Living History, Re-enactment or "Re-creation" as the famous Kentwell Hall terms it, is about trying to bring the past to life again by reconstructing and using the clothes, equipment, weapons, armour, tools, beliefs, language and mannerisms of the past. This often involves extensive research into original sources by those who have a fascination for this.

In fact the research can be so rewarding as you build up your store of knowledge for your characterisation or "persona". To coin a pun, it is "recreational scholarship"!!! Scholarship, to re-create, for recreation.

What character will you portray? Just who were you? How did you earn your living? What were your religious beliefs? Where did you live?  Just how do you create a persona or back-story?

For the History of Living History/Re-enactment see here.

There are lots of differing variations of living history from Costumed guides in Stately homes through historic plays, battle re-enactments, third person interpretation (this is how they did it) to first person interpretation (this is what I do and my father and mother before me). We list below some aspects of Living History that we are associated with but for a more detailed interpretation, particularly if you are in the heritage industry go to Living History in Museum Interpretation.

• Battle Re-enactments,
Battle Re-enactments are re-creations of a particular historical battle that took place in the UK in earlier periods of history or a large skirmish demonstration in later wars. Before guns came to predominate warfare would consist of a considerable number of knights, men-at-arms, archers and hangers on led by their Lords. They are usually on or near to the historic battlefield itself. There will usually be an “authentic” encampment where some or all of the other activities listed here will be on display. Battles may have lasted for only a few hours or days but may have involved a considerable amount of marching and manoeuvring over a period of time. By the end of the 16thC the gun had replaced the bow and arrow in large scale warfare:

• Sieges,
A siege will take place at a particular castle or fortification. These were longer and thus the accommodation in the camps outside may have been more sumptuous. The Lords would be living in splendour in their pavilions waiting for the inhabitants of the Castle to surrender or die. They would involve the large weapons of war such as siege towers, trebuchets, mangonels and battering rams. By the 17thC, castles were no longer impregnable due to the large scale use of cannon. Many castles were destroyed by the parliamentarian forces of the English Civil War so they could no longer be used in warfare. Now that the rich were less safe in their castles they dispensed with them and we get the flowering of the, far more comfortable, Stately home.

• Jousts,
These were chivalric tournaments of the 16thC and earlier. A Joust is a competition between two knights on horse-back, wherein each knight tries to knock the other off his mount. The knights were equipped with three weapons; a lance , a one handed sword , and a rondel . When one knight knocked the other off of his mount, he was declared the winner of the round. If both knights were knocked off their mounts at the same time, it was considered a tie; they would then engage in sword combat, and the last standing was victorious. They were part of the training for warfare in the medieval and renaissance periods. Some displays may only show how they trained to use their horses by tilting at the "quintain".

• Combat displays,
Here we have a much smaller scale event which might consist just of one group of re-enactors showing off the combat techniques of their period. This is often combined with an encampment where some of the more day to day historic activities might be viewed.

• Falconry and Hunting,
Whilst not necessarily involving death of the human participants, hunting could involve extreme danger from wild boar, bears and big cats. They were chivalric pursuits and engaged in only by the upper strata of society. The lower orders were not allowed to carry bows and arrows in the hunting forests just in case they should be tempted to kill some of the landowner's game!

• Battle Encampments,
As you might imagine the organising of an army was a major problem. How much transport would you need for: the guns and ammunition, the bows and arrows, the cannon, the soldiers, the food, the tents. Would you need ships to get you there? How long would it take? What medical provision would you need? If you were a poor soldier all you would have you would carry with you apart from extra ammunition and/or arrows. You would sleep in the shelter of a hedge by the road. However, if you a Lord you would expect your home comforts, your tent, bed table, chair, your hawks for hunting during the quiet moments of a siege. In the encampment you will be able to see how they lived on campaign. What they ate. How they amused themselves. The care of wounds and illness.

• Music & Dance etc,
Music and Dance and other pastimes were and important part of entertaining in the past. When nobody had radio or TV or Music centres, everyone had to make their own entertainment. All strata of society would have their own particular types of games, music and dance. Music was also important in war when drums and pipes were used to convey orders to the troops or to intimidate the enemy (bagpipes!).

• Historic Activities,
These are activities that members of the public can participate in. They might include trying on the armour, games and pastimes or making activities such as tiles, soap, posies, casting badges, dipping candles, wire bangles etc.

• Living History Displays,
This includes just about every other activity of how people got on with their lives in the past. What they ate and drank; consultation with medics such as physicians, surgeons and the cunning folk; crafts such as pottery, glass making or wood carving; husbandry (farming, animals and crops); gardening; merchants such as clothiers and pepperers. The re-enactors may have made their own clothing and many of the artifacts they use.

• Historic Markets
Many of the events that you attend will have an historic market attached to them. Here you will find the craftsmen who make much of the clothing and equipment that you will have seen at the displays – armour, swords, clothing and textiles, metal ware, woodenware, pots, jewellery etc. There will also be other traders and resellers who may not have made the items but will be happy to sell you a souvenir to commemorate your visit. Each craftsman and trader is an expert in their products and have done extensive research into them and many other aspects of history. You will hear many fascinating tales and facts even if you don't buy a thing.

• Experimental Archaeology
Many of the demonstrators who you will see may be engaged in experimental archeology – the re-creation of objects from the past. They use the techniques, tools and materials that the original craftsman might have used. Their product will be of museum quality, unique in this age and very expensive!! Just recently, for example, we saw a picture of a 15thC bead making lathe so, with the help of a friend, we made one. For further details go to: Experimental archeology!

Fortunately for most of us most of the experts are willing to share their knowledge with the rest of us so we all have a good time! This is certainly one of the attractions of the hobby for us. After all the research has been done why let it die with us? For example, we run a computer discussion group for all living historians who portray medical practitioners. We have medics from the Roman era right through to World War II and from Cunning Women through to Physicians. Our membership of nearly 300 covers almost every continent. The Staff of the Serpent/Medical History.

Once the research has been done and the equipment made, purchased or borrowed we can start wearing the clothes; fighting with the weapons and following the craftsmen's skill with the tools. This is where the activity divides itself into two. We like to re-create the crafts and occupations of the past - "Living History". Some like to re-enact battles - (more like "Dying History"). Some, like ourselves, do it for our living and others, like ourselves, do it for fun. It is an absorbing activity, encompassing many crafts and skills. For example, we now have many hobbies which serve our interest in Living History: Experimental Archeology; Dancing; Drama & Role-playing; Musical Instruments; Visiting Shakespeare's Globe in London; Reading & Collecting Books; Research in Libraries, Record Offices, Museums and on the Web; Visits to Stately Homes including life membership of English Heritage and the National Trust; Games and Pastimes; Bookbinding; Cooking; Medicine; Textiles; Dressmaking; Jewellery making; Collection of Antiques and Artifacts; Travel around the UK and Europe and maybe some day the USA. And think that before that I could hardly sew a button on a shirt!!

You can take part in shows in front of thousands of people or talk one to one, explaining your activity, or go on private weekends or engage in role playing scenarios. There are many groups who do all these and many more, each one with has its own range of periods, from the Romans and earlier to the Second World War. The magazine, " Call to Arms " has a listing of hundreds of such organisations. There are a number of events where you can see Living History in action. English Heritage, at their properties, has a massive programme running from Easter to October each year. Don't be put off by our enthusiasm for our projects. You can become a living historian or a re-enactor with much less trouble that we take. Many societies help newcomers out by lending them kit for the first year. After that you can decide what level of commitment you are willing to make. The basics include your clothing and footwear which you can make yourself or buy from a growing number of suppliers. Add to that basic utensils such as a spoon, knife ( a folk for the Frenchified) cup, bowl, belt and pouch and you have the basic equipment. Those who wish to fight will need a weapon and some armour. Those who wish to be demonstrators need only the gift of the gab and a few simple artifacts.

Why not see us at some of the historic shows?