Knights in Battle will recreate fierce combat in Medieval Festival at historic barn site in north Derbyshire town

The big family Medieval Festival event is at Dronfield Hall Barn on the town’s High Street on June 20 and 21 and runs from 10am until 5pm each day.

Among the highlights will be Sheffield-based re-enactors Knights in Battle who will demonstrate weapons and combat techniques and then take part in a tournament in which audiences can cheer on their favourite knight.

There are gentler pursuits too, when the re-enactors show what people in medieval times ate, what clothes they made and wore, the games they played and how they made a useful life despite often meagre circumstances. Stalls will include traditional games and children’s crafts.

The popular Barn coffee shop will serve meals and drinks across the two days and there is also a bar.

All the activity is set against the backdrop of the medieval Barn itself, which was built in the 15th century, and is now a thriving centre for many community events, entertainment and exhibitions.

Sarah Hartshorne, trustee of the Dronfield Heritage Trust charity which runs the barn site said: “Events like the Medieval Festival are what Dronfield Hall Barn does best. We look forward to sharing the delights of the medieval period with children and adults alike. You can expect spectacle, hands-on activity and delicious food and drink throughout the day. So come and join us for what promises to be a great weekend.”

The festival is sponsored by Banner Jones, an award-winning full service legal firm which offices in Dronfield, Sheffield, Chesterfield, and Mansfield. The company is well established in the area and wants to show its commitment to the community by working with the charitable trust this way.

Tickets (bookable in advance or available on the day) are £6 for adults, £4 for aged 2 to 16, and under-twos free. For more information and tickets go to dronfieldhallbarn.org or visit facebook or Instagram.

*Dronfield Hall Barn was originally built in 1430 by Lady Alice Deincourt, a great aunt to Richard III and Edward IV. She had leased the Manor of Dronfield in an arrangement with her son-in-law Ralph Cromwell, who also had connections with South Wingfield Manor. Lady Alice wanted a home for her steward who looked after her local lands and chose Dronfield as the location.

The development of the present stone-clad building dates from the 17th century and was owned by successful lead and millstone merchant John Rotherham II. He had built the new Dronfield Hall “next door” as a wedding present for his son and about the same time extended what was then referred to as the “old Hall” with the sandstone outer wall concealing the original spectacular timber frame within.

Over the centuries the Barn had several new owners and eventually became part of the land owned by George Jowitt and Sons Ltd. When the factory closed the site was bought by Sainsbury’s for a new supermarket and the company gifted the Barn to what was to become the Dronfield Heritage Trust charity. With funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund the semi-derelict and dilapidated building was put in the hands of specialist restorers of historic building who brought the structure back to life. Most of the original features, especially the timber frame, were retained, and a new extension was built which together with the original structure formed an open-air courtyard.

The Barn is currently celebrating the 10-year anniversary of its restoration by Dronfield Heritage Trust. The £1.3m project a decade ago was originally funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and public donations and is regarded as one of the most successful heritage at-risk rescues in the region.

More than 60,000 visitors a year are drawn to Dronfield Hall Barn, one of the region’s major Grade II listed buildings.