Bringing history to life at Weald & Downland Living Museum

As part of our interpretation calendar, we invite living history groups to support our varied programme of activities throughout the year.

Over the weekend of the 15 – 16 June, the Museum welcomed the History Re-enactment Workshop (HRW) to re-enact an Elizabethan rural court session in Titchfield Market Hall. The team performed demonstrations of what may have taken place using historical evidence of real cases. Visitors took the role of the jury, and it was fascinating to witness how the outcomes varied depending on each audience.

The Tudor Group returned to the Museum in July, showing how a Yeoman Farmer and his household may have relaxed before the hard graft of the late summer and autumn recommenced. Amongst their demonstrations, the team were staining a new wall cloth which will be hung in the hall of Bayleaf Farmhouse.

On the 3 – 4 August, visitors can immerse themselves in Medieval times with the Black Knights Historical group as the Museum celebrates with a Lammas Day Fayre, as it may have been celebrated during the reign of Richard III. The living history group will be showcasing the types of market stalls and medieval traders that may have been present, whilst celebrating the first wheat harvest of the year (‘Lammas meaning Loaf Mass’). Visitors will also be able to enjoy archery demonstrations and a variety of medieval crafts and trades throughout the weekend.
During the 17-18 August, discover what life may have been like in the 17th Century as depicted by an English Civil War Royalist Garrison, when The Wardour Garrison Living History group visit the Museum to describe the impact of the Civil Wars on domestic and rural life in the Weald & Downland region. Within the encampment many trades and crafts will be presented such as lace making, embroidery, crewel work and other forms of needlecraft, rope and candle making, coining and pole lathing. Period food will also be cooked over an open fire. Visitors are encouraged to come into the encampment to interact with the re-enactors and ask questions. Many of the incredible artefacts of display may also be handled!

Being a garrison, the soldiers will be put through their paces with displays showcasing the main weapons of the period, the Pike and Musket. Following these displays, younger visitors can also take part in sword school, learning the basic moves as taught during that time.