St Stephen's Open Weekend 24 and 25 May
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OPEN WEEKEND
Join us for a fantastic weekend of exploration.
Come and see inside the fabulously restored St Stephen's Chapel, take a free guided walk with the Friends and local cemetery historian Colin Fenn of the Hellenic Enclosure, hunt for bats and wild plants, try your hand at stone carving, and settle down with your little ones for the very first performance inside St Stephen's with an interactive retelling of snaky hair and flying horse Greek Myths, - and (possibly) more for the adults - walk in the footsteps of the Victorians elaborate and strict death-related rituals ... read on for more details:
Saturday 24 May and Sunday 25 May, 11am - 3pm
Yes, the amazing restoration of our Grade II listed St Stephen's Chapel in the Hellenic Enclosure is now complete, and everyone is welcome to see inside during our Open Weekend. The doors will be open on Saturday and Sunday between 11am and 3pm, no need to book, just drop by.
We also have planned all kinds of FREE activities and events happening over the weekend - READ ON:
Saturday 24 May and Sunday 25 May, 11.30-12.30pm both days FREE GUIDED WALKS
Andrea Woodside and Jane Jorden from the Friends of West Norwood Cemetery will be leading engaging FREE GUIDED WALKS from the cemetery main entrance down to the Chapel and local cemetery historian and advocate Colin Fenn will take you on a short tour when you arrive - explaining the history of the amazing Hellenic Enclosure and the beautiful St Stephen's Chapel.
Places are limited, so please book here
Saturday 24 May, 2.30pm - 4pm £10 Donation GUIDED WALK 'THE VICTORIAN WAY OF DEATH'
Join Andrea Woodside, a Friend of West Norwood Cemetery and one of its tour guides, on a visit to the resting places of many well-known Victorians whose monuments bring to vivid life the Victorian way of death.
Explore the strict rules Victorians followed where mourning was concerned and understand what governed the era’s elaborate and strict death-related rituals. From what was worn (and most importantly, when!), through to interpreting the stunning symbolic language on many of the cemetery’s monuments, Andrea looks forward to sharing how Victorian cemeteries became sanctuaries of remembrance and reflection.
Tickets cost £10 donation, please book here
Saturday 24 May, 9pm - 10.15pm FREE BAT WALK
Our regular BAT MAN, Iain Boulton leads our second unique bat walk of the season.
Places are limited, so please book here
Sunday 25 May, 11am - 3pm FREE STONE CARVING at the CHAPEL
When you visit the Chapel, there's also a chance to have a go at stone carving too with our regular stone mason Rob Postle - be inspired by the amazing monuments around you.
No need to book - just drop-by
Sunday 25 May, 11am - 12.30pm, FREE WILD PLANT SURVEY
Amanda Tuke and Roy Vickery from South London Botanical Society will be leading a botany field meeting and continuing a long-term survey of the wild flowers growing in West Norwood Cemetery.
This is a FREE event and all are welcome, regardless of level of expertise.
To be aware, the survey may include walking over rough ground so may not be appropriate for those with limited mobility.
Please book here
Sunday 25 May, 3pm-4pm, Perseus and Pegasus, FREE family storytelling session
And to complete an amazing weekend, join us for an extra special Greek Myth storytelling session for families aged 5yrs and up. Places are limited, so please book here
Thrilling Greek myths! Meet hero Perseus and gorgon Medusa with snaky hair. Find out how Goddess Athena helps the hero. Hear how flying horse Pegasus was born and what happened when a foolish human tried to ride him! Learn some Greek words, discover ancient Greek traditions and decide if the characters make the right choices or not! This dramatic and exciting performance combines spoken word, strange musical sounds, playful humour, and lots of joining in with rhythms, gestures and sound effects to bring ancient Greece to life.
This is FREE, but places are limited, so please book here
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