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!
A
second 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.
There was a lot to see and do - multi-era living history and other displays including civil war soldiers including pike drill and musket firing; 1940s Home Guard training, WWII ARP, military Police and civilians with Lindyhop dancing; music and song (including Regency era and 1940s concert party); Regency country weddings; everyday life through the ages; cooking and crafts. Children's entertainments included Tudor puppet shows and a chance to train as Home Guard soldiers & learn how to defeat invading Germans, with "Robert Adams" explaining his grand design for the house and even teaching a few dance steps (when not designing things, Adams was a keen dancer). Click for information on frequently asked questions.
Photographs will follow but click for some photographs of last year's event. Also check out some excellent black and white images taken in 2007 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.
Timetable of displays and activities
|
Time |
Activity |
Performer(s) |
Location |
|
11.00 |
Gates open/lLiving history commences |
All |
Living history areas |
|
11.30 |
Home Guard drill and physical training |
The Civil Defenders, Discover History and La Columna |
Home Guard area |
|
|
Regency music and song |
The Madding Crowd |
Madding Crowd Tent |
|
Noon |
English Civil War soldiers of Lunsford’s Regiment 1642, pike drill and musket firing |
Prince Rupert’s Blew Regiment, of the Sealed Knot |
Arena |
|
|
Tudor puppet show |
Perrotts Puppet Players |
Tudor area |
|
12.30 |
1940s music and song |
The Spitfires |
Temple of Pan |
|
|
Georgian fashion talk and demonstration |
Hands on History |
Hands on History tent |
|
1.00 |
Tudor archery |
King Edwards School Living History Group |
Arena |
|
|
Home Guard bayonet exercise and grenade throwing practice |
The Civil Defenders, Discover History and La Columna |
Home Guard area |
|
1.30 |
An estate workers’ country wedding |
The Madding Crowd and Farthingale |
Madding Crowd Tent |
|
|
Home Guard physical training |
The Civil Defenders, Discover History and La Columna |
Home Guard area |
|
|
Tudor puppet show |
Perrotts Puppet players |
Tudor area |
|
1.45pm |
A Pikeman’s tale |
Prince Rupert’s Blew Regiment, of the Sealed Knot |
C17th camp |
|
2.00 |
1940s fashion show |
The Spitfires |
Temple of Pan |
|
|
Tony’s Tactics Talk – find out how to defeat Nazi tanks! |
La Columna |
Home Guard area |
|
|
The Witchfinder! |
Prince Rupert’s Blew Regiment, of the Sealed Knot |
C17th camp |
|
2.30 |
English Civil War drill for children |
Prince Rupert’s Blew Regiment, of the Sealed Knot |
Arena |
|
|
Music and song commemorating Nelson and Trafalgar |
Madding Crowd |
Madding Crowd Tent |
|
|
Home Guard battle school briefing |
The Civil Defenders, Discover History and La Columna |
Home Guard area |
|
3.00 |
1940 Home Guard battle school display |
The Civil Defenders, Discover History and La Columna |
Arena |
|
|
Georgian fashion talk and demonstration |
Hands on History |
Hands on History tent |
|
|
The Tudor Soldier - swords and swordsmanship |
King Edwards School Living History Group |
Tudor area |
|
3.30 |
English Civil War soldiers of Lunsford’s Regiment 1642, pike drill and musket firing |
Prince Rupert’s Blew Regiment, of the Sealed Knot |
Arena
|
|
|
The Tudor toff’s guide to shopping |
King Edwards School Living History Group |
Tudor area |
|
|
Regency country dances and games |
The Madding Crowd |
Madding Crowd Tent |
|
4.00 |
1940s music and song |
The Spitfires |
Temple of Pan |
|
|
Home Guard drill |
The Civil Defenders, Discover History and La Columna |
Home Guard area |
|
|
Tudor puppet show |
Perrotts Puppet players |
Tudor area |
|
4.30 |
Event closes |
All |
All areas |
Ongoing activities:
Living history, including everyday life through the ages, and soldiers’ encampments
Georgian and Regency gentry by Farthingale
WWII soldiers and civilians of the Sittingbourne Homefront Society
Watch out for 1940s Viv the Spiv!
Interesting historical traders’ stalls to explore
Georgian music and song in the house (separate admission fee applies)
Performers
Tudor: Farthingale, Perrotts Puppet Players and King Edwards School Living History Group
C17th: Prince Rupert's Blew Regiment of The Sealed Knot
C18th: Hands on History and Martin Salter
Regency: The Madding Crowd
World War Two: The Civil Defenders, Discover History, La Columna, the Sittingbourne Homefront Living History Society, plus 1940s song and fashion show from The Spitfires
Click for a timetable of displays and activities.
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.
All pre-registered allied and civilian 1940s re-enactors, vehicle owners and enthusiasts were warmly invited. Groups or individuals wishing to participate in our 40s weekends should register with us please, so we can forward full details when available. Please note, no German/Axis impressions are permitted at some events in order to preserve the Home Front theme. Thank you.
Admission prices
Adult £6.50 advance booking, £3.50 National Trust members advance booking, £7.50 on the gate, £4.50 National Trust members on the gate. Child £4 advance booking, £2.50 National Trust members advance booking, £5 on the gate, £3.50 National Trust members on the gate.
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, then left again at the lights. The park is half a mile away.
Ordnance survey reference
Trading opportunities
Quality historical traders are invited to book a pitch via EventPlan. Pitches are limited and as usual preference will be 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 2008
Click here for details of many other historical events organised by EventPlan during 2008.
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Updated 31 July 2008