Medieval market to lower curtain on Northallerton heritage scheme

A re-enactment group will create a medieval market in Northallerton

A medieval market is to be staged to mark the end of a scheme to develop cultural and heritage programmes in Northallerton.

The three-year project saw community events celebrate the town's history.

A heritage hub was also created as part of the Historic England-funded Heritage Action Zone programme.

A re-enactment company will reveal how the town's market would have looked between 1066 and 1307 to bring the project to a conclusion.

The medieval market is planned for the 23 and 24 of March

The scheme aimed to install a "sense of civic pride" and help people engage with the town's heritage, according to North Yorkshire Council.

A sculpture, the Ballad of Sophia, was installed on the site of Northallerton's former prison as part of the project.

The work, by sculptor Ray Lonsdale, depicts 11-year-old Sophia Constable, who was imprisoned for three weeks in 1873 for stealing a loaf of bread.

Sophia Constable spent three weeks at Northallerton Prison for stealing a loaf of bread from a shop in Whitby

The new heritage hub has acted as a base for a range of community activities during the project.

The council said it had seen more than 3,700 visitors and held 18 workshops in its first year.

North Yorkshire Council's executive member for culture and the arts, Simon Myers, said: "As a result, it was given another two years to act as a catalyst for a longer-term project, which we hope will see volunteers take it on."

One of those volunteers is John Parkinson, who said it had been "a pleasure to enjoy many fascinating conversations".

"Together with many others I have long cherished the establishment of a fully functioning Heritage Centre so seeing this happen is very exciting," he added.

John Parkinson (pictured) is one of the volunteers working at the town's new Heritage Hub

The hub will host a medieval armourer, a coin striker and the Brompton Bankers wargaming society during the medieval market weekend, a council spokesperson added.

The council said the medieval market, on 23 and 24 March, would be hosted by "renowned re-enactment company" Conquest Living History.