Living History Village
The Past comes to life
Visit the Living History Encampment on the grass between the Hilton Hotel, Pendigo Lake and the NEC to experience life in AD 60 and 950. Here two different time periods are represented by re-enactment groups. In their camps you can find out more about life in the past. In the Arena there will be demonstrations of weapons and battles.
The Encampment is open from 10am till 5pm each day, and all events are completely free
Meet the Vikings
Find out more about how the Vikings lived, worked, ate, and gamed a thousand years ago, at our Living History Encampment. Ardenweard are a Warwickshire-based group of The Vikings reenactors. Throughout the day, you’ll have the chance to rub shoulders with the Vikings and try out some Dark Ages boardgames such as Hnefatafl and Nine Men’s Morris. There will also be some amazing combat displays, weapons demonstrations, and battles - plus the chance for children aged under 11 to have a go at combat training and battle Vikings.
The Realities of Adventuring
A light hearted talk by the Vikings showing actual items used during the 9th/10th centuries that often turn up in fantasy Role playing games. What exactly is flint and steel, and how do you use it to make a fire? What would an early medieval mirror look like? How to set up camp for the night? How would Vikings pick a lock? These and other questions answered. Good information for players and GMs who want to add some realism to their fantasy worlds
2.00 The Realities of Adventuring each day Viking Camp.
Hnefatafl Contest
The Vikings challenge you to a game of wits and cunning!!!! Hnefatafl is the Ancient Viking board game, similar in appearance to chess but having a totally different strategic rule set. All day you will be able to learn this game, but at 4pm on Saturday the Vikings will be having a championship that anyone can take part in to win a prize. Have you got what it takes to out wit a Viking?
Just come to the Viking area at 2.00 pm on Saturday to take part.
Who were the Saxons?
For over three decades, Regia Anglorum has been re-creating early mediaeval history for audiences around the world. We have skilled, properly equipped and highly motivated men and women of all ages who celebrate the very best of life a thousand years ago!
Regia Anglorum was a term used by early English writers to describe the English state, what we would call “Britain” today. In vulgate Latin, Regia Anglorum was a term used to mean, roughly, “The Kingdoms of the English-speaking people”, pronounced with a hard “G”, as in gate. It implies no particular boundary, either geographically or spiritually.
In a twenty-first century context Regia Anglorum is a nationwide society with many independent local groups, from Scotland to the English Channel. Our goal is to portray all aspects of life; from warriors, striding the place of slaughter, to workers, whose daily tasks were the backbone of early mediaeval society, we seek to portray all aspects of life in ages past.
See the Romans
The Vicus is an historical re-enactment society that portrays the Roman invasion of Britain in the 1st century AD, from the initial invasion of Claudius in 43 AD, though the revolt of Boudicca in 60-61 AD to the final battle against Roman rule at Mons Graupius in Scotland in 84 AD. Visit the the Vicus trading post and military camp to learn about including crafts, leather working, wood working, Roman painting, writing, the Roman army and more! Check out the Arena timetable to witness a skirmish between Romans and Britons, gladiatorial combat and to watch projectile weapons displays including pilum, javelin, and archery.
Arena Daily Schedule:
10.30am Dark Ages Weapons Display and Skirmish (Ardenweard/ Regia Angolorum)
11.30am Romans and Britons weapons demonstrations (The Viccus)
12.30pm. Hrothgar’s Saga and Kiddie Vike(Ardenweard/ Regia Angolorum)
1.30pm Gladiatorial combat(The Viccus)
2.00 The Realities of Adventuring (all )
3.00 Main Battle A Romans vs Britons (do you have enough to make this work)
3.30 Main Battle B Saxons vs Vikings