37, 635 people attended the two days of the Heritage Festival, in July 2016. The Festival has gone from strength to strength. The initial concept grew out of an idea from the Peterborough Local History Forum (which our Society is a member of, and is represented at meetings). It seemed an impossible task, to stage an event to surpass that of 2015, where jousting took place in the Cathedral Precincts; the first time that such an event has been staged in the middle of a town centre in England since 1467. All credit to Vivacity, in collaboration with the Cathedral (in particular, with Stuart Orme, Director of Operations) for pulling it off once again, with an increase of 9% on visitor numbers.

It provides a wonderful chance to showcase our Society. Our stall in the Cathedral Precincts puts us right at the heart of the action. We are on the main thoroughfare for Vikings, Saxons, Bronze Age warriors, World War II airmen, and even royalty, to pass by. More importantly, we have a good vantage point to attract members of the public, with our displays and the publications we offer for sale (often written and published by members of the Society).

Our unique position allows room for members of the public to spend time looking at the displays, browse the book stall and chat with our members who are manning the stand. The ultimate outcome of the weekend, for the Society, is the gaining of new members, which we do, year on year. Alongside this is the knowledge that we have enabled visitors to go away with just a small insight into the Peterborough long since gone.