THE SAXON Museum go back in time to celebrate their fifth year of Twelfth night at Chippenham Museum.

Visitors could learn what life in Saxon Chippenham would have been like with re-enactors using a range of objects to explain how people ate, slept and fought at that time.

Cllr Teresa Hutton chair of the amenities culture and leisure committee said:“The Saxon celebration is always a popular event at our wonderful museum attracting many children and their families to learn about our heritage.

“It went brilliantly actually and there was fun all day with positive feedback from everyone. “

The event on January 4 had around 170 people attend and was free to enjoy.

It gave people the chance to discover Chippenham’s Royal Saxon connections and the significance of Twelfth Night 878AD in King Alfred the Great’s victory over the Vikings.

Claire Felman vistor services officer said: “It was a wonderful event which was a fantastic opportunity for us to share one of Chippenham’s very stories.

“We are marking the Viking’s invading Chippenham and the fact that Kind Alfred was here which was a big event in local history.

“There were two Saxon re-enactments where you could learn about their daily life.

“There were walks around Chippenham town so people could picture the geography of the land and get a snap shot of what Saxon Chippenham was like.”

“It was really lovely and people took it all in and spent time with the actors.

“We would like to thank people for their support as the attendance really makes the event and creates a great atmosphere.

“The young archaeologist club who are aged between eight to 16 and were leading some of the activities and they’re also looking for new members.”

Visitors could also meet Chippenham based author and local teacher Geoff Hill who read extracts from Viking ghost story Draugr, one in a series of Viking fiction for children.

The books, available to buy in the Museum Shop, include a large amount of historical detail and derive from Geoff’s need for a suitable fiction text whilst studying the Vikings with his Year 6 class.

Melissa Barnett, head of museum and heritage services said “We hold a Saxon celebration event each year as King Alfred’s connection to Chippenham and the Viking invasion on Twelfth Night it’s such an important story to our town.

Many of our local Primary Schools study the Saxons and this event was an opportunity for families to learn about this aspect of our town’s heritage together.”

To join the young archaeologist club email: louise.mansbridge@gmail.com