This film is part of Free

Mediaeval Tournament at Hawarden Park

The grounds of Hawarden Castle lend themselves to jousting, archery and a hog roast but modern-day ice-creams and hot dogs are on offer too.

Home movie 1968 15 mins Silent

From the collection of:

Logo for National Screen and Sound Archive of Wales

Overview

Can anyone drink a yard of ale? The people of Deeside give it a go whilst also enjoying the chance to be a medieval lady for a day, or an armoured knight, or Robin Hood with bow and arrow. The local Round Table has provided jousting and a martial arts demonstration, swing boat rides, a tug-of-war and a silver band playing on as knights are un-horsed, a hog is roasted, hot dogs and ice-cream are consumed and the beer flows. The film-maker has provided a last-minute duel!

Flintshire's Hawarden Castle (the name applied to both the medieval castle ruins and the 18th century mansion) was once lived in by British Prime Minister W E Gladstone – who added a wing to house a library - the castle having been owned by the family of his wife, Catherine Glynne. This footage was shot by Joseph Cone, of Pentre, Queensferry, Flintshire, a member of Deeside Cine Club (HQ: Rivertown Schoolroom, Shotton) and a provider of film shows locally. He was proprietor of a General Merchant's business, selling hardware, oil and electrical goods and photographic film which he developed and printed.