Sandstone Ridge Festival Details

For its second year, The Sandstone Ridge Festival is delighted to welcome authors, musicians and artists to this unique event covering the beautiful Cheshire villages of Bickley, Cholmondeley, Bickerton, Peckforton, Bunbury, Malpas, Burwardsley, and Tattenhall from this Thursday 17th May until Sunday 20th.

The first event is at Bickley, a guided tour of the Cheshire Wildlife Trust's Bickley Hall Farm. In the afternoon the Festival moves on to Cholmondeley Castle and a tour of the gardens; then indoors in to St Nicholas's Chapel on the estate for a talk about Wilfred Owen, who was inspired to write poetry whilst walking in the Bickerton Hills. Ninebarrow, a multi-award winning folk duo, will round off Thursday's proceedings in Bickerton Village Hall.

On Friday there are talks in Peckforton and Bunbury and in the evening a concert in St Boniface's Church, Bunbury. Papagena, an all female vocal group, will explore the wealth of music from medieval times to the present day written for female voices. They will be joined by award-winning local choir, Decibellas.

On Saturday, in Malpas, well known Cheshire-born author (Home Fires, The Jam Busters), Julie Summers, talks about her book 'The Secret Lives of Britain's Country Houses 1939-45' which offers behind-the-scenes glimpses of life in some of Britain's greatest country houses that were occupied by people who would never otherwise have set foot in such opulent surroundings.

On Sunday the Festival comes to Tattenhall. In a talk entitled 'The Guns of Broxton' Dave Trevor uncovers the nefarious activities of early nineteenth century criminal gangs in and around Tattenhall and Harthill. And to complete the Festival and to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Representation of the People Act 1918, 'Grasp the Nettle' a new play with music, starring Lucy Stevens, will take place at the Barbour Institute and is based upon the exploits and passions of Dame Ethel Smyth, composer, writer and suffragette. With the 4 day Art Exhibition at The Cheshire Art Hub there is definitely something for everybody.

Tickets are available from The Post Office, Tattenhall High Street or CLICK HERE.