Visitors to a popular festival are being given the chance to get a taste of what it was like to be a medieval soldier, by taking part in a do-it-yourself Battle of Bosworth.
The action-packed Bosworth Medieval Festival is taking place from 10am to 5.30pm on Saturday, 17 August and Sunday, 18 August. This year’s event will see many new and exciting spectacles added to the programme – including the DIY battle.
At 3pm on both days, visitors of all ages can recreate the Battle of Bosworth themselves in the main arena, where later in the afternoon around 500 reenactors will fight it out themselves.
Participants will make up the armies of Richard III, Henry Tudor and the Stanleys to play out the main elements of the famous battle of 1485.
The armies will be led by a team of guides, who will appoint a leader and a standard bearer for each army. The do-it-yourself battle promises to be a great family experience and a great way to remember what happened more than 530 years ago.
Festival-goers from tiny tots to centenarians are welcome to take part, with participation included in the ticket price.
We are delighted to be able to add this exciting DIY Battle of Bosworth to our popular Bosworth Medieval Festival programme. It will give visitors the chance to get involved in the action and to learn more about the real battle, while having fun at the same time.
Person:Councillor Richard Blunt, cabinet member for heritage, leisure and artsNew additions to this year’s programme include period falconry displays, medieval cooking demonstrations and food tasting, roving jester, king’s executioner and medieval puppet show. There will be events taking place in the two arenas over the weekend and a new, mounted skill at arms display which puts the horses and armoured riders through their paces.
There will be two battle reenactments on each day. The Battle of Barnet reenactment takes place at 11am, while the show-stopping 40-minute re-creation of the Battle of Bosworth featuring hundreds of reenactors is at 4pm. There are also large living history camps to explore, jousting, archery, cannon fire demonstrations, guided tours, author talks, medieval craft market and loads of exciting fun, hands-on games and competitions for children.
There will be a range of food stalls offering something to suit every taste and appetite, and the 1485 Tithe Barn restaurant will be open for lunches, teas and light refreshments throughout the weekend.
Tickets have been held at the same price as last year and are valid for the whole weekend.
Once through the gates, all events during the two days (except talks in the Heritage Room and have-a-go archery) are completely free of charge. There is free entry to the award-wining exhibition and free car parking.
Tickets can be bought online at www.bosworthbattlefield.org.uk or by calling 01455 290429 between 10am and 5pm. They can also be bought in person from Bosworth Battlefield. Family tickets and special group rates are available and tickets can be purchased on the gate on both days of the festival.