PEOPLE in Chipping Campden will be transported back to the 17th century in a weekend of events to celebrate the history of an iconic mansion.

Chipping Campden History Society will be holding an exhibition telling the story of Old Campden House in the town hall on Saturday, June 21 and Sunday, June 22 from 10am to 4pm.

For the last 18 months, the society has been researching the history of Baptist Hicks’ Jacobean mansion, built in Campden early in the 17th century and burnt down during the English Civil War in 1645.

As little survives of the house, members have studied maps, records, pictures, contemporary houses and all the other available evidence along with a programme of archaeological research.

Events over 'The Howse that was so Fayre' weekend include a rare opportunity to visit the site of Old Campden House and Gardens, usually closed to the public, and an exhibition by pupils of Campden schools in the Lower Town Hall, showing their artistic interpretations of the 'Burnt Howse'.

There will also be a week-long selling exhibition by members of Creative Campden at Court Barn Museum of artworks inspired by tapestries, jewellery, architecture, fountains, statues or elaborate gardens of the Jacobean period and Old Campden House.

Mary Gray, of the Chipping Campden History Society, said: "We are looking forward to the weekend after all our work over the past 18 months. This is an important part of the town's history, and the drama and tragedy of the story have made it particularly interesting to research.

"We are very grateful that the Landmark Trust is opening the site to the public - its a wonderful opportunity to see the original garden layout and the beautiful banqueting houses.

"A whole weekend of events inspired by a Jacobean theme is planned, and we hope to bring a bit of Campden in the 17th century to the present day".

Garden historian Caroline Holmes is giving a talk ‘Shakespeare’s Tempest – a storm in a teacup or a metaphor for Jacobean gardens’ on Saturday, June 21 at 6pm at Chipping Campden School.

There will also be 20 private gardens open to the public in aid of Action Medical Research.

For more details, visit chippingcampdenhistory.org.uk.