A NOBLE steed is to star in the 800th celebrations of the granting of Ellesmere’s market charter next month.

Keincaled is being preparing to transport his mistress – Joan, Lady of Wales and wife of Llewellyn the Great – to a street market in Ellesmere on Saturday, July 10.

The royal visit is to conduct an imagined re-enactment of the granting of Ellesmere’s market charter in 1221, 800 years ago, with the town one of the first in the country to receive it.

Fizzgigs, Ellesmere’s Community Arts Group, has devised a dramatic performance featuring not only Keincaled – who will be ridden by Anna Hayes – but a dragon, assorted Medieval towns-folk, an unruly minstrel and much else besides.

Kate Westgate, a member of the group, said: "The display of Primavera and her sprites in Cremorne Gardens over May Bank Holiday weekend was greeted with great enthusiasm by visitors from outside the town as well as locals.

"We hope this performance will be as popular."

Members of the Fizzgigs community have been coming up with ingenious costumes and props.

"There will be procession, splendour, silliness and fun – the usual Fizzgigs mix," added Ian Andrew, the group’s chairman.

Ellesmere Town Council has arranged for a section of Scotland Street to be closed to traffic to make way for a street market. There will also be stalls inside the market building.

This will run from 9am to 4pm; stalls will be set out so that social distancing rules can easily be followed.

Ann Connolly, owner of Keincaled – more usually known as Tommy – said: ‘"He is of a gentle nature and good strong character.

"As a full Welsh pedigree horse, he is fully suited to carrying Welsh royalty through the town."

Members of Fizzjigs, the group’s own band, will be playing music from 10am to 11am and the main performance is expected to start at 10.30am.

Other entertainment is being planned for later in the day in the central space in front of the market hall and there may also be live entertainment in the courtyard of a nearby tavern.

Ellesmere mayor Councillor Paul Goulbourne added: "This is a great opportunity to mark a significant historical moment in our town’s history and for folks to enjoy yet another fabulous Fizzgigs entertainment.

"Just what we need after the difficult 18 months we have all been through."

Fizzgigs will be repeating the display from 2pm at Criftins Summer Fair the same day.