< Recreating the past for live events

Recreating the past for live events, TV and film

Kedleston at War 1939-45

at Kedleston Hall, Derby, Derbyshire DE22 5JH

 Telephone for general enquiries: 01332 842191

30-31 May 2009 11am to 5pm

 Normal admission fee applies (free admission for National Trust members).

All allied and civilian 1940s re-enactors, dancers, vehicle owners and enthusiasts are warmly invited to participate - free entry to those who pre-register! (Registration accepted until 3pm Thursday 28th May, thereafter event admission prices apply, free to National Trust members)

A new, modest scale but extremely enjoyable and hopefully annual event at picturesque Kedleston Hall, evoking the home front war effort during WWII.  The Hall, estate and magnificent landscape were extensively utilised by the military during the war (see below for more details), so a great  venue then for a weekend of 1940s nostalgia with living history, entertainments, music and song. Plus a new chance to see the 2002 temporary exhibition about the hall's wartime role, Secrets and Soldiers.

Participating groups and performers include The Andersons (civilians), BEF Society (British Expeditionary Force 1940, Sunday only),  Birmingham Pals (BEF 1940), Robert Burns (wartime comedy routine), Civilians at War (civilians), Discover History (Home Guard), The Festival Swing Dancers (Sunday only),  Foreign Field (battle school for children), JJ's Vintage Hats (Wartime hat exhibition), Leicestershire Home Guard Remembrance (Home Guard), The Lost Patrol (US paratroopers), Lovat Scouts (Scots snipers and mountain/ski troops), Mansfield Fire Museum (fire engine), Martha's War (wartime ration cooking demonstrations and ARP), Spitfire Sisters (music and song), Summer of '44 (ATS/civilians), Tommy Atkins Society (British infantry), UK Home Front (civilians), Winston's Weekend Strollers (ATS/civilians),  The Yanks Living History Group (US infantry & vehicles), and numerous couples and individuals, including period military and civilian vehicle owners. Plus interesting 1940s "stuff" to browse and buy.

All Allied and civilian 1940s re-enactors, vehicle owners and enthusiasts are warmly invited. Visitors are also invited to join in with the spirit of the event by coming in period dress (completely optional, of course!). Groups or individuals wishing to participate in this event are asked to register with us , so we can forward full details, and to click the link for our standard terms and conditions of participation for groups, individuals and performers, or for classic vehicle owners. Please note that registration is accepted until 3pm Thursday 28th May. after this you re still welcome to come but may have to pay the National Trust admission fee (NT members free).

We particularly welcome impressions specific to the Hall's wartime role (see below). Military personnel stationed here included BEF troops of the 2/5th Sherwood Foresters, the ATS, Royal Engineers, Royal Army Service Corps and Home Guard.  However, all allied civilian and military impressions are welcome (but no "personalities" please, other than HRH Princess Mary, the Princess Royal, who visited in 1944, if someone would like to portray her). Please note, As this is a a Home Front event, no axis impressions please.

A brief wartime history of Kedleston Hall

At the outbreak of war Richard Curzon, 2nd Viscount Scarsdale,  was living at Kedleston Hall with his wife and daughters. He had always been a military man, serving in the 2nd Dragoons, 24th Derbyshire Yeomanry Armoured Car Company and the 68th Heavy A A regiment. In 1939 he set up a local regiment whose main task was to defend the Rolls Royce factory in Derby. He also raised a battery at Ilkeston (town on the Derby/ Nottingham border) - the regiment was in England until July 1941 and then in Egypt, Syria and Palestine. In 1943 he was invalided home.
 
In September 1939 Richard Curzon offered Kedleston for use by the War Department. The offer was accepted in October, and Kedleston was occupied by several different units until 1946. Temporary wooded huts were built on the grounds (in what is now around the car park), and rooms in the west wing, ground floor of Hall, and stable block were requisitioned. The kitchen of the west wing (now the National Trust restaurant) was used as an officers mess.
 
In 1939-1940 Kedleston was a mustering point for the British Expeditionary Force prior to the French campaign, leading to the evacuation at Dunkirk. Some survivors of Dunkirk also came to Kedleston for a short time. Forces came from as far a field as India and the Middle East. Local troops mustered at Kedleston included the 2/5th Sherwood Foresters.
 
In 1940 there was bomb damage to the stables and pleasure grounds, with 17 bombs falling. In 1940 -1942 Kedleston was a training camp for no.6 Bridge Company Royal Army Service Corps & Royal Engineers. From 1941 to 1942 Kedleston was a training camp for the 90 Chemical Warfare Company, Royal Engineers. Other troops - for example paratroopers - were also trained at the  hall. In 1942 park used by the Home Guard. From 1942 - 1945 the hall was occupied by the Wireless Intercept "Station Y" - ATS, Royal Signals and Intelligence Corps. Intercepted wireless messages were passed to "Station X" at Bletchley Park for decoding. Approximately 500 women and 50 men were involved in the vital role of monitoring enemy messages in occupied Europe, and later Japanese messages too. American servicemen were regularly bussed into dances at Kedleston.

HRH Princess Mary, the Princess Royal inspected an ATS Guard of Honour during a visit on 28th April 1944.

Detailed information about the Hall's wartime role can be found in the fascinating National Trust booklet, Secrets and Soldiers, Kedleston Hall 1939-45, by Kedleston Hall's former archivist Jill Banks.

Don't miss our other 1940s events this year - Wartime Cumber at Clumber Park on 13-14 June and  On the Home Front 1930-45 at Rufford Abbey Country Park on 15-16 August! There's also a substantial 40's theme within our multi-period extravaganza at the Sheffeld Fayre on 30-31 (bank holiday) August.

Programme of displays and activities 

Correct when published. Please note that some times may vary on the day

Time

Activity

Performers

11.00

Living history commences

All

 

Home Guard drill

Discover History

11.30

40s music and song

The Spitfire Sisters

 

A tour of the stables (which suffered bomb damage during WWII)

National Trust volunteers

Noon

Soldiers’ drill

The Birmingham Pals
 

Home Guard lecture

Discover History

12.30

40s music and song

The Spitfire Sisters

 

Meet US Paratroopers
The Lost Patrol

 

A tour of the stables

National Trust volunteers

1

Battle school for children

Foreign Field
 

Wartime radio characters

Robert Burns

1.30

40s music and song

The Spitfire Sisters

 

Cooking with wartime rations demonstration

Martha’s War

 

A tour of the stables

National Trust volunteers

2

Home Guard lecture

Discover History

 

Meet US Paratroopers
The Lost Patrol
  1940s Fashion talk John & Claire Priestly

2.30

40s music and song

The Spitfire Sisters

 

Cooking with wartime rations demonstration

Martha’s War

 

A tour of the stables

National Trust volunteers

3

Training to fight the Nazis! 

The Birmingham Pals, Tommy Atkins Society and Discover History

3.30

40s music and song

The Spitfire Sisters

 

Battle school for children

Foreign Field

4

Home Guard drill
Discover History

 

Meet US Paratroopers
The Lost Patrol

 

Wartime radio characters

Robert Burns

4.30

Living history continues

All

5.00

Event closes

All

 Ongoing activities

-  Living history by most of the above performers

-  Visiting soldiers and civilians of Civilians at War, Leicestershire Home Guard Remembrance, Lovat Scouts, Summer of ’44, UK Home Front, Winston's Weekend Strollers, The Yanks Living History Group and others

- Dancing by the Festival Swing Dance Society (Sunday only)

- Vintage Hat exhibition by JJ’s Vintage Hats

-  SSAFA fund raising and other stalls.

-  Period vehicles on display.

Admission prices

Hall (house and grounds) - Adult £9, Child £4.50, Family £22.50
Grounds only (including the event) - Adult £4, Child £2, Family £10.10
Discounted rates for visitors arriving by bus, cycle or foot.
Free entry to National Trust members, children under 5 and necessary companions of disabled visitors.

 

Trading opportunities

Quality historical traders are invited to take part at this event.  Please click for further details of  trading opportunities at other EventPlan events.

Visiting Kedleston Hall

Visit the National Trust's web page about Kedleston Hall to find out more about this outstanding C18th landscape property. Restaurant, shop and plant sales.

How to get there

By road

Take the brown signed exit off the Northbound A38, situated to the west of Derby. Follow Kedleston Road and brown signs to the Hall.

Bus services

Arriva 109 service from Derby to Ashbourne. Alight at the Smithy and walk 1 mile.

By train

Duffield 3.5 miles, Derby 5.5 miles.

Ordnance survey reference

128:SK312403

 

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 here for details of many other historical events organised by EventPlan next year.

 

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Updated 27 May 2009