Charles Kingsley’s Bicentenary

Charles Kingsley, the great Victorian writer (b. 12th June 1819), who loved Clovelly.
He lived here as a child, returned many times during his later life and was said to be inspired to write ‘The Water Babies’.

Come and enjoy the celebration with a host of activities, talks, workshops, exhibitions plus live themed music and themed street entertainment for adults and children.

12 – 16 June:

The Clovelly Gardening Group, 2018 Gold award winners of National and SW in Bloom, will celebrate Charles Kingsley with plants and colour schemes for ‘The Water Babies’. Plus his other inspirations, especially as regards Clovelly.

There will also be colourful displays of ‘yarn bombing’ with decorative knitted or crocheted material as a form of street art. Made and sent by people who love Clovelly from all over the world.
Kingsley Museum shows an exhibition and art display by the Arts Society.  Tour Guide, Jana Edwards, will offer Victorian themed tours.

In addition on the following dates:

12 June:  Actor, Brad Brunsdon, interacts with visitors as Charles Kingsley.  Janet Few: book reading and signing her novel ‘Barefoot on the Cobbles’ at the Visitor Centre.
13 June:  Actor, Brad Brunsdon, interacts with visitors as Charles Kingsley.  A book binding workshop at the Visitor Centre.
14 June:   Actor, Brad Brunsdon, interacts with visitors as Charles Kingsley.  

CharlesKingsley-artdesignworkshop (1)
To be booked in advance. Full tuition given, including materials, for £39 and free entry to the village. Taking inspiration from ‘The Water Babies’ illustrations, make some quaint cards and prints with a lot of different printmaking techniques.  From 10 am to 1 pm on the Visitor Centre balcony. 

15 June:  Liz Shakespeare: book reading and signing her novel ‘The Postman Poet’.  Charles Kingsley Exhibition by Felicity Sylvester.  Both at the Visitor Centre.
‘Become a Water Baby’ – a trail quiz to be collected at the Visitor Centre.  Watch a Victorian Parade and a Victorian dressed musician busking outside the New Inn.
Charles Kingsley themed Arts & Crafts and live music by Dan Britton at the harbour.  Janet Few will again attend to book read and sign her novel, ‘Barefoot on the Cobbles’, at the harbour.

16 June: Charles Kingsley themed Arts & Crafts, Sciencedipity workshop (making chimney soot), and Charles Kingsley Exhibition at the Visitor Centre.
‘Become a Water Baby’ – a trail quiz to be collected at the Visitor Centre
‘Water Babies Play in a Day’ with The Plough, in the Hamlyn Room, New Inn.