There are plenty of places in Kent where you can spend a Bank Holiday, but if you fancy stepping back several centuries without having to find a time machine, Hever Castle is a pretty good place to start.
This August Bank Holiday weekend, from Saturday 29 to Monday 31 August, the castle and its grounds will once again become the setting for Hever in History with living history encampments, battle displays, falconry and the return of the Knights of Royal England for their annual jousting tournament.
And what better setting could there be?
Hever Castle is one of those places where history doesn’t seem particularly distant. Cross the bridge over the moat and enter through the medieval gatehouse and you are immediately surrounded by reminders of the past. The castle dates back to the 13th century, although it is perhaps best known for its connection with Anne Boleyn, who spent much of her childhood here before becoming the second wife of Henry VIII.
It is rather appropriate, then, that history should be brought to life in its grounds.
Throughout the Bank Holiday weekend there will be living history encampments representing different periods, ranging from the Middle Ages through to the 20th century. Visitors can wander among the camps, meet historical characters and see authentic equipment and weaponry at close quarters.
There will also be the opportunity to see suits of armour and weaponry, and for those who have always wondered whether they would look good dressed as a medieval knight, some can even be tried for size. It may not be quite as practical as a visit to the changing rooms at M&S, but it should certainly produce some memorable photographs, plus, the clothing’s more unique… if a little heavier!
The arena will be the centre of attention at various times during the weekend, with live battle displays and demonstrations providing plenty of action. If you prefer your historical entertainment with less clashing of swords and more feathers, there will also be spectacular falconry displays.
Watching birds of prey swoop, dive and respond to their handlers is always impressive, and the displays offer an insight into a practice that has been part of human history for centuries.
Then, of course, there are the knights.
The Knights of Royal England return to Hever for the annual Jousting Tournament, bringing horses, armour, lances and plenty of medieval pageantry to the castle grounds. Watching two mounted knights charging towards each other with lances raised is considerably more exciting than watching two people arguing over the last parking space in the supermarket.
The jousting is likely to be one of the weekend’s major attractions, particularly for younger visitors, although I suspect the adults will be equally engrossed.
There is one unfortunate omission from this year’s programme. The planned cannon displays have been cancelled because of the hot weather. Given the temperatures we’ve been experiencing, perhaps it’s just as well. We don’t need to recreate the sensation of being roasted on a medieval battlefield for the sake of authenticity!
Away from the arena, there will be plenty of opportunities to take things at a slower pace. Food and drink will be available around the grounds, while live performers and family-friendly activities will add to the atmosphere. The magnificent gardens are always worth exploring, and there is plenty of space to find somewhere to sit down, have something to eat and watch the world (several centuries of it) go by.
For families, Hever in History provides a particularly enjoyable way of introducing children to the past. It is history that can be seen, heard and experienced rather than simply read about in a textbook. For adults, there is the added pleasure of exploring one of Kent’s most atmospheric historic properties while enjoying a day of entertainment that keeps the kids quiet and (hopefully) wears them out by evening.
And there is something rather satisfying about wandering around a castle associated with Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn while watching knights joust, birds of prey take to the skies and historical encampments spring up around you.
So, if you haven’t yet made plans for the August Bank Holiday, Hever Castle could provide a more interesting alternative to sitting at home watching the rain, assuming, of course, that the British summer has decided to revert to type
Just remember that there’ll be no cannons this year. The knights, however, will be firing on all cylinders.
(Images © Hever Castle)
