Events for 2009
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January
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Sun 4 2.30pm
The Walled Garden in Winter
A special Sunday tour of the historic Walled Garden
February
Sun 1 2.30pm
The Walled Garden in Winter
A special Sunday tour of the historic Walled Garden.
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 Mon 16 & Tue 17 1 – 4pm
Half Term fun for families – Brilliant bird boxes!
Help the birds to build their nests by making a bird box for your garden! Free event, £2 to take bird box home. To book a place call 01928 569895.
Sun 22 2.30pm
Siege and surrender: Civil War in Cheshire with Christine Allison
A fascinating look at Civil War Cheshire, and how the Royalist stronghold of Halton Castle and the Parliamentarian Brooke family of Norton Priory fared during the conflict.
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March
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Sun 1 2.30pm
The Walled Garden in Winter
A special Sunday tour of the historic Walled Garden
Sun 8 8.30 – 11.30am
Meet the birds!
A close encounter with the amazing variety of bird life at Norton Priory, with Merseyside Ringing Group.
Sun 29 2.30pm
A Musical Journey through the Ages
Join ‘Tapestry of Music’ on a musical journey through the ages, with live performance on instruments from a hurdy-gurdy to a crumhorn!
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April
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Sun 5 1.30 – 4.30pm
Plant Sale
The ever popular spring plant sale.
Mon 13 & Tue 14 1 – 4pm
Easter fun for families
Traditional Easter activities and family bunny hunt!
Sun 26 2.30pm
Bluebell Walk
Find out all about the iconic bluebell on this woodland walk with Halton Nature Conservation Officer Paul Oldfield.
Sat 25 Apr – Sun 3 May
Normal opening times
Floral Display in the Undercroft
Beautiful floral displays in the historic Undercroft
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May
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Mon 4 1 – 4pm
May Bank Holiday – a trip through time!
Uncover 1000 years of history! Meet different people from Norton Priory’s past, from Tudors to the ARP warden!
Sun 10 2pm and 3pm
History Highlights Tour
Enjoy a special guided tour of the Museum and Undercroft.
Sun 24 2.30pm
Wonderful wildflowers
Explore the hidden gems that are Norton Priory’s wildflower meadows with an expert guide from the National Wildflower Centre.
Mon 25 & Tue 26 1 – 4pm
Bank Holiday - Animal Fantastic
Wacky animal activities for families based on the Medieval ‘Book of Beasts’.
Sun 31 12 – 4pm
Plant Hunters Fair
Sale of unusual and interesting plants from specialist nurseries, next to the Walled Garden. Free entry to the Fair, normal admission applies to the Walled Garden.
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June
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Sat 6 1.30 – 4.30pm
National Gardens Scheme Day
Special opening in aid of the National Gardens Scheme (normal admission charges apply).
Sun 14 2pm and 3pm
Garden Highlights Tour
Enjoy a special guided tour of the Walled Garden.
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Sat 20 6pm
Music in the Walled Garden
A special evening concert raising money for Age Concern Cheshire, featuring live music.
Booking essential. For all enquiries phone 01606 881660.
Sun 28 2.30pm
‘A year in the life of a naturalist’ with Jeff Clark
A fascinating insight into the local wildlife of Halton throughout the seasons.
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July
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Sun 12 2pm and 3pm
History Highlights Tour
Enjoy a special guided tour of the Museum and Undercroft
Sat 18 July – Sun 2 August
Festival of British Archaeology - ‘Tile Tales’
Get tactile with our unique collection of tiles. Find out what they can tell us about life at Norton Priory through hands-on gallery activities, events and displays.
Sat 25 & Sun 26 1 – 4pm
Knight on the Tiles workshop
Join potter Andrew MacDonald and help him to reconstruct one of Norton’s greatest treasures – a life-sized knight made from decorative tiles.
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Sun 26 2.30pm
Priory and Pilgrimage talk with Tom Hughes
Norton Priory was a major destination for medieval pilgrims, with its St Christopher statue and the miraculous Norton cross – discover why medieval people went on pilgrimage, where they went and what they did when they got there!
Mon 27 & Tue 28 1 – 4pm FREE ENTRY
Summer Fun whatever the weather! Treemendous Tree Challenge! Create a woodland inside the ‘eco building’ with tree and nature activities for all the family.
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August
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Sat 1 & Sun 2 12 – 6pm
Medieval Mersey Traders
The Artisans & Merchants of Sir John Myddelton’s Companie return for our massively popular Medieval event. Featuring candle dippers, higglers, herbalists, medieval travel games and an authentic food smokery.
Mon 3 & Tue 4 1 – 4pm FREE ENTRY
Summer Fun whatever the weather! Float like a Butterfly,buzzin’ like a Bee! Take a flight of fancy and build your own flying machine!
Sun 9 2pm and 3pm
Garden Highlights Tour
Enjoy a special guided tour of the Walled Garden.
Mon 10 & Tue 11 1 – 4pm
Summer Fun whatever the weather! Tactile
Following this year’s Festival of British Archaeology, Norton Priory looks at tile making through these fun and interactive workshops!
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Wed 12 8pm
Batwalk
Join Norton Priory rangers for a guided batwalk.
£2 including a free toy bat for children. Booking essential.
Mon 17 & Tue 18 1 – 4pm
Summer Fun whatever the weather! Don't throw that away, save it for a sunny day!
Make your own litterbug or sun catcher mobile for your garden from recycled materials.
Mon 24 & Tue 25 1 – 4pm
Summer Fun whatever the weather! Get Growing! Enjoy miniature gardening fun and make giant flowers to go into our family exhibition!
Sun 30 2.30pm
St Augustine’s Day talk
Find out about St Augustine, the founder of the Augustinian order and how his teachings affected daily life at Norton Priory.
Mon 31 1 – 4pm
The Big Bear Hunt
Bears are loose in the Norton Priory woods! Help the rangers to find the bear and enjoy storytelling and family craft activities. Ideal for little ones under the age of 7.
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September
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Sun 13 1 – 4pm
Heritage Open Day at Halton Castle and Norton Priory
FREE ENTRY to Halton Castle and Norton Priory
A traditional family day out with Victorian entertainments and activities for families. Also free tours of the Castle and Museum. A free shuttle bus will run between the Castle and Museum. Part of Heritage Open Days.
Sun 20 1.30 – 4.30pm
Grow and Show
Our ever popular Horticultural Show. We welcome entries from all ages, contact the museum for an entry form.
Free admission, charge for show entries.
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October
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Sun 11 2pm and 3pm
Garden Highlights Tour
Enjoy a special guided tour of the Walled Garden
Sun 18 1-4pm
Apple Day
Celebrate Autum with this fantastic event in the Walled Garden this year. With tours, games, arts and crafts and plant sales, there is something for everyone! .
Sun 25 2.30pm
Health and Wellbeing through the ages
Discover how the Canons treated the sick and how looking good could be bad for your health!
Mon 26 & Sun 27
1-4pm
Half-Term Halloween Fun for Families
Traditional Halloween in the spooky medieval Undercroft |
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November
Sun 12.30pm
The Walled Garden in Winter
A special Sunday tour of the historic Walled Garden.
Sun 8 2pm and 3pm
History Highlights Tour
Enjoy a special guided tour of the Museum and Undercroft.
Sun 29 2.30pm
Jane Austen's Christmas
A cordial invitation to step back in time to a Regency Christmas evening with costume historian Gillian Stapleton.
Inspired by the life and writings of Jane Austen, this merry presentation brings to life festive pleasures in the Age of Elegance.
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December
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Sun 6 2.30pm
The Walled Garden in Winter
A special Sunday tour of the historic Walled Garden
Sat 12 4 – 5pm
Family Carol Singing in the Undercroft
Led by Brolly Entertainers.
Booking essential.
Sun 13 2pm and 3pm
History Highlights Tour
Enjoy a special guided tour of the Museum and Undercroft
Sun 13 4-6pm
Christmas Carol Service
An atmospheric and popular annual event in the medieval Undercroft. Led by the Vicar of Norton. Booking essential
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