Located on the edge of Hednesford Hills, the Museum of Cannock Chase illustrates the rich industrial heritage of the area, and the social and domestic life of times past.
Trace the history of Cannock Chase in our Local History gallery. Visit our Coal Mining Gallery to discover how coal shaped our area.
Historic Re-enactments
Historic Re-enactments
What is it?
Historic re-enactments are both educational and entertaining. Typically the re-enactments take the form of dressing up in a style from the past in order to focus on a particular theme or time period. These can take the form of participation events such as mock trials, industrial workplaces or Victorian schoolroom sessions through to observations of major rehearsed re-enactments such as battles. Battle re-enactments often take the form of combat demonstrations, which are generally performed by a company to members of the public and are loosely based around actual events with costumes, armour and weapons from the period in use.
What does it involve?
The level of involvement differs depending on whether you would like to get your pupils involved in the re-enactment or not. If you are to be involved in the re-enactment then you will be brief by a member of the re-enactment team on what is expected of the pupils prior to the event. Pupils will often dress in appropriate clothing for the time period they are re-enacting and will learn historical facts as the re-enactment takes place. If you are watching a re-enactment you will simply sit and observe the show whilst learning about the specific topic, often being narrated by members of the performing troupe.
Why do it and what are the benefits?
Watching re-enactments will help students to learn about a given time period. Having a visual of a specific topic is far better than simply reading about it. Better still actually involving students in the re-enactment will help all pupils recall facts especially helping kinaesthetic learners. There is also a lot of fun to be had in the dressing up!
What equipment do we need?
As with most activities where you visit an establishment to try it, the venue should provide the majority of the equipment you'll need to participate. You should always check beforehand though, as some places may ask you come dressed appropriately for the specific activity.
Who is it suitable for?
Watching an historic re-enactment is a suitable activity for children of all ages. If the pupils are to be partaking in the re-enactment then activity is only suitable for children in key stage 2 and upwards.
Costs?
The cost of a re-enactment varies depending on the amount of pupils you wish to take and whether you will be watching or partaking in the activity. The length of the re-enactment session will also have an impact on cost. Some venue such as castles and museums hold regular re-enactments so it may be worth looking at tying in your trip with a visit to an educational venue. Please research various providers in your area to find the best value offering.
Issues/Things to think about? (unsuitable for age groups, medical conditions etc)
Simply watching an historic re-enactment poses little to no risk however some students may be sensitive to particular realistic recreations of battle scenes. If you are partaking in a re-enactment it is important to listen to any safety briefings given by the organisation. As with any school trip it is important you take any student specific medication with you if the re-enactment takes place off the premises.
How do we include?
Many venues now cater for pupils with physical disabilities. Please consult specific venues in your area to find out more about what they are set up for.
Doing it abroad?
There is a very big historical re-enactment scene in the united states however they often focus on events relevant to American history so may not be relevant to the Curriculum.
Main website:
For more information on Historic re-enactments please click here.
It is a good idea to research venues in your area before the trip.
Venues with this Activity
Warwick's Mediaeval gem
The Lord Leycester Hospital is not now, and has never been, a medical establishment. The word ‘hospital’ is used in its ancient sense meaning “a charitable institution for the housing and maintenance of the needy, infirm or aged”.
Award winning, historically informative and hugely entertaining, it's the perfect way to soak up the atmosphere of this famous city, leaving you with a deliciously scary tingle running down your spine.
An ancient site of incarceration (since 1071) offering a highly atmospheric history lesson spanning ten centuries, with hands on displays and real life prisoner stories. Quirky costumed tour guides are available every 20 minutes.
The old buildings have been preserved and are now open to the public revealing a time capsule: allowing the buildings to tell their captivating story.
A unique partnership between the National Trust for Scotland and National Museums Scotland, the museum combines an exhibition building (with shop and cafe) and the historic working farm of Wester Kittochside.
Scone Palace has an exciting and colourful history as one of Scotland's most important stately homes. Fifteen hundred years ago it was the capital of the Picts. In the intervening centuries, it has been the seat of parliaments and the crowning place of the Kings of Scots, including Macbeth and Robert The Bruce.
Feed the farm animals, see the miniature Shetland ponies, picnic area and welly walks, zip wire and adventure play fort and dressing up in the manor house. Indoor soft play, cafe and farm shop. Family fun at Oxfordshire Cotswolds historic Witney farmstead.
The Edinburgh Dungeon brings together an amazing cast of theatrical actors, special effects, stages, scenes and rides in a truly unique and exciting walkthrough experience that you see, hear, touch, smell and feel. It’s hilarious fun and it’s sometimes a bit scary.
We love it. We know you will too. Here's why:
Find out what life was like in Northern Ireland during the Second World War!
Starkly impressive Brough Castle stands on a ridge commanding strategic Stainmore Pass, on the site of a Roman fort.
Frequently the target of Scots raids, its towering keep dates from about 1200, and more comfortable living quarters were later added by the Clifford family, only to be accidentally burnt following a 'great Christmas party' in 1521.
Ordinary people doing extraordinary things
Cumbria‘s Museum of Military Life was founded in 1932 and tells the 300-year story of Cumbria’s army regiments through books, documents, photographs and artefacts. Based at Carlisle Castle, the museum moved into the larger Alma Ward room in 2014.
The Intertwined History of 300 years of British Infantry Regiments
Bloody, Brutal, Bannockburn
Take your place on the battlefield. Stand face-to-face with fearless medieval warriors. Witness two opposing kings – Robert the Bruce and Edward II – whose tactics in 1314 changed the path of Scotland’s history, forever.
The centre is a world-class visitor attraction marking the 700th anniversary of the battle.
Segedunum Roman Fort is the last outpost of Hadrian’s Wall. Home for 300 years to 600 soldiers guarding the furthest reaches of the Empire. Today it has an interactive museum, viewing tower, excavated remains and reconstructions.
The award winning Tower Museum is located within the city's walls at Union Hall Place. The Museum has two main exhibitions ("Story of Derry" and "La Trinidad Valancera- An Armada Shipwreck ") and hosts a wide programme of touring exhibitions and events throughout the year.
One of the earliest purpose-built artillery blockhouses in England, this brick tower was built in about 1398-9 to command a strategic point in Norwich’s city defence.
The tower was intended to house guns and a garrison of gunners to defend the approach to the city across the River Wensum. Its height of nearly 50 feet was necessary to overlook the high ground on the opposite bank.
One of Britain's greatest industrial heritage sites, showing how a complete industrial community lived
Quarry Bank overflows with the atmosphere of the Industrial Revolution.
Durlston Castle is an extraordinary Victorian building, which with funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund and many others, took 8 years to transform, to provide a unique and beautiful facility for visitors to Durlston and the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site.
Take your students on a 70 minute journey through 2000 years of York’s murky history, as our full cast of entertaining theatrical actors bring to life gripping stories of the city's most infamous characters and events - from 71 AD when the Roman's created the City to the infamous highway man Dick Turpin in 1739.
Nene Valley Railway is a heritage railway that offers a family day out but is no mere manufactured visitor attraction as the preserved railway uses part of the original London and North Western line from Northamptonshire into the Cathederal city of Peterborough, encompassing the stations of Yarwell, Wansford, Ferry Meadows (Nene Park) and Orton Mere.
A medieval Elizabethan manor house, with it’s own moat, plus priest holes and walled gardens to explore. There is also a Visitor Centre in the old Malt House. Audiovisual and interactive displays help bring the history to life.
Set in the heart of Normandy this 17th century Chateau is set in four acres of beautiful private grounds.
Features
This beautiful 17th century Normandy Château is located in the idyllic fishing village of Criel-sur-Mer, providing the ideal opportunity for young people to immerse themselves in French culture
Just 90 minutes from Calais and 20 minutes from Dieppe, the Château is surprisingly accessible
A fascinating chance to get closer to nature. Find out about wildlife habitats, biodiversity and climate change.
Follow the story around this beautiful Georgian building taking in domestic life and childhood in Colchester over the past 300 years.
This beautiful Tudor mansion is the jewel in the crown of Ipswich's historic past boasting over 500 years of history.
Explore the period rooms from the Tudor kitchen to the sumptuous Georgian saloon and the beautifully detailed Victorian wing and much more!
The remains of Christchurch Castle include parts of the mound-top keep, and more unusually the 12th-century riverside chamber block or 'Constable's House'. This very early example of domestic architecture includes a rare Norman chimney.
History
The construction of a castle and monastery transformed the fortified settlement of Twyneham.
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