Osterley through the ages
A multi-period Tudor to WWII living history show at
Osterley Park, London
Jersey Road, Isleworth, Middlesex TW7 4RB. Telephone 01494 755566 (info line) or 020 8232 5050.
Living history - displays - entertainments - lots to see and do!
Stop Press! Osterley through the ages will be back on 19-20 July 2008! Please revisit in due course for more details.
Despite
some distinctly poor weather on Monday, appreciative audiences enjoyed
a great weekend of multi-era displays and entertainments in
Osterley Park's picturesque Pleasure
Gardens, staged
on behalf of the
National Trust. Originally built in
Tudor times, the house was transformed in the mid C18th by Robert Adam into the
magnificent neo-classical villa we see today. During World War Two, Osterley was
a key Home Guard training facility famously run by maverick Spanish Civil War
veteran
Tom Wintringham. Read more about his
activities at Osterley Park
here.
Performers presented a continuous programme of displays on both days, click for a timetable of displays and activities. These featured multi-era living history and other displays including redcoats and WWII soldiers (including the Home Guard and Germans), equestrian skills by a mounted Home Guard soldier and volunteer scouts; music and song (including Regency era and 1940s concert party), period fashion demonstrations, Regency country weddings, everyday life through the ages, cooking, and crafts. Children's entertainments included puppet shows and interactive displays, with a chance to train as Home Guard soldiers, learn how to defeat invading Germans, and "help out" with bomb disposal! Visitors also met "Robert Adams", who explained his grand design for the house and even taught a few dance steps (when not designing things, Adams was a keen dancer). As usual with EventPlan shows, there were lots to see, do and enjoy, as well as a variety of unusual and interesting items on sale within "traders' row". Click for information on frequently asked questions.
Photos will be added to our galleries shortly. Check out some excellent black and white images taken by Malcolm Atkin on his 1930s Zeiss and Rollei cameras.
The National Trust shop and tea room was open as normal, with additional event catering and refreshments available.
Performers
The excellent line up of groups and performers included:
Tudor: The Tudor Group, Perrotts Puppet Players and King Edwards School Living History Group
C17th: History Re-enactment Workshop
C18th: The Association of Crown Forces 1776 and Farthingale
Regency: The Madding Crowd, The Coldstream Regiment of Foot Guards, 1815 and Farthingale
Victorian: The Chatelaines
1930s: The Blackout Volunteers
World War Two:
The Civil Defenders,
La Columna,
Ack Ack
Living History Group (with searchlight), the
World War Two Living History Association,
the Sittingbourne Homefront Living History Society, plus 1940s song
and fashion show from The Spitfires
Equestrian World War Two Home Guard and Regency era displays by History Horse and Karen Wright.
Fashion through the ages and WWII "bomb disposal" with Hands on History. Click for a timetable of displays and activities.
A small number of fascinating historical traders were also present.
Living history groups and other performers interested in taking part in our events are invited to contact us for further details and click the link for our Standard terms and conditions for participation.
1940s British military and civilian re-enactors were particularly warmly invited, registered with us in advance, and we were delighted to welcome those who joined in.
Admission prices
The following admission prices covered the Pleasure Gardens and event: National Trust members: Adult £3.00p, Child £2.00p. Non-members: Adult £6.00p, Child £4.00p. Normal admission prices to the house applied (National Trust members free). Normal free admission applied to the rest of the estate grounds.
Visitor Parking: A modest parking fee applied.
With the event offering excellent value for money for National Trust members, this was an excellent reason for non-member visitors to join, save money, and in doing so assist this worthy organisation in its objectives.
Visiting Osterley Park
Visit the National Trust's
web pages about Osterley Park. The house is set in extensive park and farm land, complete with pleasure grounds and neo-classical garden buildings. The spectacular interiors contain one of Britain's most complete examples of Robert Adam's work and the magnificent C16th stables survive largely intact.Directions
Click for a map.
By road
Take M4 exit 3, then right onto the A312 towards Hounslow, then left onto the A4 to central London. Just after Osterley tube station, turn left and follow Thornbury Road to the main entrance. If travelling from central London, turn right off the A4 just after Gillette Corner.
Bus services
Cycling
By train
By Underground
Osterley Station (Piccadilly Line). Turn left on leaving the station, the park is half a mile away.
Ordnance survey reference
Trading opportunities
A number of quality historical traders booked a pitch via EventPlan. Pitches were limited and as usual preference was given to traders who utilise period tents or otherwise attractively presented stands. Please click for further details of trading opportunities at forthcoming EventPlan events.
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 2007
Click here for details of many other historical events organised by EventPlan during 2007.
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Updated 31 December 2007