Viking open weekend - Cranborne Dorset

[Everything Mac]

Hi all - The Ancient Technology Centre in Cranborne Dorset are having their annual Viking open weekend on the 30th and 31st of July.

http://www.ancienttechnologycentre.co .uk/

This really is a great day out for all the family with various demonstrations of traditional crafts and skills. Most of which offer hands on experience too.
These include - pole lathing, string making, net making, axe work and blacksmithing.

As well as re-enactment battles from a local Viking and Saxon group, there will be a story telling too.

Well worth the drive if you live in the area.

As per usual I'll be helping out with the blacksmithing demonstrations so come and say hello.

All the best
Andy

[Everything Mac]

Anyone thinking of coming?

[Wayland]

Sadly it's too far for me...

[Everything Mac]

That's a shame Wayland - You could always stay the night.

All the best
Andy

[Wayland]

Appreciate that, thanks.

The problem is it's £100+ of fuel at a time when I'm heading into a dry period work wise.

Just can't be done.

[Kveldulf]

Hey there, yes indeed as last years show was fantastic and my boy loved it. So yes, we will be coming along again.
We are looking forward to meeting you again and see you working in the forge, (my lad still has the miniature Dane axe you gave him last year.).
See you there. Cheers.

[Dark Horse Dave]

That looks great! I can't make that particular weekend unfortunately, but it's on my list of places to go now - thanks for that!

[Everything Mac]

Friday bump.

[Chris the Cat]

I am going to try and make it from Somerset.
Know of any nearby camp sites ?
My best.
Chris.

[Everything Mac]

There are a few within the general area.
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=dorset+campsites&fb=1&gl=uk&hq=campsites&hnear=0x486d80aaedabf177:0x33a 1f481bada6d5f,Dorset&ei=r3MXTuatFtO2hAfbp-TMBQ&sa=X&oi=local_group&ct=image&ved=0CAQQtgM&iwloc=cids:1806793496841032240 9

Though I have no personal experience of any of them so I can't recommend one I'm afraid.

Andy

[Chris the Cat]

Thanks Andy,
May be leave early from here and go for the day trip.
Cheers.
Chris.

[FGYT]

I am going to try and make it from Somerset.
Know of any nearby camp sites ?
My best.
Chris.


Yes my place is 5mins down the road plenty of space for camping etc

ATB
Duncan
from tapatalk phone

[Chris the Cat]

Cheers Dunc, I will have a chat with you at the Knife show mate, maybe make a wkend of it after all !
My best.
Chris.

[Everything Mac]

Are you coming Duncan? I seem to remember you saying a while back you fancied going.

Andy

[Martin-123]

I have just arranged to go camping on this very weekend and was wondering where to go but this event looks perfect!

I'd need to provide some creature comforts for a 5 year old and his mum so if I can find a campsite with a shower (for them) and permission to light a fire (for me) I might well be there.

I'd like to see you work with your forge Andy. Do you have a website showing what you make?

Excellent.

Mart

[Martin-123]

Do you have a website showing what you make?

Just seen your photos on the other thread. Nice stuff.

[Everything Mac]

Cheers Martin!

No website yet - I only really do it as a hobby so make the odd few things as and when the fancy takes me. I had planned on doing some forging this weekend but I've been too busy and the weather has turned too.

There is a link to various camp sites in the area in post #10. Though as I said I've never been to any of them so can't recommend anywhere.

I look forward to meeting you gents!

All the best
Andy

[Everything Mac]

there is a place called Steeple Leaze which a couple of my mates recommend. Though it is a good distance

http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/sites/details.asp?revid=6634

Apparently they let you have fires etc though I'm not 100% sure if they have showers.

All the best
Andy

[Grendel]

Looks good.:)

Unfortunitly it's the same weekend as Pirate Island on IOW with my 17th century re-enactment group.

[FGYT]

there is a place called Steeple Leaze which a couple of my mates recommend. Though it is a good distance

http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/sites/details.asp?revid=6634

Apparently they let you have fires etc though I'm not 100% sure if they have showers.

All the best
Andy

that one is a long old way from Cranborne but is great for fires and convenient for rock pooling at Kimmeridge etc

the local one is by Verwood and tho a Caravan and Camping club site does allow non members I only drive past it but looks well set up etc tho i doubt you can have an open fire (which is the main show stopper from the wish list for most camp sites )

http://www.campingandcaravanningclub. co.uk/siteseeker/aspx/details.aspx?id=7290&returnPage=search.aspx


this is a great site that we nearly bought last year. they do allow fires etc But they are fully booked it might be worth ringing to see if there are any cancellations

http://www.riverside-lakes.co.uk/contact.aspx


f (http://www.riverside-lakes.co.uk/contact.aspx)or other stuff that's close by there's

Heavy Horse center in Verwood

http://www.dorset-heavy-horse-centre.co.uk/


or Moors Valley country park

http://www.moors-valley.co.uk/
(http://www.moors-valley.co.uk/)

Honey Brook Farm

http://honeybrook.org/

[Everything Mac]

This starts a week tomorrow.

Cheers
Andy

[Everything Mac]

Great big thanks to all who made it down this weekend!

I hope you all had a really good day and I'm sorry that I couldn't stop to chat a bit more!

All the best
Andy

[Everything Mac]

Any pictures from the weekend?

[Martin-123]

Sorry I didn't make it.

Hope it went well.

Martin

[Everything Mac]

It was a great weekend Martin - Everyone I spoke to seemed to be enjoying themselves. I was stuck in the forge all weekend unfortunately so didn't see a great deal of what went on. I imagine that I looked quite a sight too.

All the best
Andy

[palmnut]

I've been trying to persuade them to do something more than Vikings for a couple of years now though, primarily so that me and my prehistoric archery and spearthrowing mates can come over and do the usual show and tell and have-a-goes etc.

There does seem to be a bit of a Viking obsession at the ATC, which is a pity as there is so little Viking in this area but so much neolithic, bronze and iron age activity - I see Saxon everywhere I look, but no - it has to be Viking. My emails to the ATC points of contact usually just go unanswered - I guess there is just no interest.

Peter

PS My daughter goes to the school next year :-) Hopefully that will give me a bit more of an impetus to get over there and see what goes on.

[Everything Mac]

PM inbound Peter