Our 3rd year and even bigger and better than ever! Due to the success of our 2004 show, Sheffield City Council invited EventPlan to stage displays as part of the 2005 Sheffield Fayre, including a big American Civil War battle as the centrepiece to a fabulous weekend of displays with massed musket fire, cavalry and cannon.  A record crowd of around 25,000 visitors enjoyed the event, which was judged a great success. Photographs will follow soon. Click for an independent review of the event by photographer Des Knock.

Arena displays offered a spectacular “overview” of history from the Classical Greeks to C20th with skirmishes, combat and drill displays, hand to hand fighting, archery, musket, cannon & other weapons firing, plus equestrian skills.

Living history demonstrations, talks and have a go activities ran concurrently with the above, laid out in a "timeline" from Ancient Britons to C20th, so giving visitors the opportunity to literally "walk through history". As usual this highly visual and fascinating area proved very popular.

The Battle of Britain Memorial flight Lancaster Bomber flypast (at 3.15pm , Sunday) was hugely popular with visitors.

Historical traders/demonstrators were also present.

Participants

An excellent line up of top groups took part: 

• Classical Greeks:  The Hoplite Association

• Romans, Britons and Gladiators: The Vicus  

• Medieval: The Neville Household, Savile Household and the Knights Hospitalers

• Renaissance: Duelling techniques (and a chance to have a go) by the Society for the Study of Swordsmanship.

• English Civil War music and song performed by Hautbois, plus a small detachment of soldiers from the English Civil War Society.

• C18th redcoats and Jacobites portrayed by Lace Wars

• Regency: Days Gone By.

• American Civil War: The American Civil War Society and the Blues and the Greys

• Cowboys: The Arizona Rangers

• Victorian: The 1879 Group and  The Heilbron Commando

• WWI: Members of The Manchester Regiment, 1914-18 and the C20th Century Warfare Society  

• 1930s: La Columna (Spanish Civil War volunteers).

• WWII: Croix de Guerre and 8. Kompanie, Panzer Grenadier Regiment Gross Deutschland

• Horses and key riders supplied by Timbertops Equestrian Centre.

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

The venue

Norfolk Heritage Park is a pleasant hillside location with lots of trees, slopes, flat areas for encampments, good viewing, arena backdrops, visitor centre and facilities, yet within easy reach of the city centre (walk, take the tram or drive). In addition to the re-enactments, there were crafts, a horticultural show and other activities to enjoy including (sited away from the re-enactments), a fun fair. A fantastic family day out for visitors, and free too!

Directions

From the North, East or South: M1 Junction 33, then A630/A5/A61S to city centre via Sheffield Parkway.

From the West: A57 to city centre.

From city centre:  From the main Park Square roundabout (off Sheffield Parkway) take the A61(S) (Sheaf Street), past the railway station. Bear left, still on the A61(S) into Suffolk Road, then straight over the next roundabout past MacDonalds and up Farm Road. Turn next left into Park Grange Road under the Metro, then proceed up the hill until you see the park signs. These lead to the entrance and the Centre in the Park, complete with an excellent cafe.

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Updated 16 February 2006