pictures: Culture and murals Wiltshire in pictures: Spinal tattoos to air tattoos Wiltshire in pictures: Exotic animals and Stonehenge Wiltshire in pictures: Silhouettes and bras Wiltshire in pictures: Reunions, sunflowers and maize Wiltshire in pictures: New sports hub and wartime cakes


BBC News
28-06-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Wiltshire in pictures: Steeds, scenery and sunrise
The memories of last weekend's dramatic summer solstice linger on, but life in Wiltshire keeps returned to Salisbury this week, and a festival in Chalke is offering visitors the chance to travel back in these events, nature as - as ever - been putting on a show as the sunny days keep coming. Time-travellers paradise: Chalke History Festival is on all this week, featuring more than 170 experts and numerous re-enactors. The first few days have school visits during the day. Sublime solstice: While 25,000 went to Stonehenge for the summer solstice, a few thousand went to Avebury for the sunrise. However, the celebrations started very much in the dark and went past sunrise at the ancient site, where people gathered round with fire tricks and later on a sacred druid ceremony took place (below). Job done: Local dignitaries, including local MP John Glen, could not resist recreating a certain well-known Beatles album cover when celebrating the £4.5 million revitalisation of Salisbury Railway Station forecourt. Peaceful scenes: Stourhead near Warminster remains a popular place to visit - weather watcher Marciaspictures snapped this photo. Wildflowers: Weather watcher CraigRich captured the ups and downs of a British summer near the village of West Dean. Break in the clouds: Contributor Chully went out in the countryside near Calne to get this sunny moment. Seeing stars in Trowbridge: The town's Civic Centre hosted more than 80 children and young people for the annual Star Awards – an event to honour the resilience, talent and triumphs of Wiltshire Council's children in care and care-experienced young people.