The Bardic Chair is an honour or position that originally comes from Celtic tradition and more recently is part of the Welsh Eisteddfod festivals and as such is a position that is competed for by poets hoping to become the Bard of a specific geographical
area.

In certain areas of the country, a community had what was known as a Speaker’s Mound, a small hump or hillock where common folk could have their say. It was here a would-be Bard could declare their intention to become the community’s spokesperson and if unchallenged, for a year and a day, would receive that honour, but if challenged would have to compete in a competition, to claim their place as bard.

In the last few years a growing resurgence of interest in poetry, spoken word and the Bardic tradition, has given rise to spoken word events and over fourteen Bardic Chairs have been established in this country.

Three years ago John Morrissey moved to Northampton and at small picnic gathering of poets and friends, declared a Bardic Chair for Northampton be established at Delapre Abbey. A year later a small outdoor event was seeded but without a competition. Last year, with funding from Northampton’s Community Foundation and a proper committee, a Bardic Picnic festival was held on the Abbey’s south lawn, with six people entering the competition and eclectic mix of live music, performance poetry, storytelling and song. As well as food and beer, a children’s area, workshops and stalls. Donna Scott won the competition and became Northampton’s first official bard, the day was a great success and much fun was had by all.

Donna has gone on to fulfil her Bardic role with great enthusiasm and imagination by attending events and functions throughout the year, including a Bardic banquet that we hosted last Christmas.

The Bardic Chair is an honorary position that we hope eventually to become an official position recognised by the local councils and the mayor’s office and more importantly the people of Northampton.

Traditionally the Bard would be seated upon an actual Bardic Chair and wear a robe of office to donate their special status. We have been lucky enough to have had both a chair and a robe made for us by local craftspeople.

We have been granted funding, again by the N.C.F. to host another Bardic Picnic festival at Delapre Abbey this year. We are intending that this year’s event will be bigger and better than last year and hope that Northampton has many hopeful Bards who would like to compete.