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The Blackden Trust Blackden
Jodrell Bank listening in to Toad Hall and The Old Medicine House
'A special and a different place'


The Blackden Trust cares for a parcel of land that has been occupied for over ten thousand years.

We provide facilities for research into Blackden and its surroundings and our courses
encourage participants to investigate the interaction between place, artefact and story. 

Visitors have access to primary evidence
and are involved in new interpretations as they emerge. 
 

What's next

Pilgrimage and Protection

Saturday 4th July 2009
 10.30 am – 4.00 pm

Tutor: Tom Hughes

Going on a journey to a sacred place to worship, achieve spiritual grace or gain protection is an ancient rite that echoes in some of the superstitions we still observe today - throwing coins in wells and giving brides cardboard horse shoes are just two of the most common.

There are many examples of this practice amongst artefacts found at Blackden. For instance, we have a 14th century pilgrim's ampulla for carrying holy water back from the shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham. Using illustrations from the period and artefacts we shall examine the concept of the medieval pilgrimage, exploring reasons why people went, what they found at the shrines and what they brought back.

In the afternoon we shall examine the various ways the site and the houses built on it were protected. We shall take a tour of the Old Medicine House to see markings carved in beams and examine apotropaic objects from Blackden including hidden shoes, a dried cat and foundation burials. We shall consider the survival of these traditions, which continued in parallel to worship in the Christian church.

Course fees
Students £35.00
Adults £45.00

To reserve a place:
Tel: 01477 571445

email:

 By post:
The Blackden Trust
Blackden
Holmes Chapel
Cheshire
CW4 8BY

Booking form




 

Poster

Archaeological dig
Directors: Richard Morris, Mark Roberts

Friday 21st - Thursday 27th August

Participants: 16 and over  
Availability of spaces: Yes

More details are available for this event.


There are more courses and visits planned than are shown above.  Please go to our events page which contains a summary of all events.

The Blackden Trust - home page

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© The Blackden Trust 2008
    Updated: 04/07/2009		 The Blackden Trust is a registered charity no. 1115818