What did eating hot cross buns in Royston have to do with worshipping the Roman goddess Diana? Who was the blind fiddler of Anstey? Was Royston’s Johane Harrison who was executed in 1604 really a witch?
These are just some of the questions about folklore being explored by the team at Royston’s museum in a series of events in collaboration with the town’s library.
The aim of the Traditional Hertfordshire Project is to teach people in the area about North Herts folklore and learn some traditional crafts.
Museum curator Jenny Oxley has organised Royston’s activities and has told the Crow about what’s been going on and what to expect.
She said: “We’ve already held a Traditional Tales event at the museum in June half-term with a storyteller called the Green Man, and tile painting with Glazed Creations.
“We have also recently held the first of our pop-up exhibitions at Royston Library.
“We plan to have a pop-up display in the town centre towards the end of the summer.
“This will culminate in a larger exhibition about local folklore and traditions in October, as well as themed events linked to this in the October half-term holiday.”
The next folktale-focused event will be the Royston & District Folklore Pop-up Exhibition on Saturday, August 12, at Royston Library in Market Hill.
The Traditional Hertfordshire Project is countywide and – along with other museums, including the North Herts Museum in Hitchin – Royston has more events coming up over the coming weeks.
Other upcoming events include lino printing and felt making, while youngsters can expect tales of giants, witches and ghosts popping up at museum displays and activities throughout the summer.
For more information about events at Royston’s museum, visit www.roystonmuseum.org.uk and for more on the Traditional Hertfordshire Project go to www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/traditionalhertfordshire.
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