Market Drayton’s inaugural History Week has been hailed a success after a packed programme of walks, talks, exhibitions, music and community events brought hundreds of people together to celebrate the town’s rich heritage.
Organised by Market Drayton Museum and Heritage Centre, the week-long celebration showcased the people, places and stories that have shaped the town over the centuries, while also raising awareness and support for the Museum’s planned move to the former Joules site.
From historical walks and battlefield tours to live music, artisan trails and suffragette celebrations, there was something for all ages to enjoy.
Tamasin Wedgwood, Chair of Market Drayton Museum and Heritage Centre and organiser of History Week, said:
“Our first town History Week has been full of positive feedback and support. Welcoming people into the proposed new museum space below the Stag was particularly encouraging, with so much enthusiasm for the build, and a few offers of help – more offers are always welcome!”
One of the highlights was the opportunity for visitors to explore the proposed museum space beneath The Stag, where volunteers shared plans for the future of the museum and its collections.
Tamasin added:
“We hope to keep opening it on an occasional basis through the summer, with pop-up displays and small events. All events were designed to raise awareness of the move to the Joules site, and our need to raise funds and get helpful tradespeople to help us achieve this.”
Visitors also enjoyed a wide variety of events throughout the week. Despite chilly weather, adventurous participants followed the Artisan’s Trail around town, solving a museum mystery while discovering the work of local creatives. Live performances from Gary Sewell and Plutonium brought back memories for many local residents, while Grey Space demonstrated that today’s young musicians are every bit as talented as previous generations from Grove School.
A new “Ballad of Market Drayton” performed by the Market Drayton Buskers was another memorable moment, helping to celebrate the town’s unique character through music.
History enthusiasts also explored Blore Heath Battlefield, where around 25 people enjoyed a guided walk across the historic site before meeting re-enactors at the Parish Rooms the following day. More than 50 people attended exhibitions and talks covering topics including horsehair weaving, local transport history, village life and the suffragette movement.
The Suffragette Celebration at the Festival Drayton Centre proved particularly popular, with visitors dressing in period costume, enjoying a traditional tea party, singing with the choir and watching a thought-provoking film.
Three guided town walks were also a major success. The popular Historic Pub Walk returned as part of History Week, giving participants the chance to discover fascinating stories behind some of Market Drayton’s oldest inns and public houses. Along the way, walkers learned about the people, events and buildings that have shaped the town’s social history over the centuries and also enjoyed watching a bit of local cricket.
The team at Make it Market Drayton joined several events throughout the week and particularly enjoyed the opening evening, which featured a lively quiz packed with surprising facts about the town, its heritage and local landmarks.
The guided walks proved especially fascinating, revealing details that many people pass every day without noticing. Participants discovered hidden features including the fountain in the Festival Drayton Centre garden and the weather vane atop Market Drayton Town Hall, while learning about the stories behind many familiar buildings and streets.
The walks offered a wonderful reminder that history is all around us, waiting to be discovered.
More than 160 people visited events at The Stag alone during the week, demonstrating strong local support for preserving and celebrating the town’s heritage.
Looking ahead, organisers are already considering plans for History Week 2026.
Tamasin said:
“Hopefully we can build on this to make History Week an annual celebration of Market Drayton and its people. Suggestions for next year’s themes are already coming in and are likely to include wartime experiences and marking the 200th anniversary of our town’s most notorious murder.”
She added:
“All at the Museum would just like to say thank you to everyone for supporting us, and please look out for forthcoming events, walks and pop-up exhibitions.”
History Week showed just how much pride Market Drayton residents have in their town and its heritage. Whether through music, walks, exhibitions or storytelling, the event successfully connected people with the stories of the past while helping to build excitement for the future of the town’s museum.
If you have never joined one of the town’s history walks, we would thoroughly recommend it. You may be surprised by how many hidden stories, forgotten features and fascinating characters are waiting to be discovered right on your doorstep.
You can view some of the photographs for History Week here.
