may07Rockingham Castle History Fair

Directions: Off the A6003, 1 mile north of Corby; 24 miles from Peterborough, Northampton and Leicester; half an hour from the A1 and the M1 and 10 minutes from the A14 at Kettering.

In May 2007, on the Bank Holiday 5th to 7th, you will have the opportunity to attend the first "Call to Arms History Fair" at Rockingham Castle near Corby, Northamptonshire, UK. With members of over sixty societies attending, including the three largest societies in the UK, this is set to be the most ambitious historical event of it's kind.

There will be living history displays and demonstrations, craft working, several large scale battles, smaller skirmishes and set piece displays, as well as lots of other entertainment ongoing throughout the event. There will be a huge market, with merchants and traders selling everything ever made in the whole of history, as well as quite a lot that history has never seen before.

We have the legendary "Saor Patrol" - Scotland's answer to "Schelmish" - in concert and in session everyday of the event. If you have never heard the full power of Scottish Pipes and drums - played as they were meant to be played - prepare to be awed by "Saor Patrol". The instruments are weapons of war and "Saor Patrol" are their bladesmiths.

There will be representatives of more than 60 Historical Re-enactment Societies and Associations attending (at last count!). Both the Sealed Knot and the Napoleonic Association will providing the firepower with major battles each day and drill displays (the latter with an evil twist but more on that elsewhere). There will be Romans marching, Vikings raiding, and medieval knights knocking seven bells out of each other.

If all this simulated violence is to much for you - nearly all the societies attending will have full living history and domestic displays recreating the daily life of commoners and/or kings. There will be a chance to talk with the members of the societies, ask questions and find out more. Maybe even - if you find yourself tempted - the opportunity to join one or more of the societies and get involved in a leisure pursuit which we guarantee will be life altering! :-)

This is the showcase of the UK Heritage Industry, present all at one site in the centre of England. Truly an unmissable occasion!

Search by

UK Region

2007