Events at 
Delapré Abbey

Thu 25th May – Sat 29th July, various times and locations
Free, booking required
Sessions will last a maximum of 2 hours

This Grief Thing is a project that invites people to think, talk and learn about grief. We’re living at a time when many people find death and grief – our own grief or other people’s – almost impossible to talk about. We don’t know what to say, what to do, or how to act. So we stay silent, we pretend that grief doesn’t exist, or we hide it. This Grief Thing pushes against this, by opening up conversations about grief and making it visible.

As part of our wellbeing programme we are pleased to be working with Fevered Sleep who have created Grief Gatherings. They’re small, free group conversations about grief and they’re open to all. They’re for people who have experienced grief, and for people who haven’t. This will be an inclusive space. Any age, gender, race, faith welcome.
We’ll share thoughts, feelings, ideas and experiences. If you don’t wish to talk that’s fine, people are welcome to just be present.

This project is a partnership between Delapré Abbey and Fevered Sleep and is funded by Northamptonshire Community Foundation.

Dates and Locations

Thu 25th May, 2-4pm, Umbrella Fair 
This Grief Thing host: Laura Graham

Mon 5th June, 6:30-8:30pm, Saints Coffee
This Grief Thing host: David Bowden

Thu 15th June, 2-4pm, Umbrella Fair
This Grief Thing host: Laura Graham

Sat 24th June, 2-4pm, Delapré Abbey
This Grief Thing host: Lisa Lovett

Mon 10th July, 6:30pm-8:30pm, Saints Coffee
This Grief Thing host: David Bowden

Thu 13th July, 2-4pm, Umbrella Fair
This Grief Thing host: Laura Graham

Sat 29th July, 2-4pm, Delapré Abbey
This Grief Thing host: Lisa Lovett

How to get to each location

Saints Coffee: 62 St Giles’ St, Northampton NN1 1JW (map)

Umbrella Fair: Racecourse Pavilion, Kettering Rd, Northampton NN1 4LG (map)

Delapré Abbey (this session will be held in our Library): London Road, Northampton, NN4 8AW (map)

Meet the hosts

Laura Graham
Laura Graham is a freelance writer and content creator based in Northampton. In 2009 she lost her mum to breast cancer, a loss that changed her life and taught her about the complexities of grief. She went on to work for a local charity on a project to support people coming towards the end of life. She believes that grief is the last taboo and hopes that grief gatherings will enable participants to feel connected and seen by their community.

David Bowden
Dave Bowden – A.K.A Word Guerrilla – is a poet and performer. Utilising beatboxing, live looping and multi-instrumentalism, he delivers Word Guerrilla’s unique brand of spoken word poetry performances and workshops to a variety of different educational settings, workplaces and events across the country. As an educator and creative facilitator, he seeks to generate creativity in people through writing, empowering them with language and words.
He believes that grief is ever- present, and like bits of glitter: long after you think it has gone, it continues to turn up everywhere, often unexpectedly. It can be challenging to make sense of grief and adapt to it. Dave wants to facilitate grief gatherings to help others understand the experience, giving them a space to articulate how they think and feel about the process of grieving and help others adapt to the experience of grief.

Sunday 28th May – Sunday 29th October
11am-4pm on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays
Entry included in the price of general admission (£8 adults, under 18s free)

“The walled garden was magical… the absolute treasure.” Councillor David Smith

This exhibition explores the vast history of Delapré Abbey’s gardens and tells the stories of those who have worked here over the centuries to make beautiful outdoor spaces for the house owners and, subsequently, for the general public to enjoy.

There have been gardens here since the opening of the nunnery in 1145. On Saturday 19^th July 1952, Delapré Abbey’s gardens opened to the public and have continued to be a place open for all to enjoy. As Alderman J.V. Collier said upon their opening 71 years ago: “The gardens offer a haven of rest away from the milling crowds. Within almost a stone’s throw of the centre of the town, we have something unique.”

Timed to coincide with the centenary year of Delapré Abbey’s water garden, the exhibition captures and celebrates the local communities’ memories of Delapré through photos, text, ephemera and oral history.

Whether you enjoyed the walled garden as a child, have attended a wedding here, or discovered the grounds during one of the Covid-19 lockdowns, we want this exhibition to encourage visitors to tell their friends and loved ones about any existing memories they have made here while making new ones together.

Photo: John Pettitt

6 week course every Wed, 7th June – 12th July
10am – 11am
£51 per parent & 1 child, £15 per additional child (cold drink included)

Ideal for families with children aged between 2-5 years.
Places are limited, book early to avoid disappointment.

Outdoor creative movement sessions, for grown-ups and their children, with BareFooted.

These creative movement sessions give families the opportunity to move, explore, play and be creative together, through use of fun child led activities and a variety of props. Taking place outside in nature in the beautiful Delapré Abbey gardens, they make space for curiosity and discovery and bring therapeutic benefits that nature connectivity offers us all.

A chance for you and your child to have some fun bonding time, whilst being physically active and an opportunity for social time with other families after the session when you can enjoy a cold drink on the lawn.

To find out more about BareFooted:
Visit www.barefooted.co.uk
Email lucy@barefooted.co.uk

Sunday 11th June, 6:30pm-10pm
Top Gun Maverick (12A), 130 mins
Tickets from £13.36 +booking fees, group entry from £50 +booking fees

Organised by Open Air Film & Chill, this unique experience will enable you to watching a classic film outdoors on a summer’s evening with your snacks and blankets.

You may or may not have heard but Top Gun Maverick smashed box office records all over the world, and now, you get your chance to see it all over again, where we will be bring you a little slice of culture, nostalgia and immersive cinematic fun.

Grab your picnics and drinks, outdoor gear and chairs and come watch this blockbuster film on a HUGE screen.

We encourage you to bring warm clothing, a torch, extra layers, appropriate footwear depending on the weather for that day. Please note: NO BBQs.

Saturday 17th June, 12noon-9pm
£1 entry, under 3s free
Talks and lawn games free, additional cost for activities & rides

With live music from local artists, games, wellbeing, shopping and more, come along to our Summer Fest for an unforgettable day of fun for all the family in the grounds of Delapré Abbey. As the night goes on, join us for more live music, cocktails and mocktails around the firepit within our festival teepee.

Throughout the afternoon, take part in activities including glitter face painting, pottery making, henna tattoos and more. If you’re looking for something more active, participate in medieval axe throwing, with fairground rides and inflatable slides for little ones. We’ve also got lawn games including but not limited to giant Jenga, noughts and crosses and archery.

Browse stalls from Friars Farm, Nicki’s Pantry, Brown Bear, Harkers Fudge, Daily Bread and Fig Home, each with their own unique products perfect for yourself or as a gift for someone special.

Listen to talks from Michaela Adkins on meditation, spoken word and poetry from Abbi Jinks and a ‘no dig’ talk from Kemal Hussein.

It wouldn’t be a festival without food and drink, so we’ve got an array of food and drink vans – there’s something for everyone!

Please note, both cash and card are accepted at the event.

Photo: AB Photography

Sunday 25th June, 11am-4pm
Included in the price of general admission. Adults £8, Under 18s free
Drawing room

We’re being joined by the Friends of Northampton Castle! Discover what life was like in the castle and medieval Northampton with lots of exciting activities including:

– Build a Lego Castle
– Play in the castle tent
– Complete castle jigsaws
– Dress up as a knight or a princess
– Colouring
– Castle iPad apps
– Laptop adventures
– Virtual Reality tour of the castle
– Medieval music

Children must be supervised by an adult at all times.

Sunday 25th June, 11:30am
£8, includes general admission to the Abbey for you to explore before or after the tour

It is the year 1538 and you’ve stepped into the world of Delapré Abbey at the end of its life as a Cluniac Nunnery.

The Black Death, excommunications and the Battle of Northampton are just a few of the events that occurred on the nunnery’s doorstep. Learn all about Delapré Abbey’s history as a nunnery and how it was established. Explore the Abbey and the routines of the nuns. Hear all about St Mary de la Pré and how it raised an income in various ways through the trading of commodities to donations from the monarchy.

Come along with Sister Brigitte as she guides you through the lives of those who lived at the Abbey.