Minstrels’ Court, 20 June 2009

St John’s Church, Chester (next to the Amphitheatre)

10.30-4.30, Admission Free

In Medieval times all musicians and performers wishing to perform in Cheshire had to attend St John’s Church each Midsummer to get their licences.  This lively event is being recreated in the historic setting of St John’s Church with performances of Medieval music, dancing, mummers’ plays and storytelling.  Meet a collection of Medieval characters and have the chance to join in the show.  Homemade refreshments will be served all day, along with stalls, competitions and raffles. 

Programme

• Performances by Medieval Musician Richard York
• The Arming of a Knight Demonstration
• Storytelling and Mumming Plays
• Morris Dancing and Cheshire Folk Music
• Dancing Bear
• Medieval characters and Minstrels will be on site all day
• Craft, book, bottle, cake and plant stalls
• Face painting
• Refreshments including cakes and strawberries and cream
• Raffle
• Church Fayre Games

Open Competition

Decorate and wear your own ‘fruity’ hat – judging will be at 2pm.

Contact

Sue Hughes on 01244 402012, susan.hughes@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk

History

Ranulf Blundeville, Earl Ranulf III (1181-1232) was besieged at Rhuddlan Castle, North Wales, by the Welsh.  He sent a request for help to Roger Lacey, the Constable of Chester Castle.  As it was Midsummer and the Midsummer Fair was in full swing Lacey could not muster an army.  However he rounded up the ‘fiddlers, players, cobblers, debauched persons both men and women’ who all set off towards Wales.  The Welsh saw a cloud of dust approaching and an unbelievable noise and thought that there was a great army on the way.  They turned and fled.

Earl Ranulf was so grateful that he gave Roger Lacey authority over the shoemakers and the minstrels of the City.  Roger then transferred his authority over the fiddlers and other musicians to his Steward Dutton of Dutton.  Dutton maintained the right to licence the minstrels and this remained with his family thereafter.   

On 24 June, the feast of St John the Baptist, during the Midsummer festivities, Dutton rode through Chester to a place near Eastgate.  He was preceded by a banner-bearer, a drummer and trumpeter.  At the appointed place a proclamation was read out.  All the musicians went ahead of Dutton and his entourage playing their instruments down the street from Eastgate to St John’s Church.  Lessons were given and then they processed to where the court was to be held.  Each petitioner for a licence was questioned whether they had committed any treason to the monarch or played on a Sabbath.  After the court Dutton, or his deputy, took his guests to dinner and after dinner the stanchion on which the banner was carried was delivered formally to Dutton.  The last Minstrels’ Court was said to have been discontinued after 1756, before it was revived in 2008.