A Very Big Birthday!
Records show that the building of the famous Norman castle in Richmond, North Yorkshire commenced in 1071. The town grew up around the castle and under its protection.
So, in 2021 castle and town will celebrate their 950th birthdays – indeed a very special year and what a lot of candles! With the support of Richmond Town Council, Richmond Castle and Richmondshire Museum members of the original Richmond Business and Tourism Association are organising a year of celebrations.
Local organisations are invited to embrace these celebrations and to adapt their annual events to fit in with the theme. New events and organisations are also welcome and original ideas are greatly encouraged.
We would like everyone to get involved in celebrating their town and enjoy all that this remarkable year has to offer residents and visitors.
With a day to blow the New Year ‘s Eve cobwebs away, we start our year of celebrations on Saturday 2nd January with a procession through the town and a 950 peal from the bells of St. Mary’s Church. As this plan grows, more information will follow, so watch this space and make a note in your new diary to be in Richmond Market Place for the event.
CelebrateRichmond950 is about the community of Richmond and for the community. There are opportunities for everyone to be involved.
An Asset for Richmond Now and For the Future.
To commemorate this important anniversary, one of our key projects is the creation of a new Community Woodland on land provided by Zetland Estates.
The People’s Wood, which is dependent on receiving funding from the grant providers we have applied to, will be a natural space for all for thinking, walking, talking, relaxing and playing together or alone, with your dog or without and with easy access for all ages and abilities.
It will be a habitat for wildlife and native species to thrive and an enhancement to the landscape.
This is good for Richmond, good for the planet – carbon positive and helping with flood and water management and a wonderful enhancement for the landscape.
Getting Involved
Nearly all of Richmond’s clubs and groups have been in touch with us for ideas for events and support. Here are just a few of them:
| The Station |
- Victorian Events |
| Georgian Theatre Royal |
- Community Play Complete History of Richmond (Abridged!) |
| Richmond Civic Society |
- Talks reflecting the theme of Richmond Through the Ages. |
| Richmond Walking and Book Festival |
- Walks & talks on theme of CelebrateRichmond950 |
| Richmond Meet |
- Bank Holiday Floats Costume through the Ages |
| Richmond Rotary Club |
- Exhibition 950 Years of Communications in Richmond |
| Richmondshire Choral Society |
- Commissioning a work with spoken accompaniment |
| Richmondshire Writers |
- Compiling a Chapbook on Richmond written by its members |
| A 950 piece Writing Project for young and old |
- 950 piece Writing Project for young and old |
| Richmond Brewery |
- Brewing a special Celebration Ale |
| The Kings Head Hotel |
- Medieval and Georgian Banquets |
| Richmond Castle |
- Discussions with English Heritage in progress |
| Richmondshire Cricket Club |
- Victorian Cricket Match |
| Musicality |
- The Best of British Music |
| Marske Singers |
- The Good Old Days music hall concert |
| Station Singers |
- Homage to the Christmas Carol |
| Richmond/Leyburn Embroiderers |
- The CelebrateRichmond950 Embroidery |
Would You Like to Hold an Event?
There is still time and room for more events to be included in the programme for next year.
If you have any suggestions for an event you would like to organise, please get in touch - info@originalrichmond.co.uk / 01748 825525
Where Are the Big Events?
We very much wanted to hold some bigger events, but because of the Pandemic we have been unable to continue with our application for a grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund because they have understandably had to prioritise their National Emergency Fund programmes..
With your help we may be able to raise funds to enable the reinstatement of one or two of these bigger events, particularly a Son et Lumiere and a community archaeology project in the castle, looking specifically at the site of the demolished barrack block and the First World War, which would link with the work done recently at the Castle on research and interpretation of the Richmond 16 and other conscientious objectors held prisoner in the Castle.
If you would like to help make 2021 bigger and better, please donate via the PayPal donate button below.
