Cirencester and the Arthurian Myth: A Quest for Camelot with Mark Horton

Could Cirencester really be Camelot?

Professor Mark Horton brings archaeology to the Arthurian question in this Cirencester History Festival talk. He will examine whether late fifth-century Corinium could have been the centre of a wealthy Christian kingdom after Roman rule, and what the evidence can and cannot tell us about Arthur.

The talk asks why people have linked Cirencester with Camelot and the Round Table while keeping the distinction between archaeology and later storytelling in view. Horton is a professor of archaeology and cultural heritage at the Royal Agricultural University and a regular contributor to BBC Coast.

The talk runs from 6.15pm to 7.15pm, then the ticket includes the festival's closing folk set with Feast of Fools in the Rifle Range. The a cappella quartet will sing traditional folk and protest songs until 8.30pm, with the bar staying open; Bingham Hall's main hall is wheelchair and pushchair accessible, but on-street parking is limited.

Ticketed. Book through the official Cirencester History Festival event page.

Sunday 1 November 2026 · Bingham Hall, King Street, Cirencester, Gloucestershire GL7 1JT · Starts 6.15pm, ends 8.30pm