RAMM’s the place to go come rain or shine this summer
Published: 2 August 2023
Looking for things to do during the summer holidays? Exeter’s popular Royal Albert Memorial Museum and Art Gallery (RAMM) is the place to go come rain or shine.
Whatever the weather, museum goers in Exeter can be guaranteed a warm welcome and a whole host of things to get up to over the school holidays.
On Thursday 3 August visitors can discover the Knightly Art of Combat, featuring a local historic fencing club for an authentic 15th century experience. Join the Iron Door Collective for an exciting and vibrant medieval demonstration in the garden at RAMM.
Chat to the warriors, handle swords and armour and learn skills that would make you victorious in battle.
On Wednesday 9 August visitors can learn all they need to know about medieval willow weaving. Join artist Stefan Jennings to create your own medieval inspired swords, shields, daggers and more gentle objects from that time.
Using willow, Stefan will explain how to make these ancient goods and fighting tools, inspired by medieval England.
On Thursday 10 August there’s the chance to get close up to wildlife for awe-inspiring falconry displays. Visitors will witness a wonderful free-flight falconry show featuring a variety of spectacular birds of prey, presented by Westcountry Falconry.
As well as seeing the beautiful birds fly, there’s also a chance to learn more about them and meet them up-close after the show.
Among the key summer holiday activities and entertainment are:
- 2 and 30 August - Under Siege! LEGO® castles and catapults
- 3 August - Discover the 'Knightly Art of Combat'
- 8 August - Make your own illuminated bookmark
- 9 August - Medieval willow weaving
- 10 August - Falconry display in the RAMM garden
- 15 August - Alphabet art: design and make an illuminated letter
- 22 August - Castle siege: make a medieval trebuchet!
- 29 August - Moneybags: create your own medieval coin pouch
- 30 August - Only Knights and Horses: LEGO® jousting
Some of these events need to be booked online. Some are free, while others will have a small charge. To find out more, and to book on to these activities, visit the RAMM website at rammuseum.org.uk/whats-on
For those who want to just browse the collections and exhibitions, there’s so much to see.
There’s still time to catch Gatekeepers to Heaven: six incredible manuscripts on loan from the Bodleian Library in Oxford, demonstrating religion, knowledge and power in medieval Exeter, or Sublime Symmetry, which investigates the use of mathematical principles in De Morgan’s beautiful ceramic designs.
Both exhibitions run until early September.
To find out about all these exhibitions and activities, visit the RAMM website at https://rammuseum.org.uk/