Kenilworth Castle's knights herald cracking change for Easter

Sunday 8 & Monday 9 April 2012

Cute little chicks and cuddly rabbits beware – running around atKenilworthCastleover the Easter weekend could be very dangerous, as the site is taken over by sword-wielding knights and their swarthy squires for two days of medieval combat at the Clash of Knights!

The event launchesKenilworthCastle’s medieval year in style, promising thrills and spills as knights face each other in live combat within the walls of theWest Midlandscastle.

Visitors will also be able to see some of the weapons up close in a rather less threatening environment, when they meet the knights and have a chance to handle swords and armour in the living history encampment.

“When you are fighting with real metal swords, you need to wear the right kind of protective gear, and for a medieval knight, this usually means around 30 kilos of metal, including a mail vest, armour plating and a helmet – that is like carrying around an average 10 year old boy on your shoulders at a time when you are fighting for your life,” explains English Heritage’s regional events manager, Karen Pike. “Knights would have had to be at peak fitness when they went into battle, or they would be exhausted from the journey to the battlefield, before a single blow had been made!”

The Clash of Knights at Kenilworth Castle takes place from 11.00am to 5.00pm on Easter Sunday (8 April) and Monday (9 April). Admission prices are £10.30 for adults, £9.30 for concessions, £6.20 for children or £26.70 for a family ticket (two adults and up to three children). English Heritage members receive discounted admission rates of £2.10/£1.90/£1.30 and £5.40 respectively.

A Park and Ride service will be running from Kenilworth town centre between 10.00am and 6.00pm, with busses every 10 to 15 minutes.

Also at Kenilworth Castle for Easter will be an Easter Family Fun Trail, running from Saturday 31 March to Saturday 7 April. Children will be challenged to find all of the eggs that the Easter bunny has hidden around the grounds, and make a note of the letter written on each one. Anyone collecting all of the letters, and decoding the Easter bunny’s password will be rewarded with a bunny of their own – a delicious Lindt chocolate treat! The trail runs daily from10.00amto5.00pm, with usualKenilworthCastleadmission prices applying (£8.20 for adults, £7.40 for concessions, £4.90 for children and £21.30 for a family ticket). English Heritage members get in free.

For more information, please visit www.english-heritage.org.uk/kenilworth or call 01926 852078.

ENDS

For further media information, or for a copy of English Heritage's 2012 events press pack for the West Midlands, please contact:

Jay Commins – PRO English Heritage (West Midlands)

Tel: 0113 251 5698

Mob: 07810 546567

Email: jay@fim.org.uk