WINCANTON will step back in time on March 4 for a special day of events.

The first Wincanton History Day will celebrate the rich history of the town, hoping to occupy and entertain people of all ages.

It is hosted by the Wincanton History Society.

A spokesperson said the history day would complete a busy year for the society.

“We have relaunched our website, planned the first history day, moved the museum to a new, Grade II Listed building on the High Street, and secured funding to develop a digital-based walking tour of the town using geolocation,” they said.

“Funding for the walking tour and History Day has been generously provided by SSDC.”

Events planned on history day include:

The opening of the new museum premises by Richard Price, of Antiques Roadshow fame. He will also be unveiling a plaque to the Napoleonic soldier, Alberto Bioletti, who settled in Wincanton after being released by the British.

There will be a vintage and classic vehicle parade through the town, led by a Victorian mail coach and four horses. Prior to the parade the coach can be seen in the yard of the Dolphin Inn, a former coaching inn on the High Street.

There will be metal detecting sessions for all ages. People can search for “planted” items and dig them up. There is also a chance to win one of the metal detectors.

There will be Victorian schoolroom re-enactment, staffed by the two heads of the local primary schools. ‘Lessons’ will be run throughout the day in the Victorian Quaker Meeting House. Next door will be a 1940s-style canteen providing refreshments throughout the day.

The main venue will be the Balsam Centre, which will be staging an Antiques Roadshow-style event (called the Antiques Groan Show, for legal reasons) where people can bring their antiques and collectibles for valuation and appraisal. Two local auctioneers and Richard Price will be manning this event.

There will be a display of artisan crafts and skills, such as weaving and Dorset button making.

The Seed Cafe will be hosting a talk on the famous local witches and accomplished story-teller Sarah Lloyd-Winder will be telling stories on the same theme.

“People will be encouraged to dress in period costume, from caveman to punk, throughout the day, and there will be a significant cash prize for the best outfit,” the spokesperson added.

“Local primary schools have asked their pupils to write a history story or create some art with a historical theme. The winners will receive a cash prize and there will also be an overall winner who will receive the newly-created Caroline Hunt Trophy.”

There will also be an Oral History booth, where people can record their experiences and memories of living and growing up in Wincanton.

The recordings will go to make up the oral history archive on the society’s website.

The local parish church, St Peter and St Paul’s, will be having an open day, displaying some of their old documents and artefacts, and there wil be bell-ringing demonstrations and members of the public can have a go.