Tewkesbury Medieval Festival

Sue and I have just returned form a fantastic day out at the Tewkesbury Medieval Festival. The weather was glorious but a bit too hot for spending more than a couple of hours browsing the displays.

Tony

More tools!

Sue and I had a day out in Tewkesbury and as regular readers will know, I just can't help picking up old or interesting tools. Today was no exception.....

First we have these three mini drill or pin vices bought for between 50p and £1.00 each from a charity shop. At those prices they were a steal. I particularly like the brass handled vice.

Next we have this OLFA mount cutter again bought in a charity shop this time for £1.50. I'm not sure what I will use it for but at this bargain price another bargain.

I really must stop buying tools.

Tony

GM Magazine from 1990

A recent visit to a second hand book store in Tewkesbury dug up this classic from 1990. At just 50p - I couldn't resist it.

Volume 2 No. 6 from February 1990. The contents are obviously showing their age but it has been fun to read the articles and comments from a magazine now 35 years old. The highlights for me are the old adverts and unbelievable prices plus the haircuts!

A magazine that has been fun to read.

Tony

Stanley Surform

I picked up this vintage Stanley Surform (model number  21-122) in a second hand/antique shop in Tewkesbury earlier today. It was in the 'everything for 50p' box and although it needed a good service and clean it came out great. I can remember my Grandfather having a similar tool and for 50p plus some cleaning up time it is now in my toolbox ready for action.

The most difficult part of the service was wire brushing the blade, but with a good clean and a spray of WD40 it is now serviceable and ready for another lifetime of work. The more modern version has a yellow handle and aluminium body but you can also get an all plastic version, which I don't think is as good.

50p very well spent.

Tony

The Forgotten Arts & Crafts by John Seymour

This hardback book was picked up from a charity book store in Tewkesbury earlier this week. It is absolutely crammed packed with black and white illustrations and at just £2.00 will be inspiration for lots of forthcoming models.

The Forgotten Arts & Crafts by John Seymour
Published by Dorling Kingsley in 1984
My copy was published in association with The National Trust in 2001
384 pages and hundreds of illustrations
ISBN 0 7513 2782 4

Tony

Amour at the Abbey - Tewkesbury Abbey May 2018

Earlier today, Sue and I had an away-day at Tewkesbury Abbey. Over the Bank Holiday weekend there was an exhibition showing life in Plantagenet Tewkesbury, in anticipation of The Battle of Tewkesbury weekend to come in July. For details see this post.

Here are some of the many images I took of the day, a glorious day when we picnicked in the grounds and saw re-enactors giving demonstrations of archery and dressing a knight. The cannon is a beautiful reproduction designed to fire blanks (although I was assured that it could also fire live rounds).

This table showed some of the many arrows and archers equipment on display. I tried to pull back the hand-made bow and failed miserably!

These images of the displayed armour were laid out for the pubic to touch and wear while the dressing of the knight was a real eye opener. The knight who weighed 14 stone when in his under garments was suitable impressive when his extra 6 stone of armour was added. I should point out that Tewksbury as an Abbey and one that once saw considerable blood shed does not allow edged weapons to be exhibited inside the Abbey. So this knight would have also needed to carry his sword, shield and possibly poleaxe as well!

It was not all armour as can be seen in this image. A minstrel playing a reproduction fiddle. A five string fiddle made for the musician following illustrations from a German cathedral.

I'm quite sure that the sunny weather had a lot to do with it, but this was a very special day out.

Tony

Book Treasures and where to find them - part one Cornell Books

Back in early 2017 I read a short magazine article called 'Where Bookworms browse for buried treasure' and ever since I have wanted to write a Blog entry detailing some of the second-hand book shops that I frequent. With nearly a year passed since I first set myself this target I think it is time I started.

Bookworms part one.

Cornell Books of Tewkesbury, Glos. is housed in this grand old building that was once The Wheatsheaf (or Ye Olde Wheatsheaf), 132 High Street, Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire GL20 5JR. It is a typical old school second-hand book store with racks of books from floor to ceiling, boxes of books awaiting sorting and even a bargain table where many books are discounted to just £1.00. The shop specialises in maps and the back room can be a treasure trove of old maps and guides. For me there are a couple of areas of interest.

Firstly there are shelves stacked with Railway books, a Military section and even a couple of old boxes filled with D&D magazines. Then we have the discount table at the front of the store (The Dining Room) as well as further discounted books on display out front (see image above) and in the stone lined alleyway to the side. I have picked up many magazines and book bargains, but as with all second-hand book stores it is the browsing that is the real pleasure.

I would give this shop a 4 Star (out of five) Bookworm rating, but advise anyone visiting the area to allow themselves some time to explore this treasure trove.

Finally there is a second-hand charity store just a few doors away called Bookworm which is also worth a visit.

For more information please see this link and this link.

Tony

Pre-Chrismas haul

With most of the Christmas shopping done, Sue and I decided to have a relaxing day out, go for a walk along the river and window-shop in the small market town of Tewkesbury, Gloucester.

I picked up these nine books/magazines from one shop - the second-hand book shop on the high street and the best part was - each was on the discount table - so just £1.00 each.

A real steal. I now have to ration myself and not read them all in one go.

Sue was annoyed; because if she had seen them first - they would have been surprise Christmas gifts.

Tony

Scale Modelling step-by-step

I have just picked up this modelling guide, an Airfix Model World Special and bought from WHSmiths, Tewkesbury. The magazine cost £4.99 and is intended as a advanced modelling guide, covering aircraft, AFV's and dioramas.

100 pages crammed full of both interesting and informative articles which are very informative and beautifully illustrated. So far I have browsed the content rather than read from start to finish and each of the tutorials have been great fun to follow.

I have no hesitation in recommending the magazine to wargamers or modellers, I am sure that there will be something for everyone.

On a similar note when walking back to the car I popped in to the old second-hand book store on Tewkesbury High Street and tucked around the back of the shop were ten/twelve blue folders full of both White Dwarf and Dragon magazines being sold at £10.00 a binder. Some of the White Dwarf magazines were old and the Dragon magazines were around the 100/200 issue numbers. I choose not to buy any, as I am trying to de-clutter, but if anyone is interested, they were available yesterday

Tony

Winchcombe

Earlier today my Wife and I drove down to Cheltenham but instead of driving straight down the M5 from Droitwich we detoured via the picturesque village of Winchcombe which was once the centre of the ancient kingdom Mercia.  The first six images are of The George Inn which is reputed to be the oldest original building in Winchcombe and was used by the Abbott of Winchcombe Abbey to house visiting pilgrims.

Today the George Inn has been converted into individual cottages. Access to these dwellings is through the archway in image one and down a steep alleyway. This LINK gives details of how the original building has been converted.

Further into Winchcombe we saw some interesting timber-framed houses, some of which are detailed below.

On our return to the car which was parked next to Lloyds Bank (reputed to be the site of the original settlement) I passed a small toy store and was struck by the beautiful internal stone work - Cotswold honey-coloured stone. Upon closer examination I saw that the main stone beam across the fire and holding up the chimney breast had been repaired with metal strapping. I spoke to the owner of the store who said that it had happened soon after the fire had been completed and the wrought iron repair has lasted hundreds of years!

For more details see THIS LINK

We drove from Winchcombe over Bishops Cleave (which has some fantastic views of Tewkesbury) and down into Cheltenham where we spent most of the day shopping before having a very good 'all-you-can-eat' Chinese Buffet Lunch.

Tony