| Where: | Bromsgrove, Worcestershire at the Avoncroft Museum of Historic Buildings at Stoke Heath |
| When: | Sunday near August 1st |
| Time: | 10 am - 4 pm |
Lammas is the ancient celebration connected with the start of the grain harvest, and the Christian festival falls on August 1st. Avoncroft Museum often hold an annual event on a near the date in which corn is milled into flour (the buildings at the museum include their very own windmill!), bread is baked and corn dollies are crafted, sometimes with a blessing of the harvest in the afternoon at the chapel and a range of family oriented activities throughout the day. In some years the the officials of the Bromsgrove Court Leet check the quality and weight of the bread in a special assize, and also test the local honey and beer. Avoncroft is home to over 30 historic buildings rescued from dereliction and re-erected on site, and was the very first open-air museum of this type to open in in the UK- highlights include the National Collection of Telephone Kiosks, a wide range of vernacular structures, and a series of history-themed events throughout the season. The Court Leet is a venerable institution which upholds the traditions of the area in ceremonies and celebrations around the year; courts leet were originally established as a medieval quality control measure to ensure that consumers were fairly treated and transgressors punished, which has evolved into a ceremonial role today. Expect the Court Officials to be resplendent in all their finery while performing their duties! As the museum is home to a range of buildings associated with cereal production and harvest, visitors may follow a themed Lammas Trail around the site which traces the progress of the harvested crops right through from threshing and winnowing to thanksgiving in the church with Harvest Loaves.
Helpful Hints
In 2023 Lammas was celebrated from 26th July to 6th August- the Court Leet weren’t involved but there were displays and demonstrations including corn dolly making workshops and a Lammas Trail, with the theme of the Celebration of the Bread Harvest. Details of this were confirmed very close to the due date. 2024 details are yet to be announced.
Normal admission charges apply (£12.50 in 2023).
Click here for the Museum website:https://avoncroft.org.uk
and Facebook page:https://www.facebook.com/avoncroftmuseum
and here for the Court Leet:https://www.facebook.com/CourtLeetBromsgrove
and: https://www.bromsgrovecourtleet.co.uk
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