I have been meaning to visit Tewkesbury for a while, to take photos of woad growing in the wild. When I found out that there was a Medieval Festival in Tewkesbury I decided that it would be a good opportunity to go. Before the trip I asked around to see whether anyone knew where woad was growing. Nobody need exactly where I could find woad, and I was told to look at the battle site and on The Mythe.
We enjoyed the festival, and spend a long time looking at the traders in their replica tents. I ended up buying a horn spoon to eat my porridge, and a pewter belt end and buckle to use with my inkle loom braids. We also enjoyed watching the reenactors in their colourful clothes and suits of armour. I was surprised that there were no demonstrations of natural dyes or spinning, although we did see several women using a lucet. We then had a good look at the Medieval Encampment and at the battle site, but did not find any woad.
We decided to leave the visit to The Mythe to next year, at a time when the woad is in flower.
