Bamburgh Bones Conference

Bamburgh Bones are hosting a conference over the weekend of Friday 20th and Saturday 21st May.

‘Accessing Aidan’ is a remarkable partnership project that has seen the development of the crypt of St. Aidan's Church, Bamburgh into a beautiful community and interpretation space, having been awarded a grant of £355,600 by the National Lottery in 2019.

The conference marks the culmination of the project and is a celebration of everything that has been achieved.

The event is FREE. However, you will need to book separate tickets for each part of the event that you would like to attend.

Event Programme:

Friday 20th May, from 6pm - 7.30pm at Bamburgh Pavilion : A Hut a Byens: Poetry Reading

In 2021, nine poets visited the ossuary at St Aidan’s Church, Bamburgh, to question what the buried past can tell us of the present and write new poems in response. To celebrate the culmination of this project and the launch of a new pamphlet of poems, the poets Catherine Ayres, Jo Clement, Kayo Chingonyi, Katrina Porteous, Richard O’Brien and Jacob Polley, will read new poems inspired by Bamburgh. Copies of A Hut a Byens are free and will be available at the event.

There is also a chance to sample the St Aidan and St Oswald pies, commissioned by Bamburgh Bones, as well as a celebration bottle of beer.

Saturday 21st May, 10am and 11am - Workshops

We are hosting a series of four workshops throughout the morning. Register for these through the ticketing system, then follow the email link to make your workshop choices. You are welcome to attend two workshops. Attendance is on a first come, first served basis.

The workshops are as follows:

10am

• What’s in a name? The Bamburgh Bones and the language of the earliest Northumbrians - Venue tbc
• Reading the Architecture - St Aidan's Church
• Human Osteology - Bamburgh Pavilion
• Archaeology Tour - Bamburgh Castle

11am

• What’s in a name? The Bamburgh Bones and the language of the earliest Northumbrians - Venue tbc
• Reading the Architecture - St Aidan's Church
• Human Osteology - Bamburgh Pavilion
• Archaeology Tour - Bamburgh Castle (Limited availability)

Saturday 21st May, from 1pm at Bamburgh Pavilion - Conference

An afternoon of talks and tales about the Bamburgh Bones project and Anglo-Saxon Britain. Our fantastic guest speakers include - amongst others - Jessica Turner, Robert McKibbin, Max Adams and Sarah Semple

This event is due to finish in time for delegates to walk across to the Kings Hall in Bamburgh Castle for the remainder of the Conference.

Saturday 21st May, from 5pm at The Kings Hall, Bamburgh Castle - Conference

Professor Charlotte Roberts and Graeme Young will be talking from the Kings Hall in Bamburgh Castle about the discoveries of the individuals in the Bowl Hole graveyard, hidden within the sand dunes a few hundred meters south of the castle walls. We also have Professor Clare Lees and Tom Clark, who will be taking us us on a creative exploration of Old English in Bamburgh as well as giving a reading from 'Beowulf'.

This event is due to finish at 7pm.

Lunch will be provided and refreshments available throughout the day. We will do our best to cater for the majority of dietary requirements and offer a variety of options.

For more information, email: bamburghheritage@gmail.com