A shed of doom and pop up history talks at Wiltshire festival

Chalke Valley History Festival (Photo: Martin Cook)

When: 25th June – 1st July 2018

Where: Church Farm, Bury Lane, Broad Chalke, Near Salisbury, Wiltshire SP5 5DP

£: Adult tickets cost £12.50 in advance or £15 on the day. Children’s tickets £6 in advance or £7.50 on the day. Family tickets cost £35 in advance or £42 on the day. Camping is also available

What is it?

Chalke Valley History Festival will take place from Monday 25th June to Sunday 1st July in Wiltshire, with living history encampments, air displays and interactive events.

This year’s quirky festival highlights will include Terry Pratchett’s Shed of Doom, a 1940s party, pop up history talks, historic surgery and a sword school.

The festival will feature the office of Sir Terry Pratchett, specially recreated for the event, giving visitors the chance to take a peek at where the author penned his much-loved novels.  The highlight of the installation will be the Shed of Doom, a menacing monolithic tower which will stand 18 feet tall, and based on Paul Kidby’s drawings.  In addition, magicians Morgan and West, newly inducted members of the Conjurors’ Guild of Ankh-Morpork, will also be entertaining visitors with their time-travelling shenanigans.

Napoleonics Firing at last year’s festival (Photo: Martin Cook)

The Saturday night will see a 1940s themed party taking place with live music from Bombshell Belles and the Branflakes, and a fireworks display.

Historic Surgery: The Butcher’s Bill will challenge modern surgeons and vets to treat the ‘injured’ on the ancient battlefield using only the tools that were available at the time.

Other live history events will include a first world war tank driving lesson, the story of gunpowder with demonstrations and live firing, and the secret art of the Medieval Longsword.

Other events during the festival will include living history camps, a fine dining tent, talks on history’s heroes, history tellers, a recreated WWI trench, the Red Devils and a series of events commemorating the 100th anniversary of the RAF.

More info: cvhf.org.uk