Stow-on-the-Wold is returning to its 17th century past for a weekend of fun and historical festivities

The weekend of September 16-18, will see the town of Stow-on-the-Wold travel back in time to its 17th century past for a fantastic weekend of family fun and entertainment. Stow-on-the-Wold was the site of the last battle of the first English Civil War in 1646.

Friday – Antiques Day

Friday, September 16, is Antiques Day, with special guest Thomas Plant, well known antiques expert from BBC programmes including Bargain Hunt, Flog It! and Antiques Road Trip.

Thomas and his team from Special Auction Services will be running a special Valuation Morning so bring your antiques and collectables along to St Edward’s Church in Stow from 9.30am, you may get a very happy surprise! Your items can be valued for just �2 each and proceeds will support local charities. Then you can join Thomas for a delicious lunch at St Edward’s Hall in the market square, a beautiful and historic landmark building that was built in 1878. Tickets are �25 (available from Go Stow, tel: 01451 870151, www.go-stow.co.uk or email stowcotswoldfestival@hotmail.co.uk) and includes a three-course meal with coffee and chocolates and an amusing and informative talk from Thomas about his life as an auctioneer, and his adventures filming for the BBC. He’ll also conduct a mini auction.

On Friday evening there is a concert by the Oxford Welsh Male voice choir in St Edward’s Church.

Saturday and Sunday

The Sealed Knot will re-enact battles and skirmishes of the English Civil War as well as creating a free Living History exhibition. You will be able to see how people lived in the seventeenth century – with crafts, re-creations and displays – culminating in the exciting main battle re-enactment.

Craft stalls and exhibitions, period dress, a treasure hunt, musicians and dancers and an evening Barn Dance on Saturday, will all come together in Stow’s large market square with its houses, shops and inns in mellow stone set high in the Cotswold Hills.

For more information visit www.cotswoldfestival.com or to find out more about Thomas and Special Auction Services visit www.specialauctionservices.com