Rolleston on Dove Heritage Weekend
14 - 17 September 2007

Rolleston on Dove Special Events Committee (RODSEC), now in its seventh year, put on another free festival in the village. The Heritage Weekend was prompted by the year, 2007, being the 300th anniversary of the building of Isaac Emery's 1707 cottages in Beacon Road and Bladon's Yard. This occasion has given them the opportunity to display documents and artifacts from Rolleston's past, and to support the exhibitions with traditional entertainments of rural England. For obvious reasons, the Mosley family, especially the 4th Baronet, Sir Oswald "John Bull" Mosley featured largely, as they dominated life in the village from the early seventeenth century to the early twentieth century.

The exhibitions were open in St. Mary's Church and in the newly refurbished Old Grammar School each afternoon, and admission was entirely free. Visitors were able to see the extensive restoration and enlargement of the Old Grammar School, which has been made possible through generous grants from BIFFA and the ESBC. RODSEC is also grateful for local support from the Parish Council, St. Mary's and Methodist Churches, the Almshouses Trustees and Rolleston Club for providing venues. Their thanks also go to the Mothers' Union and the Methodist Church for providing refreshments and to St. Mary's teams of bell-ringers and organists.

The opening ceremony was performed by the Mayor of East Staffordshire, Councillor Cedric Insley, MBE, on the Almshouses lawn at noon on Friday 14th September. 

Throughout the weekend there was well dressings on the Almshouses lawn, a display of artwork on the Croft by the John of Rolleston Primary School, a children's marrow competition sponsored by Rolleston Allotment Society, three heritage trails developed by Rolleston Civic Trust and Rolleston's own "Hurdy-Gurdy Man" (actually Councillor John Morris with his portable organ). Jim Toon bravely stood in a pillory whilst sponges were thrown at him. On Saturday and Sunday afternoons there were traditional games at Rolleston Club.

On Saturday 15th, the Mobberley Bellringers were ringing at St. Marys from 11.40 am. On the Croft there was country dancing by the schoolchildren and performances by the Rolleston Mummers and the Uttoxeter Hearts of Oak Morris Men. On Sunday 16th there were performances by the Chase Country Dance Group, the Rolleston Mummers, and a "wandering troubadour".

As supporting events, St. Mary's Church hosted a concert by Rolleston Choral Society on the Saturday evening at 7.30 pm and on Sunday 16th, the WI put on an "Evening with Queen Victoria" at Rolleston Club (with an excellent WI 'supper' to follow). Although the webmaster was given a top hat to wear at the latter event no photographic record appears to exist.

The programme of events can be seen here.

See more pictures using the links below:

• Exhibits
• Hearts of Oak Morris Men
• John of Rolleston Primary School Country Dancing
• Rolleston Mummers