Bishop’s Castle turns out to celebrate 450th anniversary of charter
Bishop’s Castle residents and visitors turned out in their hundreds to a street fair Sunday 16th July as a culmination of a week of celebrations commemorating the 450th anniversary of the granting of a charter to the town by Queen Elizabeth I. A couple of heavy downpours did nothing to dampen spirits and the celebration overall was judged a great success.
The week saw a range of activities including a performance at the SpArC theatre representing residents of note through the ages, and an exhibition detailing the significance of the charter and reflecting on the governance of the town from the earliest days to the present. Organisers were delighted that over 500 people visited the exhibition, described by one visitor as “an amazing record of Bishop’s Castle life “.
A highlight of the street fair was a visit by Queen Elizabeth I herself presenting the charter to the Mayor, which freed the town from rule by the Bishops of Hereford to become a self-governing borough. A specially composed song by renowned local folk musician John Kirkpatrick was warmly welcomed by residents and visitors alike.
Photos : Mike Olivant