After a year of planning and preparation, a weekend of Tudor inspired events took place in a Hampshire market town.

On July 2, Henry VIII strode down the High Street of Bishop’s Waltham at 10.15am. He was accompanied by Catherine of Aragon, his court, and other followers.

The procession was extremely colourful and accompanied by Tudor music from Damian Clarke. The procession made its way to the palace grounds for the start of the two-day Tudor experience.

During 2021/2022. English Heritage implemented a large restoration project of the palace ruins, which was completed earlier this year.

The palace grounds were filled with living Tudor history, including a Tudor village with re-enactment groups showing how ordinary Tudor folk lived by demonstrating cooking, leatherwork, wool spinning, and many other crafts.

There was a puppet show from Hand to Mouth Theatre, Jonathon the Jester, acrobatic and circus workshops, a falconry show, archery, a demonstration of arming the man and military drill, storytelling, ferret handling and Tudor dancing from local dance group The Gaudetes.

Local historian Tony Kippenberger had written a short tableau to illustrate the signing of the Treaty of Waltham: the reason behind the weekend’s celebrations.

It was on the July 2 1522 that Henry and King Charles V of Spain and Holy Roman Emperor arrived in Bishop’s Waltham to stay at the palace and sign the Treaty of Waltham.

It was a community event with representation from the Meon Valley Beekeepers, a Pillory and Tudor toys built by the Bishop’s Waltham Men’s Shed, Tudor calligraphy from the Bishop’s Waltham Youth Club, an exhibition of Henry VIII paintings by the junior school and a Henry VIII photo competition organised by the Bishop’s Waltham Photographic Society.

The Bishop’s Waltham Museum, which is based in the palace grounds was open so that people could enjoy the Tudor exhibition that had been curated especially for this occasion and will run for the rest of the summer.

On the Saturday evening a Tudor Banquet was held in the old bakehouse of the palace. Guests were entertained with Tudor music, and a court jester and were able to enjoy a Tudor meal.

In the words of one attendee: “What a brilliantly organised weekend to celebrate the signing of the Charter. I had a wonderful time and enjoyed every aspect during the day and at the banquet, which was also a resounding success.”

This event was a collaboration between the Bishop’s Waltham Society, the museum, and the Bishop’s Waltham Town Team. It involved some 100 volunteers in its planning and management over the two-day weekend. It could not have taken place without support from local businesses, charities, and grant giving organisations.

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