Talk: Merlin

Date: 4th August 2025
Time: 7:00 pm
Location: Winterbourne Medieval Barn
Lectures

Join celebrated historian, Prof Ronald Hutton for a fascinating lecture on Merlin.

King Arthur’s great counsellor and magician, Merlin, is the most famous of all wizards in traditional European literature. Those who have studied his origins know him as a tantalisingly complex character, founded in both native Welsh legend and medieval French romance. His ultimate starting point seems historic; or is it? You are invited this evening to explore both the original sources of the legend and its later development to the present.

About your speaker: Prof Hutton is an English historian who specialises in Early Modern Britain, British folklore, pre-Christian religion and Contemporary Paganism. He is a professor at the University of Bristol, has written 14 books and has appeared on British television and radio. He held a fellowship at Magdalen College, Oxford, and is a Commissioner of English Heritage. We are delighted to welcome him back to The Barn!

Refreshments available. 

Parking for this event will be provided at The Barn.
If you need a specific parking space (eg. wheelchair accessible) or any accessible seating for the performance then please email ceara.foley@winterbournebarn.org.uk ASAP to book this.
Please follow the instructions provided in the pre-event email (sent up to 24 hours before the event) and parking stewards on the day to ensure we can fit as many people as possible safely in the designated parking areas.
Please do not park along church lane as this obstructs the road for other users and emergency vehicles. Please do not park anywhere other than designated Barn car parks for this event. We cannot control when other car parks are locked and may not be able to assist if you car is parked elsewhere.
There is plenty of bicycle parking at The Barn for those arriving on two wheels and space for drop off / collection if you would like to arrange this.

The primary purpose of this event is to raise money for WMBT and to support conservation, management, maintenance and improvement of the WMBT site.

If you wish to avoid the online booking fee then please contact the office to arrange a time to come and book in person.