Jonathan Dimbleby at Cirencester History Festival

Step inside its Corinium Museum and one can’t help but notice some of the most attractive masterpieces to have survived from the Roman era – mosaics. In Britain there are around 800 examples and in the Roman town of Corinium, more than 90 mosaic pavements have been discovered.

In fact, as we walk-through modern-day Cirencester, we are probably only centimetres away from ‘tesserae,’ the official name for a piece of mosaic.

Just as every mosaic piece has an allocated place in the final picture, this mosaic metaphor is true for an important and exciting new venture happening in Cirencester.

Like careful archaeologists carrying out work on an important dig, much preparation has gone on behind the scenes to uncover the latest treasure, which should attract curious people from Gloucestershire and surrounding counties.

This month marks the launch of the first ever Cirencester History Festival, which takes place in the October half term week from Saturday, October 26 until Sunday, November 3, including Halloween.

Such an historic place deserves such a festival, but it is encompassing far more than just Cirencester’s heritage, rich though it is, to bring a programme of national and global history too with headline speakers including Jonathan Dimbleby, Natalie Haynes, Janina Ramirez, Marc Morris and Ronald Hutton.

And just as many tesserae make up one mosaic, many organisations, businesses, charities, and individuals are involved to ensure this event reflects Cirencester’s colourful and creative expression.

Hare mosaic outside New Brewery Arts (Image: Tracy Spiers) ‘The festival is a true Cirencester collaboration, from headline talks to family activities and grassroots events,’ says the festival's president Dame Fiona Reynolds, who brings an incredible wealth of experience from her former roles as Director-General of the National Trust and Master of Emmanuel College, Cambridge. ‘I am absolutely thrilled to be part of this voluntary, charitable enterprise. It is designed to celebrate history, and to showcase the vibrant cultural organisations that we are lucky to have in town, which will add a special character to the week’s events.

‘There is a terrific programme, reaching out to the curious of every age. We look forward to welcoming visitors to our beautiful town, to get together for plenty of good conversations and creativity to ensure that history is shared and enjoyed by and for everyone.’

Cirencester’s festival has been organised in association with the renowned and respected Gloucester History Festival with talks curated by Gloucester’s Festival Curator Sarah Smyth, former Artistic Director of Cheltenham Literature Festival. And like Gloucester, the Cirencester History Festival centres around a core of headline talks from some of the country’s most respected historians, thinkers, broadcasters and speakers.

Winstone talk in Cirencester Parish Church (Image: Tracy Spiers) On Sunday, November 3, Jonathan Dimbleby will be talking about his new book Endgame 1944: How Stalin Won The War at The Barn Theatre and relating the events of the twentieth century to the current situation in Putin’s Russia and the upcoming US election. On the same day, international bestselling comedian and classicist Natalie Haynes will be at The Barn Theatre to deliver her Divine Might stand-up show, revisiting the stories of the Greek goddesses in all their fearsome and powerful glory. On Monday October 28, witch expert Ronald Hutton will be giving a timely talk on the pagan roots of Halloween at the Corinium Museum at 7-8pm and on Friday, November 1, the Royal Agricultural University's Mark Horton, familiar to many from BBC’s Time Team and Coast, will be hosting an archaeology-themed talk at the RAU’s Boutflour Hall.

Saturday, November 2, sees the ever-popular annual Winstone Talk in Cirencester's parish church, this year incorporated into Cirencester History Festival week for the first time, although organised and ticketed as usual by Gloucester History Festival at www.gloucesterhistoryfestival.co.uk. ‘This year, the Winstone Talk is being given by the brilliant Marc Morris on the Anglo Saxons and the Birthplace of England,’ says Cirencester History Festival's producer Jess Yarrow. ‘Marc will be telling us what happened when the Roman occupiers left and England had to reinvent itself against the constant threat of invasion from across the sea. And this is just one of a series of incredible talks on a huge range of historical topics – there really should be something for everyone.’

Crafts and arts at New Brewery Arts (Image: Tracy Spiers) Weekend headline talks will take place at the town’s parish church and Barn Theatre but other prominent venues in the town will also host events, including the Royal Agricultural University, Bingham Hall, Corinium Museum, New Brewery Arts, Octavia’s Bookshop, Waterstones, The Library, The Long Table, The Ashcroft Centre, The Fleece Hotel and Indian Rasoi – many of these are free.

As well as uplifting and enlightening talks, Cirencester History Festival’s nine-day programme includes a family-focused creative fringe full of crafting, workshops, cookery classes, storytelling, dressing up and Halloween activities – all with a historical theme.

Ancient cuisine in Corinium Museum (Image: Tracy Spiers) Multi-sensory way of bringing history to life

What makes this inaugural festival unique is its family focus and pledge to engage a younger audience with history using a multi-sensory approach. On Monday, October 28 at Cirencester Baptist Church (10am-12.30pm), children are invited to make a traditional and historical English pie with the Cotswold Cookery School. The humble pie has a surprisingly long and illustrious history. It was invented by Egyptians, wrapped in pastry by the Greeks, brought to Britain by the Romans, and became a vital dish to the most exclusive Medieval banquets. If touch rather than taste is more appealing, then there is opportunity to create costumes ready for a historical villain’s trick or treat. One way of understanding the villains of the past – from Bloody Mary to Dick Turpin or Emperor Nero – is to research what they wore, who they were and why they were considered a baddie. Expert crafting and costumes teams from The Barn Theatre and New Brewery Arts will be at hand on Monday, October 28, to help make historical Halloween costume accessories, from ruffs to eye masks and moustaches from 10-12.30pm and in the afternoon from 1.30pm-4pm at New Brewery Arts.

On Tuesday, October 29, an opportunity to make a beautiful beast-based book, known as bestiaries which were popular with Ancient Greeks and revived in illustrated volumes during the Middle Ages. This is led by children’s author Valija Evalds and will take place in Cirencester Library. In the evening, a further chance to involve the taste buds to bring history alive involves unpacking ‘Curry: a very British story,’ at the Indian Rasoi. Roman, the host with his specially prepared tasting menu, explains how the history of Indian cuisine began during the Crusades and now occupies a unique space in British food culture.

Unusual

One of the more unusual events is a free behind-the-scenes tour of Monastery & Co (known as the former House of Fraser building to some, Rackhams to others) provided by Tom Herbert of The Long Table. In this guided tour Tom will share the building’s remarkable history, peer into the dank gloom of the past in the cellars and visit the pokey maid rooms in the Tudor eves. He will also share how this one magnificent department store is, after a decade of neglect, being transformed for the twenty-first century.

Historic image of barrels of ale at New Brewery Arts (Image: Supplied) Other highlights

Martin Papworth who led the recent North Range excavation at Chedworth Roman Villa will also be speaking during the week, as will Sue Andrews who will be sharing a true story of the Cotswold shepherding life. Children’s author Annelise Gray will be providing an insight into what inspired her Circus Maximus series, based on a young girl’s adventures in the world of Roman chariot racing. She will be sharing her historical research at the Corinium Museum, before signing copies of her book at Octavia’s Bookshop on Saturday, November 2.

To wrap up the festival, CEO of New Brewery Arts Beth Alden will be telling the intriguing story of Cirencester’s lost brewery which in its heyday had three massive chimneys that dominated the town’s skyline. New Brewery Arts, where the talk will take place, occupies some of the brewery site and after hearing about the town’s brewing past and present, those listening will have chance to enjoy a glass of local beer to end the festival in style.

Cockerel displayed in the Corinium Museum (Image: Tracy Spiers) Cockerel

As with any festival, it is important to find an appropriate image to reflect and capture the essence of what it is about. Cirencester History Festival is represented by a cockerel, which is brought to life in the festival programme by local illustrator Emily Moss.

Emma Stuart, Director of Corinium Museum, explains why they chose the cockerel for the festival logo.

‘We were inspired by a rare and fascinating Roman artefact, almost certainly belonging to a child, which was discovered at the former Bridges Garage site in Cirencester and is now on display in Corinium Museum,’ she says.

‘The cockerel, the patron animal of the God Mercury, adds a unique dimension to the Cirencester History Festival. Many figurines of Mercury and cockerels have been found in Cirencester, suggesting he was a popular god in the Roman town, Corinium. He is known amongst other things as the God of communication, trade and travellers, so we thought it a perfect mascot for a festival.’

Dr Janina Ramirez (Image: Tracy Spiers) Dr. Janina Ramirez, President of Gloucester History Festival, will be speaking at Cirencester’s opening weekend to celebrate the relationship between the two affiliated festivals. ‘History is most definitely in the DNA of this town and, she admits, having a sister festival in Cirencester is a natural progression. Events will reflect on the past, challenge the present and explore the future via topics ranging from the Romans to revolutions, the Anglo-Saxons to archaeology and from the Tudors to today's global challenges.

'It was always our ambition at Gloucester History Festival to grow and spread what we have learned - that bringing pride in our city's culture and history can promote unity and renewal - to other parts of the region,’ says Dr. Raminez. That's what makes History the mother subject. All other disciplines - science, technology, mathematics, music, art - have a past they have grown out of,’ she adds.

‘Exploring History allows us to understand the reasons we are where we are and develop strategies to thrive going forwards. Studying the past is an endlessly rewarding, rich and revelatory process, and through our history festivals we hope to bring you on that journey too.'

The Glevum Romans also known as the Ermine Street Guard outside the Corinium Museum (Image: Tracy Spiers) As people travel into the town for Cirencester History Festival, they also provide trade for the town. The festival ethos is that it is not a tented festival, but very much using and supporting Cirencester’s beautiful venues and vibrant businesses. As it is the first of its kind for the town, this history festival has required hard work, community support and organisations uniting to make something special become reality.

As festival producer Jess Yarrow admits, ‘We’ve been overwhelmed by the number of people wanting to collaborate with us in our inaugural year. It feels like the whole town has pulled together to make this festival happen, and with a short run-up.

‘Now we just need everyone to share the news and join us for October half term - it promises to be quite a week! Tickets are now on sale and strong interest, I know, is already anticipated.’

Cirencester History Festival Committee (Image: Tracy Spiers) Cirencester History Festival is indeed a community affair. The main festival organisers include Festival Curator Sarah Smyth of Gloucester History Festival, Billy Cobbett of Cirencester Community Development Trust (CCDT); Emma Stuart of Corinium Museum and Carole Boydell of Cirencester Civic Society with support from Cirencester Archaeological and Historical Society, Cirencester Radio, New Brewery Arts, Cirencester Town Council, Parish Church, Bingham Trust, Cirencester College, and local publishers Crumps Barn Studio.

As I leave New Brewery Arts, having chatted with Festival Producer Jess Yarrow, I walk over a mosaic of a hare which adorns the pavement outside. I smile. This surely is exactly what Cirencester History Festival is all about - many mosaic pieces coming together to complete an amazingly colourful and creative picture which explores the past, challenges the now and will help craft the metaphoric mosaics of the future.

Cirencester History Festival runs from Saturday, October 26 until Sunday, November 3.

Tickets on sale from: www.cirencesterhistoryfestival.org