THIS?year’s renewal of the Alton Anglo-Saxon Festival 2016 at The Curtis Museum has gone off without a hitch.

Portsmouth-based Anglo-Saxon specialists Weorod were on site all day with their colourful encampment, including period focussed costumes, crafts, technologies and replica artefacts that visitors could get a close look at.

There were also presentations throughout the day, including dressing the warrior, a weapons demonstration, and a burial spectacle looking at what we can learn from Anglo-Saxon grave goods.

Group leader Wayne Letting said: “We had a great day. Lots of interested people came out and supported the event and the day flew by for all of our demonstrators. As ever, we were really impressed by the depth of enthusiasm for the Mount Pleasant Anglo-Saxon cemetery and the comparisons that we can make with other local archaeological sites.”

The Curtis Museum houses “probably the single most impressive” early Anglo-Saxon artefact yet discovered in Hampshire – found at the Mount Pleasant cemetery close to the town centre. It also holds a number of other finds from the same and surrounding inhumations which are on permanent display in town.

Mr Letting continued: “I would like to thank the team at the Curtis Museum for hosting us again and for looking after us so well throughout the day and, of course, all of the visitors who came along and supported the event.

“We had a great audience all day and are so pleased that together we can make a difference and support such a valuable museum.”

The team at the Curtis Museum said their usual Saturday visitor numbers had trebled on the day. They added that they had “really enjoyed the day” and had appreciated the attention generated by Weorod’s.

To find out about volunteering opportunities at The Curtis Museum, call in and have a chat with one of the team. The museum is open Tuesday to Saturday, from 10am-5pm.

A selection of artefacts from the Mount Pleasant Cemetery are on permanent display.

Organisers said the Anglo-Saxon Festival will return to the town next summer.