Step back in time at Chalke Valley History Festival, near Salisbury. If you love history, then this is definitely the place to come. Located in one of the UK’s prettiest and most historic areas, it provides a great place to visit, enjoy a festival and do a little bit of local touring at the same time. With camping and RV pitches on site, it is possible to spend a really enjoyable week here.
The annual Chalke Valley History Festival is now the biggest such festival in the UK. It has grown dramatically from a small event back in 2011 with just 12 activities to now hundreds of activities of all kinds across a seven day period. It has become the Glastonbury of the history world complete with cavalry displays, cannon firing demonstrations, sword school, and gladiators.
This year, the Festival kicks off on Monday June 25th, and ends the following Sunday, July 1st. There are activities available each day, although the weekend definitely marks the climax of the event with immersive living history displays, historic air displays, talks, discussions, debates and much more. The aim is quite simple – ‘to excite, enthrall and entertain about the past’.
The air displays are set to be stunning. It includes the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Avro Lancaster, one of only two such planes still flying anywhere in the world. This was the most iconic bomber of the Second World War. It was this bomber which carried out most of the bombing raids on the Continent, including the Dambusters raid. The death toll among aircrew was horrific – a large proportion died on their very first mission. Other aircraft due to take to the sky during the final weekend of the Chalke Valley History Festival include the B-17 Flying Fortress Sally B, as well as two Spitfires, a P-51 Mustang and a Hawker Sea Fury.
Anyone interested in air history will also be fascinated by one of the talks being held at Chalke Valley, as this looks at one of the Flying Legends that made history. Sir Alan Cobham was the first person to fly from London to Australia and back, eventually landing on the River Thames at the end of his incredible journey. Later in his career he set out to encourage people to become interested in aviation, undertaking flying tours of the UK, Ireland and South Africa which were so entertaining that they became known as Sir Alan Cobham’s Flying Circus.
“Stonehenge prehistoric monument and landmark in Wiltshire, England.”
The range of talks on offer is extensive, covering almost every possible aspect of history. These talks offer an opportunity to discover the latest in historical thought and activity. This includes experimental archaeology looking at what Iron Age men and women ate, and how it compares to modern diets as well as an investigation into the day to day life of an English Longbowman. It was these longbows which provided so decisive in so many wars such as Agincourt , and involved years of training just to pull the strings. Also worth looking out for are talks by top historians and authors like Michael Morpurgo, Charlie Higson, Simon Schama and Tracey Borman.
There are acres and acres of living history encampments covering virtually every aspect of history you can imagine. You can be talking to a Roman gladiator one minute, and shortly afterwards be finding out about life in First World War trenches or watching Tudor dancers. Watch a Saxon blacksmith forging weapons and other everyday items using the traditional techniques, learn the techniques of the medieval longsword or wince at the techniques of medieval surgery on the battlefield. Intriguingly, this latter activity involves watching a group of modern surgeons and vets given the surgical tools from the past and challenged to treat the ‘injured.” More recent historical displays include discovering the training and fighting techniques of the Red Devils, and seeing just how they fought during Operation Market Garden in September 1944, discovering Battle of Waterloo archaeology and the origins of World War One tanks.
Numerous re-enactments can be watched and in some cases take part in. A new trench experience offers the opportunity to be a fly on the wall spectator as groups enact scenarios from 1917, ride on a First World War horse drawn ambulance, or watch medieval battles. This is definitely where you can hear, smell and feel the past all around you!
One display that is set to be very popular is devoted to the Discworld author Terry Pratchett. His office will be re-created at the festival giving fans the chance to see where and how he wrote his best selling novels.
There is a wide range of food & drink to be purchased in the food tents and a fully licensed bar, as well as a really good shopping area perfect for retail therapy. Traders include companies selling cashmere, leather bags, genuine fossils and antiquities, Liberty silks, and even a photo studio specializing in 1940’s/1950’s pin up photography.
Just ten minutes walk from the main festival site is the campsite where you can pitch your tent or park an RV. It has been described as one of the most beautiful campsites in England. Such a description is not surprising as the site is surrounded by green fields, gently rolling hills and wildflower meadows in which poppies, cornflowers and ox-eye daisies reign supreme. This is a very lush, typically English landscape. Booking in advance is recommended, as the site is very popular especially at the weekend. Everyone using the site must have a Festival entrance or event ticket.
“James H and the D-Day Darlings cosplay in tent at Chalke Valley History Festival 2016 ”
The facilities are really good. You can pre-order deliveries of basic foodstuffs such as pastries, bread and milk. You will need to buy drinking water from the shops, as the water available on site is only suitable for cleaning and washing.
The setting for this Festival is really ideal. Located on a working sheep farm, it is in the heart of one of the oldest areas of habitation within the UK. For travelers who want to explore a little more of this landscape, there is a tremendous amount to see. Less than 8 miles away is Stonehenge. This magnificent monument is recognized as one of the wonders of the world, and is possibly the most famous prehistoric monument in the world. It is really awe-inspiring. Just imagining how those pre-historic people without access to any technology as we know it managed to transport the bluestones all the way from South Wales, and the immense standing stones with their unique caps from over 30 miles way is mind-blowing. Parts of the monument were built over 5,000 years ago, while the unique stone circle was erected about 2,500 BC.
Stonehenge is visible for miles across Salisbury Plain. Each of the standing stones within the main circle are over 13 feet high, 7 feet wide and weigh around 25 tons. No one knows the precise reason why our prehistoric ancestors created this stone circle as it must have taken generations of people to create each part of the monument. What is certain is that it was a place of celebration particularly on the Longest and shortest days of the year as the stones are aligned with the rising and setting of the sun at the solstices. Up to 20,000 people often come to view the sunrise over Stonehenge at midsummer.
Amazingly, Stonehenge is just one of several incredible pre-historic monuments to be found in this area. So unique is the concentration of sites that the area now forms the heart of a World Heritage Site. Within only a short distance are numerous burial mounds, Bronze age round barrows and hillforts.
Avebury ring is definitely worth a visit while in the area. Although outwardly less dramatic in appearance than Stonehenge, it is actually larger and even more complex. Built around 4,500 years ago, Avebury is the largest stone circle in Britain involving over 100 stones, together with a network of banks, ditches and causeways. It is situated a few miles from Stonehenge on the outskirts of the village of Avebury.
“Salisbury Cathedral in the distance on a Whitehorse countryside in Salisbury, England.”
Another well known iconic feature of the area which should not be missed are the white horses. These are not real horses, but horses carved into the white chalk soil. These are massive horses, and local communities spend time every year keeping the ground clear of weeds and detritus so that the horses stand out vividly against the surrounding landscape. The oldest of these horses can be seen on Westbury Hill, Bratton Down near the town of Westbury. Head for the White Horse car park just off the B3098 for the best viewpoint.
Heading southwards from Stonehenge visitors can explore the fascinating city Salisbury. It is a city with an intriguing history. It was originally founded on a different site – now known as Old Sarum. This was an Iron age hill fort, reused by Romans, Saxons and ultimately the Normans. Then under the Normans, the site became increasingly contentious with arguments been church and lords. The Church took the initiative, and simply moved the city, relocating it onto land they owned about two miles away. The resultant cathedral is one of the longest in England, and is a stunning example of medieval gothic architecture. It also houses a copy of the Magna Carta. However, the fact that the cathedral is actually built on wet soil using minimal foundations almost caused it to collapse in the nineteenth century. One of the first ever deep sea divers was employed to insert new pilings to support the massive weight of the cathedral, rendering it safe for centuries to come.
There is much to discover within Salisbury. Stroll through the medieval streets and take a look at the rare medieval ‘doom’ painting in the church of St Thomas within the city centre. You can explore superb Georgian and Queen Anne style architecture to be found around the Cathedral Close.
One word of warning however when exploring Salisbury Plain, especially if you plan to go walking. Access to large areas of the Plain are forbidden as it is military land used for training purposes and live firing is not unknown in that area! Check beforehand that your proposed route does not include any of those military firing areas.