Counter-Heritage Weekend Programme

STROUD COUNTER-HERITAGE WEEKEND FEBRUARY 3rd-4th

The Centre for Science and Art,
Lansdowne,
Stroud

SATURDAY
10am Doors open

The following events are timetabled, but there are events running throughout the day. Scroll down until you see the heading

EVENTS RUNNING THROUGHOUT THE DAY

10.30: The People History Forgot to Remember: tour of Stroud cemetery with Angela Findlay, artist & cemetery resident
Using poetry, diary extracts and performance to explore attitudes to death from the 1850s onwards, the hidden symbols used in gravestones, the fate of those deemed ‘paupers’ & workhouse life.

Meeting point: Lower Cemetery Lodge, 114 Bisley Road, GL5 1HG, just inside the gates of the cemetery
Tickets available at location – some parts of the walk are not wheelchair accessible, but many parts are.

STROUD COUNTER-HERITAGE WEEKEND FEBRUARY 3rd-4th

The Centre for Science and Art,
Lansdowne,
Stroud

SATURDAY
10am Doors open

The following events are timetabled, but there are events running throughout the day. Scroll down until you see the heading

EVENTS RUNNING THROUGHOUT THE DAY

10.30: The People History Forgot to Remember: tour of Stroud cemetery with Angela Findlay, artist & cemetery resident
Using poetry, diary extracts and performance to explore attitudes to death from the 1850s onwards, the hidden symbols used in gravestones, the fate of those deemed ‘paupers’ & workhouse life.

Meeting point: Lower Cemetery Lodge, 114 Bisley Road, GL5 1HG, just inside the gates of the cemetery
Tickets available at location – some parts of the walk are not wheelchair accessible, but many parts are.

10.30 The Soldier & the Snaggles: Children’s story time with John Bassett
A lively interactive story-telling session from Spaniel in the Works featuring one of Stroud’s best-loved landmarks.

The Snaggles are coming!! But what is a Snaggle?  How can they beaten? Only the soldier knows how but can he stop them in time?

This lively 30 minute interactive storytelling session for under 7’s explores the five senses using lots of participation including music and dance.    Suitable for everyone, perfect for under 7s.

Location: Centre for Science & Art, Lansdown – Blue Room

11.30 Be a part of the new film Days of Hope: Call for extras

A NEW film telling how a 5000 strong mob descended on Selsley Hill for a mass Chartist rally in 1839 has been awarded funding (with thanks to Stroud Festival)

  • 11.30 Signing the Chartist petition as part of the film
  • 1.30 – 3.30 for the centre filming of petition paragraphs – “Be a part of Days of Hope – the Chartists in Stroud”
  • ALSO SCROLL DOWN TO SEE A CHARTIST WALK FOR THE FILM ON SUNDAY – MEET AT THE CAFÉ ON THE CANAL AT WALLBRIDGE 10a.m.

11.30am Wild Boar Gin Lounge totally preposterous family quiz about Stroud
Do you know your adjustable spanner from your elbow?  Can you name every single one of the 5 valleys? In Spanish? The WBGL ladies will lead you a merry dance with music, history and general knowledge. As well as questions that only children will be able to answer.

Some light-hearted family fun, which promises to be based almost entirely on actual facts. Probably. And wonderful prizes too!

Location: Centre for Science & Art, Lansdowne – Blue Room

12.30 Children’s story time with Tracy Spiers: The tale of Uley Blue
Talented author and illustrator will be reading the wonderful tale of Uley Blue – a little hare with a big imagination who turns a visit to Museum in  the Park into a magical adventure.

Tracy will enchant a family audience with tales of tea with ammonites, riding mammoths across Cainscross roundabout, paintings coming to life, and dancing statues.

Location: Centre for Science & Art, Lansdowne – Blue Room

12.45 Conscientious Objectors WW1 Walk with Jon Seagrave
A short walking tour linking war memorials in town with a presentation about the forgotten history of the area’s conscientious objectors.

Questions to consider: How should this forgotten history remembered? Have you got stories to share?

Accessibility: There are steps up into the church from Lansdowne, but wheelchair users can reach the church via the High Street and the Shambles.

Meet at Centre for Science & Art, Lansdowne

12.45pm – 2.15pm (in Woodchester) Roman Villa walk – Robin Treefellow

A walk to the site of the Orpheus Mosaic & Woodchester Villa along the cycle track (no arduous slopes, a possibility of mud) where Robin will explain what life would have been like in the valleys when it was inhabited with wealthy Roman families.

There were temples to Roman gods perched on top of local hills, and up to a down other villas, which are buried beneath our feet.

Robin will point out areas of historical interest, answer the questions you’ve always wanted answered (What did the Romans ever do for Stroud?) plus there’ll be snacks passed around that would have been typically eaten by wealthy families at the time.

2pm Alice Jolly reads from her new book
Centre for Science & Art, Lansdowne

3pm – 4.30pm The Dangerous Woman of Stroud walk & talk 

Discover the women that helped shape our town, and our political landscape. This gentle stroll around the town centre will touch on some of the key figures, and locations, from the suffrage movement.

Our very own ‘Dangerous Woman’ Margaret Hill will take centre stage!

And of course, your guides Chas Townley and Jacqui Stearn will be on hand to recount key moments in history, answer your questions and encourage you to look at the familiar streets and buildings in a whole new way.

Stroud Alternative Histories – After Dark (Not recommended for children under 14 – parental discretion advised.)

7pm – 1am – Jonny Fluffypunk MC’s our after dark activities – Not recommended for children under 14 – parental discretion advised.

7.45 Uta Baldauf – counter heritage poetry performance 

8.30 Little Metropolis Adam Horovitz and Joe Reeve

9.45 Muddy Summers & the DFWs

11 – 1 Ben Vacara & Mr Mulatto of Situation Sounds 

EVENTS RUNNING THROUGHOUT THE DAY

Deborah Roberts & Stuart Butler – A People’s Museum – Blue Room – How to make your own museum – Collect fun counter-heritage tasks for the streets of Stroud

Jonny Fluffy Punk – An alternative memory map 

Wild Boar Gin Lounge Presents: Alternative Family Fun

    • Colouring and family quizzes throughout the day
    • Dress up as a suffragette and have your photo taken (male or female)
    • Family friendly treasure hunt and selfie tour of Stroud
    • Games of “consequences” about Stroud
    • Films of raves, protest etc of Stroud
    • Prizes for all the above will be a lucky dip.

Blue Room (1st floor) Centre for Science & Art, Lansdowne

Tickets available from the Centre for Science & Art, Lansdowne

Sunday 4th February 

A two to three hour performative Chartist walk to Selsley Common, meeting at the Lock-keeper’s Café at Wallbridge at 10 o’clock. The walk will be filmed for the Days of Hope Chartist film.