History came to life in no uncertain manner at the 2009 Festival of History, held in the grounds of Kelmarsh Hall in Northamptonshire on 25th and 26th July.

This annual event, run by English Heritage, is a massive affair, with so much to see and do that one day is hardly enough, which is why many people come for two!

Meet the People

At the heart of the Festival is people dressing up! What that means is that re-enactment enthusiasts from all over the country are there to be seen in all their splendour, whether as Roman soldiers, Saxon peasants, Tudor knights, Civil War pikemen, Regency lords and ladies, World War I nurses, Wehrmacht troops, American GIs, or many more categories besides.

You didn't just look at people in costumes, you could also meet them, talk to them one-on-one and learn a huge amount about the life and times that they represented. Most of the characters are real enthusiasts for their chosen period of history and are extremely knowledgeable. When you talk to someone about their hobby in this way, it is as though you are talking to someone who has stepped straight out of the history book.

For example, I stopped to take a photograph of two well-dressed gentlemen who told me that the year was 1693 and they were a London vintner and a yeoman farmer from Hertfordshire, the latter being in town to discuss a marriage contract for his daughter. They expressed surprise when I told them that Queen Mary was not long for this world!

However, the Saxon family from 1065 were not merely alarmed when I warned them about the change that was due the following year - I was accused of witchcraft for being able to foretell the future!

Some of these enthusiasts had brought their collections of items to the Festival with them. I asked to have a closer look at the cine and still cameras that were part of a display of the kit of a German World War II military correspondent. The owner was delighted to explain why these items, which were as authentic as he could get them, were Swiss-made rather than German. This was typical of the time, because such people used the kit that they had bought before the War, and Swiss cameras were the best around.

Many of the re-enacters stood or sat beside tents that contained the tools of their trade or, if they were soldiers, weapons of war. They were delighted to show how things worked, or sat making items such as clothing, pots, or arrows, prepared food, or did whatever their skill entailed - there was a working medieval blacksmith's forge for example. Some played musical instruments from their period. You could visit a World War I field hospital, a tea party from the early 18th century, or see how a Civil War cannon was loaded and fired.

One slightly bizarre aspect of the day was that all these dressed-up people, who were clearly fascinated by everything else that was going on around them, were free to wander round the site and mingle with people from all the other periods of history. The best of them refused to move out of character, so there were some interesting conversations to be heard as one queued at the food counters next to a Viking or Boer War soldier!

Displays and Re-enactments

At the various arenas around the site there was a running programme of brilliantly organised displays, mock battles, and more. I was fascinated to see a jousting tournament that was made as realistic as possible, with knights in full armour charging at each other on horses of the size and type that would have ridden at the court of Henry VIII. It was explained that the riders would meet at a combined speed of 40 miles an hour and only have a split second to raise their lances and aim for the opponent's shield, with their visibility restricted to a narrow slit in their helmets. Several lances were shattered in the process, but all riders remained on board throughout!

The jousting on one side of the site coincided with a World War II battle on the other. Paratroopers were dropped over the site and floated across the jousting arena, prompting the commentator to remark that an Italian called Da Vinci had claimed that such a thing was possible, but he personally doubted it!

The WWII battle was undoubtedly the highlight of the day, with plenty of gunfire, explosions and smoke as the various British, French, American, German and Russian forces slogged it out. An added feature was the presence of one of the few remaining airworthy Spitfire fighters swooping over the arena, and American jeeps and half-tracks racing backwards and forwards.

The final event of the day was a parade of all the re-enacters, civilian as well as military, marching through the arena, and then most of them repeated the parade through the crowds outside the arena, which made photographing them much easier.

The general spirit of the whole event was extremely relaxed and friendly. Everyone there, be they performers or spectators, had a genuine love of history, and I certainlty felt that I was sharing the event and not just witnessing it.

And the Rest?

If that was not enough, there were dozens of tents and stalls selling and displaying their wares, plenty for the children to do, such as a Victorian sandy beach complete with Punch and Judy show, a tent in which music from various eras was played throughout the day, a wargaming section, and a long tent in which historians, archaeologists, conservators, genealogists and others explained their work to people who passed by.

I am sure that the above account is far from complete, because there was so much that I did not have time to see, as well as plenty that I did see but have left out from this account. The attached photos give only a flavour of what was on offer on a day that I for one will long remember. Next year's Festival of History is something to look forward to with great anticipation!