Worcester Re-enactors

Worcester Re-Enactors take over Worcester City Centre venues. Guildhall and Tudor House. Entry free at both venues.

This year’s Living History in Worcester is now in its eighth year this we have over 1000 years of history from the Vikings to World War two at the Guildhall, Worcester High Street and the Tudor House Heritage Centre in Friar Street. We have soldiers, civilians, weapons, drill displays and crafts, a history fair and much more. The event will be opened by the Mayor of Worcester at 10 am. This year we are supporting the Mayors Charities Leukaemia Care and FOAG, the event is free to the public but the charities will be there for voluntary donations from the visitors

On the ground floor of the Guildhall the periods will have displays and cameos showing life and equipment for soldier and civilian. Vikings warriors will display their fighting skill in the Guildhall courtyard and inside striking coins, showing textile crafts and working with furs. 17C will have display of arms, period games, plus Drill on the High street and The Tudor House in Friar Street will become the Cross Keys Inn, set in the time of the English Civil war when Worcester was occupied by the Royalist forces in the days before the Battle of Worcester in 1651.

A group from the 17C / 18C (Lace Wars) will be in the main hall of the Guildhall with a small camp setup, Napoleonic groups will be there showing what life was like for the soldier, their ladies will be taking tea and showing needlecraft, while Napoleons troops will have a small encampment. During the day one of the Napoleonic re-enactors will be  a regency worthy standing at the Hustings as member of Parliament for the Good City of Worcester. The American Civil War soldiers and ladies will be there showing camp life, with medical care for the soldiers with a barber surgeon on hand showing how they would be treated for their injuries. 19C saw conflicts in Southern Africa with the Zulu and Boer Wars, there will be Engineers and another surgeon this time from the Zulu wars and soldiers from the Boer Wars.

WW1 (the Great War) saw Trench Warfare and inside the hall will be a mock-up of a British trench with some of the Tommies. They will tell you what life was life for the soldiers and you can learn about the Battle of Ghelevelt where the Worcester Regiment won one of it’s Honours

WW2 we will have British, American and German troops showing Civilian Life of the period with “Mend and Make do” display the RAF will be in the courtroom with a full working mock-up of an Emergency Operations room and re-enacting a raid by the Luftwaffe over the south Coast of Britain. The troops from all side swill be showing weapons plus camp and barrack life for the soldier

Upstairs in the Assembly room will be a History fair with history societies, historic places to visit and re-enactment information stands. In the Council chamber will be a Victorian Magic Lantern show they will show the equipment and during the day running short 20 minute shows

In the Guildhall Courtyard will be displays from WW2, 17C and Vikings while on the High street will be military drill displays from different periods all through the day

Come and talk to the re-enactors they have a wealth of knowledge on their periods and how the items they have were used, you can even try on some of the clothing and handle some of the items. Learn about the histories of the periods from the re-enactors and the history societies in the Assembly room.  Watch the Victorian Magic Lantern show with a showing of Dickens ‘A Christmas Carol’, witness a German Air raid , you can support or heckle the worthy standing in the Hustings.

Re-enactors: This is a multi-period event Living History Event. Multi Period cameos / scenarios inside the Guidhall, In the Assembly room on the first floor will be a history fair and regimental display/information display stands and Drill displays on the High Street outside the Guildhall.  17C living History at the Tudor House, the Tudor House becomes the Cross Keys Inn - a 17C tavern, there will be activity all day with people visiting the Tavern during the day.

Re-enactors - To take part you will need to have either Worcester Re-enactor membership for insurance cover or Your group or unit will have full public liabilty cover. To find out more contact Brian Bullock - email wrbrian@yahoo.co.uk or call 07508 017 013 (evenings) for details.  this is a booked event, Do not just turn up on the day.

Everyone else - The event is a free event and there is something fo rall the family whatever your age - from 9 to 99