19th-20th July, Kelmarsh Hall, Northamptonshire

ENGLISH HERITAGE'S HISTORY LIVE! FESTIVAL

History Live! is massive ... it is also a lot of fun.   There is a great emphasis on youngsters actively enjoying history, whether it is taking part in impromptu theatrical shows, clambering into reproduction aeroplanes or trying on weapons and equipment.   

Anyone who tells you that kids aren't interested in history is just wrong.

(participation theatre at History live!)

(youngsters were encouraged to try out the reproduction biplane)

I was there with the Battlefields Trust using the Northampton 1460 model to illustrate the work of battlefield preservation and interpretation ...

(Northampton 1460 showing the action moved on to the assault phase)

This is a wargame model although it was used as a moving tableau for the purposes of History Live! moving the contingents as we believed happened on July 10th 1460 and explaining the course of events.

The presentations seemed extremely successful and by late Sunday, I had handed out all the leaflets I'd taken along to support the exhibit.

If you wanted playable wargames, the Phoenix Club had, as usual, a range of wargames to join in ... ancient, Napoleonic, WWI (of course) and WWII ...

(Romans and Celts in the History Live! wargames tent)

Mostly youngsters and all historical.  Again, anyone who tells you that kids aren't interested in history is just wrong.   Anyone who tells you you need to glam it up with fantasy monsters is just wrong.  

 If wargaming is a greying hobby (and what an 'if' that is ...) then it can only be because greying wargamers aren't giving youngsters a chance to join in (or are abandoning them to commercial fantasy stuff).

(The Battlefields Trust at History Live! 2014)

Northampton is, of course, just a few miles down the road from Kelmarsh Hall and there was a lot of interest in the project to protect and explain the battlefield at Delapre Abbey.  

After much campaigning, Northampton Borough Council has recently accepted a Conservation Management Plan specifically for the battlefield area, so it does look like people power works.   There is much still to do, so enthusiasts can show their support by liking the project's Facebook page, and/or joining the Northampton Battlefield Society.

(Northampton 1460: in the heat of the action)

The battlefield model is constructed inside a rearranged pasting table (construction) and uses 15mm figures with oversized banners by Fluttering Flags ...

(Northampton 1460: the archbishop of Canterbury and Papal Legate Francesco Coppini watched the battle from the Eleanor Cross at Hardingstone)

Mounted figures are mostly Mirliton, foot are a broader mixture including Peter Pig, New Era Donnington and Corvus Belli as well as Essex and Tabletop (15mm.co.uk)

(Northampton 1460: decision - lord Grey of Ruthin's men help the Earl of March's troops into the position)

Outside, of course, the main arenas are given over to military displays by reenactment societies from all periods of military history and living history camps ... 

(full size Wars of the Roses artillery on show in the living history encampment)

We had about an inch of rain dumped on the site overnight and on Saturday morning but otherwise the weather was splendid, at times becoming sweltering.   

The whole event was well-managed and it took some persuading for people to leave the site on Sunday evening so we could all pack up and go home.

(Zulu wars period soldiers on their way to the arena at History Live!)

20th - 21st July, Kelmarsh Hall, Northamptonshire

(throughout: please click on the pictures for a bigger image)

History Live! with the Battlefields Trust

Assiduous followers of heritage news will know that this was called off on the morning of the event last year, flooded during 2012's rain-blighted and unseasonal July.    This year, by contrast, driving in on Friday to set up was more like entering a dust bowl.

(ECW exhibits on the BFT stand: items found at Basing House)

(a relatively quiet period on the BFT stand ... so I get to take some pictures)

The Battlefields Trust had asked me to bring along my Bosworth game as an item to feature and talk about on the stand (the design, of course, is based on the BFT's recent archaeological project at the site).  We also had the usual range of books and back issues, battlefield booklets and archaeological curiosities.

(Graham from Fluttering Flags with the Blore Heath game in the wargames tent)

The Wars of the Roses period was well represented with live action on the display grounds, Blore Heath in 28mm (variant Pike and Shotte) in the wargames tent, and my Bosworth (DBA) exhibit in 54mm in the History Live! pavillion.   As well as Blore Heath there were Gaugamela WAB,  ECW,  and Bolt Action games plus some Warlord Games gear on sale.

(wargames by the Phoenix Club ... Blore Heath is behind the throng of players and enthusiasts)

Other interesting attractions over the weekend were the Sand Sculptures, Fair Ground attractions music and dumbshows ... Something for all the family, right down to 'make do and mend' wartime fashion demonstrations ...

(sand sculpture before and after: the now lost Euston Arch - I was fascinated by their work over the weekend)

(History Live!: a jester on stilts entertains a young audience)

The core, of course, is always live reenactment and arena displays, combined with living history encampments and, these days, wargamers and battlefield enthusiasts ...

English Heritage knows this is the best way to share our past with people of all ages.

(enthusiasts of all ages get involved on the Battlefields Trust stand)

(archaeological royalty pops over for a chat: Turton and Harding chew the fat)

(some nice Crusades period weapons on display in the Living History avenues)

But here are some more wargame pictures ...

(Ian Kay - Irregular - has added these casualties to his 54mm medievals, so I have factored them in)

(Bosworth ... Henry Tudor, Earl of Richmond, with his uncle, Jasper, alongside) 

(Bosworth on the BFT stand ... more)

... and Blore Heath ...

One of the more unusual features of the weekend is the Saturday night entertainment: most of the exhibitors stay over for the weekend, generally under canvas ... Having shut to the public at 6pm, the site reopens for exhibitors at 7: it is party time for the reenactors and display teams, with food, drink, fair rides and live music: it is probably the best and most anarchic fancy dress ball in Northamptonshire ...*

(Nuns, Nazis and Anemones ... but all in the best possible taste ... Kelmarsh party time)

OK, OK ... it's a jellyfish ... but you get the picture ...

I'm guessing History Live! was a great success this year ... certainly the BFT had record recruitment, the place seemed packed, there were occasional delays to the food operations as meat roasters sold faster than they could cook, and generally, the place was a sea of people - all seeming cheerful and interested.   What a contrast to a year ago!**

(History Live!: The main arena on Sunday afternoon - late afternoon and still packed)

Politicians and planners please look at the pictures - no, not footie or the British GP ... this is the audience for 'history and military heritage'.   Big, isn't it?   Bigger than you thought, maybe? 

Please take us into consideration when you plan your carparks and rail links.

(there was more than ancient and medieval, of course: Peninsula veterans march past)

I have put some pictures from the WWII zones on P.B.Eye-Candy ...

You can join The Battlefields Trust and help protect England's threatened heritage ...

The Society of Ancients will be at Claymore on August 3rd

*yes, I know, that may not be setting the bar very high ... nonetheless, these people are seriously committed to dressing up ...

** I append these contrasting photos.  Hopefully 2014 will be more like this year (though wothout the extremes perhaps)

(from mud bath to dust bowl ...)

14th July, Kelmarsh Hall, Northamptonshire

Festival of History cancelled ..

Due to overnight rain washing out the campsite and rendering the public arenas unuseable.

Unfortunately I had to go in anyway.  I was putting on some wargame displays for the Battlefields Trust and had set up the afternoon before ... so had to splatter my way in to recover the kit.

(main show concourse)

In truth, things were looking dubious all week, but a dry night, and a sunny warm morning (which were possible given the weather forecast) would probably have made this one of those successful events that had isolated car park issues ...

As it was, the site was completely unusable by daw - the above picture shows what it was like by 10am without admitting thousands of visitors!

It has been a dry, bright (ish) weekend in Northamptonshire - so had the ground permitted use, it probably would have been better weather than last year.

My sympathies go to everyone who travelled miles to get to the event only to be turned away, or to those already on site who lost personal items and had equipment ruined in the mess.

16th -17th July, Northamptonshire

Festival of History

Festival of History is English Heritage's annual historical and reenactment event hosted at Kelmarsh Hall just a few miles away from the battlefield of Naseby.

The emphasis is strongly military, and there is always a lot for the ancient and medieval enthusiast to enjoy.

Attending the event as part of the Battlefields Trust team, I could only see a fraction during my breaks (and so missed the much praised Bosworth presentations) ... nevertheless, I caught some interesting Crusades stuff and managed a bit of SoA recruiting.

I'm a wargamer, but I can multitask ....

(Gladiators prepare for the arena)

(The Normans arrive)

(scenes from Outremer)



There were also plenty of armourers able to furnish equipment - like these gleaming Romano-Celtic helmets

In the Wargames tent, Phoenix Club and Warlord Games provided a choice of games including this Hail Caesar attack on the Roman baggage romp.


Plenty of youngsters getting involved here - even during the sunny spells.




For pictures of the 20th Century features, have a look at my P.B.Eye-Candy blog over on wordpress.

(click on the picture)

Kelmarsh, Northamptonshire, 25th July

Festival of History

'Festival of History' is the English Heritage summer event just down the road from me at Kelmarsh Hall. It it very big on the outdoor stuff - living history, re-enactment, fly pasts etc. It covers (mostly military) history through to the Twentieth Century, but with masses to entertain and inform enthusiasts of ancient and medieval warfare: a custom zone devoted to the Siege of Harfleur and Henry's French adventure, a Gladiator ring, and a Tilt Yard - in addition to scheduled displays from the coming of the Romans to the advent of gunpowder in the main arenas ...

(The main Hall vista with Roman drill demonstration taking place)

There was a large medieval component to the living history zones, and a lot of weaponry being demonstrated.
There is an extensive wargames zone run by the Phoenix Wargames Club - historical games aimed at getting visitors to see the light: 2 ancients games (Thermopylae and Caratacus - both employing Warhammer Ancient Battles) an English Civil War game, aerial action with Wings of War and a Battle of the Bulge snowscapes game.

(some of the historical games presented by the Phoenix Wargames Club)

I had an interesting chat with them over the Thermopylae game - it was apparently lasting much longer than WAB battles usually do - there was an outflanking move through the passes that was making slower than expected progress (meanwhile, frontal attacks on the Spartan position were proving virtually futile .. well, that seems OK, then ...). Good effort by the club, and plenty of kids joining in. Ancients looking by far the most popular.

(those 300 Spartans again)

Apart from the fact that there is 'ancient and medieval history and wargaming set therein' throughout the event - so any Society of Ancients enthusiast would warm to it - this is an excellent family event with plenty to do and, I thought, much better access than the similar event for which we used to do the ancient tabletop games some years back at Kirby Hall (History in Action). Expensive tickets, maybe, but more than a full day's worth of stuff to see and do, free parking, idyllic Northamptonshire and a big discount if you join English Heritage. mark it in your diaries for next year and cross your fingers for a sunny day.

With Naseby Battlefield only a mile or two away, there is always a strong ECW theme to the event - and indeed I was there to meet some of the Battlefields Trust activists in connection with a Naseby project I am engaged with for the Pike and Shot Society. Whilst the rest of us go about our normal business, making a living, supporting families, enjoying historical hobbies etc., the Battlefields Trust are waging a campaign (sometimes a rearguard action, it seems) to protect our military heritage from being concreted over as carparks, housing developments and motorways. Towton is near the top of the endangered list. The trust needs our support and help in this vital work.

There are more (ECW) pictures from Kelmarsh (and ongoing updates about my Naseby project at the ECW Battles in Miniature blog).

To find out more about the Battlefields Trust (and help with a donation if you can ...) go to their website ... (here... )