University of Sheffield Heritage Festival returns to city

22nd May 2018

University of Sheffield Heritage Festival returns to Ecclesall Woods for May Bank Holiday 2018 Free, interactive festival gives visitors a chance to explore how people in Sheffield lived hundreds of years ago Activities include an interactive iron smelt, build-your-own kiln, historical hospital to explore medieval diseases, cave-painting and poem-writing Festival is run by University of Sheffield archaeology students as part of their Archaeology in the City programme A unique festival which gives people an opportunity to explore life in Sheffield hundreds of years ago is returning to the city later this month (28 May 2018).

The University of Sheffield's Heritage Festival is returning to the J G Graves Woodland Discovery Centre in Ecclesall Woods on May Bank Holiday 2018. On the 28 May 2018, from 10am until 4pm, the woodland will play host to a working interactive iron smelt, a build-your-own-kiln workshop involving lots of mud, a historical hospital to explore medieval diseases, interactive cave-painting and poem-writing sessions, demonstrations and displays, food and craft beer vendors, and much more. The Heritage Festival is a free event run by Archaeology in the City, the Department of Archaeology's student-led volunteer outreach programme. The festival aims to bring to life the more colourful, exciting, and engaging aspects of our shared heritage, as well as showcasing the talents, creativity, and diversity of students, heritage practitioners, and craftspeople from Sheffield and beyond. Visitors can join Archaeology in the City for immersive theatrical performances, children's activities, playing with clay, historical demonstrations, wood-fired pizza from the Nether Edge Pizza Company, and a specially commissioned festival beer from the Blue Bee Brewery, Sheffield, in association with The Red Deer Pub. The Heritage Festival is free of charge thanks to funding and donations from the University of Sheffield, The Grantham Centre for Sustainable Futures, J G Graves Woodland Discovery Centre, The Red Deer pub, and the support of its many contributors. A festival shuttle bus will be running from The Red Deer pub, Pitt Street, every hour on the hour, between 12-4pm; and from the Festival at half past the hour, between 12:30-4:30pm. On-street parking is available outside the festival, with disabled parking available on site. The Woodland Heritage Festival is also seeking additional volunteers. For more information, please check the event page on Facebook or email archaeologyinthecity@sheffield.ac.uk