A WEEKEND of celebrations to mark the 800th anniversary of the award of a Royal Market Charter to Melksham by King Henry 111 in 1219 will get under way today (Friday, September 27) with a modern Royal visitor to the town.

Prince Richard, the Duke of Gloucester, will unveil a commemorative plaque for display in the town’s Market Place at around 11am. The plaque has been commissioned from local stone masons, Jim Wheel at Sandridge Stone.

The Charter allows the town to hold a Tuesday market - which exists to this day - and a Michaelmas Fayre at the end of September. The weekend celebrations mark the first Fayre.

During his visit, the Duke will also view work produced by local schoolchildren in Melksham Town Hall and the handmade historical banners and flags produced by local volunteers.

Host for the visit, Nick Westbrook said: “We have tried to celebrate the anniversary with a range of activities for all ages – most of them free to attend.

"We have received many compliments about the flags and banners that are decorating the town and for the quality of the floral displays in the town this year.

"The visit of a Royal Duke, the Queen’s cousin, adds something extra special to the celebrations.”

The celebrations include a medieval banquet on Saturday evening, the Sunday Fayre and jousting tournament. They have been planned to bridge the historical gap over the centuries.

The Duke’s visit is particularly significant because King Henry 111, then nine years old, was hastily crowned in Gloucester Cathedral just nine days after the death of his father, King John.

At the time he was being protected at Devizes Castle because this was the time of the First Baron’s War. At the time, Melksham was a royal hunting forest - a fact retained as part of the town to this day.

Other events feature a Town Criers competition in the Market Square from 10am to 4.30pm on Saturday (September 28) and a medieval banquet in Melksham Assembly Hall from 7pm on Saturday.

On Sunday (September 29), there will be a Sunday Fayre and Plantagenet Medieval Reenactment Society tournament on the King George V playing field from 12 noon.

Tickets for the banquet have been reduced from £50 to £35 per head. To book call the Assembly Hall on 01225 709887 or go to www.ticketsource.co.uk/bookings/t-mayppz