Recreating the past for live events, TV and film

Historic Battles and Chariot spectacular

Abbey Field, Colchester, Essex

Sunday 19 July 2009, 11am to 5pm

Roman chariot racing,  gladiatorial combat and legionary soldiers - battles plus other historical re-enactments - living history through the ages -  static displays and more!

Following the success of our 2007 event, we were once again invited by Snake in the Grass Limited to arrange even more living history and re-enactments, to feature alongside their exciting chariot racing displays. Visitors enjoyed a full programme of displays and living history, including;

- Roman shows with armoured legionaries and artillery, ferocious gladiators, and thrilling chariot racing

- English Civil War and Napoleonic battles

- other displays including drill and firing

- a chronological "time line" of history with soldiers, uniforms and weaponry from the ancient era to modern world

- equestrian displays

- living history encampment featuring campaign life from the Classical Greeks to 1980s

- medieval have-a-go archery for children

Performers

Performing groups included:

Classical Greek:  The Hoplite Association and Spartan Society

Romans: Horses Impossible  The Colchester Roman Society, Britannia and Legio XIIII Gemina Martia Victrix

Medieval: The Albini Household, Invaders and Defenders, and Fahnlein Uri

English Civil War: The Sealed Knot including Wallers' Horse

Napoleonic: The Napoleonic Association, including the The Coldstream Regiment of Foot Guards, 1815 and 2nd Battalion 95th Rifles

American Civil War: The Southern Skirmish Association and American Eagles Society

Victorian: Skinners Horse

WWI: The 16th Lancers and the 1914-21 Society

WWII: 5th Battalion, Coldstream Guards,  Za Oboronu and Das Heer, with air raid shelter by The Pattens

1950s Malayan emergency: Post-War Warriors

1960s: 101st Rangers - Vietnam and 5th Special Forces Group, 3rd Mobile Strike Force 1966

1980s: Past Regiments  and Forces 80.

* Booked directly by Snake in the Grass Limited.

Groups and performers who would like to take part in future events like this one are invited to contact us for more details and click the link for our Standard terms and conditions for participation.  

 

Programme of displays and activities

Time

Main Arena

Arena 2

11.30

-

The Fighting Swiss 1480 – 1520 – Fahnlein Uri

Noon

How Roman soldiers and gladiators trained – Legio XIIII GMV and Britannia

English Civil War soldiers – The Sealed Knot

12.30

Roman chariot racing – Horses Impossible

Classical Greek warriors – The Hoplite Association

1

Napoleonic Battle – The Napoleonic Association

American Civil War drill, tactical and firing display – The Southern Skirmish Association

1.30

Medieval arms, armour and combat – The Albini Household

Restoration redcoats – The 1st Foot Guards

2

Victorian equestrian display – Skinners Horse

WWII burlesque show – Millicent Binks

2.30

Gladiatorial combat - Britannia

WWI equestrian display – The 16th Lancers

3

Above, continued

Napoleonic soldiers – The Napoleonic Association, including the Coldstream Regiment of Foot Guards 1815 and 2nd Battalion, 95th Rifles

3.15

Roman chariot racing - Horses Impossible

Above, continued

3.30

Above, continued

Spartan Warriors – The Spartan Society

3.45

English Civil War battle – The Sealed Knot

End of Arena displays

4.30

End of arena displays

-

Ongoing living history 11am to 5pm

Visitors could also enjoy ongoing living history by most of the above groups plus: 

 

Trading opportunities

Traders were very welcome at this event, and were booked in by our client, Snake in the Grass Limited.  Please click for details of  trading opportunities at our 2009 events.

Admission  prices

Adults £8 in advance, £10 on the gates.

Concessions OAP’s under 16s, Services & Veterans  £7 in advance (gate price tbc)

Family £20 advance £25 on the gates.

Tickets could be ordered in advance from Snake in the Grass Limited, 61 King Stephens Road, Colchester, Essex C01 2DS.

 

A brief history of re-enactment

Interested in how and why re-enactment has become so popular in recent years? Click on the link to read a history of re-enactment.

 

Other events 2009

Click for details of many other 2009 historical events organised by EventPlan this year.

 

Back to    2009 events  

Colchester Military Festival

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Updated 26 August 2009