LIVING HISTORY
The 2025 Festival has now finished
Sign up to the Chalke History Festival newsletter for all the latest updates here.
An opportunity to sample the sights, sounds and smells of the past.
Our living history encampments range from the Stone Age through to the Second World War and offer an opportunity to sample the sights, sounds and smells of the past. Our historians are all experts in their field and are actively learning more about our predecessors from the process of living with and using the materials of earlier ages. There will be a number of scheduled talks and displays but all our living historians are happy to talk at any time and share their extraordinary –
and often unique – knowledge.
Let us take you on a journey through time…
PRE-HISTORY – NEOLITHIC AND BRONZE AGE
PRE-HISTORY TO PRESENT
Led by renowned prehistory educator Sally Pointer, our team of expert archaeologists and interpreters will be shedding light on life in the Neolithic and Early Bronze Age.
PRE-HISTORY TO PRESENT
IRON AGE
PARIO GALLICO
Experiential archaeologist and living historian Caroline Nicolay from Pario Gallico will be exploring the history of natural construction, from the ancient methods used in the Iron Age to traditional local techniques.
PARIO GALLICO
MEDIEVAL
CUTLER’S WORSHOP - HERITAGE BLADES
Feel the heat of the furnace in our thirteenth-century cutler’s workshop, where Tom Timbrell of Heritage Blades and Emma Harrison of Bog Born Crafts will be smelting and refining iron to produce cutlery.
CUTLER’S WORSHOP - HERITAGE BLADES
MISTRESS FINN
Step into our medieval apothecaries’ garden and uncover the fascinating uses of plants, from healing cuts and bruises to dyeing fabrics and creating inks.
HISTORIC EQUITATION
Using the latest archaeological and historical research and their own impressive horsemanship skills, Historical Equitation will explore where horses were bred and trained, the role they played in medieval society and conflict, and the armour used in late medieval England.
HISTORIC EQUITATION
CHANZ DES REIS
MEDIEVAL ENCAMPMENT – Step back in time and experience what life was like in medieval England during this period of political turmoil, from period crafts such as basket weaving and wool dying to calligraphy and archery.
ANCIENT TECHNOLOGY CENTRE
The Ancient Technology Centre will be shedding light on early medieval Viking society through the themes of Home, Work, and Play. How did Vikings do their washing and prepare their food? What kind of crafts were found in Viking settlements? And how did our ancestors unwind? Discover what life was life in early medieval households, try out historical games, and have a go at creating your own Viking riddle.
ANCIENT TECHNOLOGY CENTRE
SEAXIA
Step into a West Saxon encampment from the time of King Alfred and discover how the soldiers were recruited to defend Wessex against the Danes in the 9th century. Living history group Seaxia will be demonstrating what life was like in the Saxon period, from food and drink to medical practices, pottery to weaponry, and timber working to law and order
EARLY MODERN
EARLY MODERN
THE HISTORICAL SAILMAKER
Meet our historical sailmaker as she shares tales of her time spent on board great ships around the world and demonstrate the tools and techniques used to make sails.
REMAKING HISTORY
Explore the gruesome history of execution as the Remaking History team attempt to recreate an eighteenth-century guillotine. Discover how technology and craftsmanship drastically changed crime and punishment, and witness the guillotine in action!
REMAKING HISTORY
THE WIMBORNE MILITIA
From musket training, cannon ball casting, and leather working to the sounds and smells of the kitchen and coffeehouse, the Wimborne Militia will be sharing an insight into the military and social history of the late 17th century.
SECOND WORLD WAR
SECOND WORLD WAR
THE TIME TRAVELLERS KITCHEN
Dig for Victory! The Time Travellers Kitchen continues to travel through British culinary history, this year stopping in 1940 with the introduction of rationing during the Second World War.
ROYAL NAVY COMMANDOS
Discover the history of the Royal Naval Commandos and their crucial role in major amphibious landings during the Second World War, from intelligence gathering to mine removal.
ROYAL NAVY COMMANDOS
THE GARRISON ARTILLERY VOLUNTEERS
Dedicated to rediscovering the technical skills of gunners during the twentieth century. In this thrilling demonstration, the volunteers will show the drills and live firing techniques of the Royal Artillery during the Second World War.
Historic Market Square
New for 2025! Wander around our Historic Market Square, where heritage crafts come to life!
Try your hand at traditional skills, sample historical delights, and take home a piece of the past.
- THE COPPER POT – Taste history with authentic recipes recreated from archaeological records, spanning from prehistory to the Victorian era.
- JANE’S HISTORICAL KITCHEN – Step into the Tudor kitchen and discover dishes fit for a king, from delicate ravioli to Henry VIII’s lavishly decorated pie lids.
- QUARTERMASTERIE – Explore exquisite historic leatherwork, pottery, and textiles, crafted using techniques from the Roman period to the 18th century.
- THIMBLERIG GAMES – make and sell some of the oldest and often forgotten games of the past. Discover their rules, how they developed, and why people played them.
- HIOW BEORHT– Discover medieval calligraphy, illumination, tablet weaving, and embroidery. Hiow-Beorht is old english for colourful.
- ORCHARD 101 – Exploring the core history of apples! Rediscover the apple – one of history’s most iconic fruits – through the lens of taste, tradition, and time.
Heritage Hub
Proudly sponsored by Sampan Travel, the Heritage Hub is a vibrant corner of the festival bringing together remarkable
organisations that shine a light on hidden histories, ancient traditions, and living legacies.
- GURKHA WELFARE TRUST (THURSDAY-SUNDAY) – Discover the role of the Gurkhas during the Second World War with the Gurkha Welfare Trust. The Gurkha Welfare Trust ensures that Gurkha veterans, their widows and their wider communities are able to live with dignity through the provision of financial, medical and community aid in Nepal.
- BURMA STAR MEMORIAL FUND – The Burma Star Memorial Fund provides benevolence to those who served in the Burma Campaign, remembrance to those we lost and a living legacy through education and scholarships. Visit their mobile museum and learn more about the history of the Burma Campaign during the Second World War.
- COUNCIL FOR BRITISH ARCHAEOLOGY – The Council for British Archaeology works across the UK to champion participation in archaeology. Get stuck into their interactive activities, from object handling to mapping places of memory and meaning. This is a chance to explore the places and spaces around us and to share the stories that they hold.
- KING JOHN’S HOUSE – Walk through 800 years of history in just one street opposite Romsey Abbey, including a medieval house, Tudor Cottage and Victorian and Edwardian museum buildings. King John’s House will be displaying items from this hidden gem in Hampshire and demonstrating conservation cleaning of artefacts salvaged from a serious fire, which affected King John’s House in February. Discover the challenges and learning opportunities involved in the process of recovery and restoration, and some of the secrets that have been revealed.
- SHAFTESBURY ABBEY – Join the team from Shaftesbury Abbey and discover its fascinating history. Built by King Alfred in around 888 AD as a religious house, the Abbey grew in prosperity until its closure by order of Henry VIII in 1539.
- UKRAINE COMMUNITY UNITED – Discover Ukrainian history, traditions and culture with Ukraine Community United, from traditional clothing to folk art and crafts.
- STONEHENGE (WEEKEND ONLY) – The team from Stonehenge invites you to travel back to the Neolithic and Bronze Age and explore life in prehistoric Britain.
And finally… Don’t miss our incredible HAYRICK!
Throughout the festival week, our team will be building a traditional hayrick, a traditional structure used to store hay. After creating a wooden platform supported by staddle stones, we’ll be pitching locally-cut hay to create a rick. This is a unique opportunity to see a traditional technique in action!
Sign up to our Mailing List for all the latest updates.
