Don't miss this spectacular living history event! Formally held at Cliveden, Buckinghamshire, Blasts from the Past now in it’s second year at this extremely picturesque location at Broadlands, the home of the late Earl Mountbatten of Burma, at Romsey, Hampshire. Many thousands of visitors are expected to enjoy exploring several different performance and living history areas, with huge amounts to see and do! For a flavour of things to come, click the arrow to the right for some excellent photos of our 2010 show or on the link for more photographs by Red Zebra Photo.   

Click the link for frequently asked questions.

700 participants from Britain's best historical groups will present a continuous programme of exciting displays plus ongoing living history including arms, armour, weaponry, warriors and soldiers through the ages;  multi-era living history encampments; battles, skirmishes and shoot outs; equestrian skills; military vehicles and much more. Non-military displays include music and song, everyday life through the ages, cooking, fashion, crafts and even a NASA spaceman! Visitors can enjoy children's entertainments including puppet shows, interactive displays, and a chance to train as "medieval men-at-arms" a In fact, there is so much to choose from, with around 50 timed displays and activities per day and several happening simultaneously in different areas, that we recommend that  visitors consider coming on both days to enjoy it all!

The Performers

Classical Greek  - The Hoplite Association  (C5th BC warriors, battle tactics and encampment)

Romans and Britons - The Vicus  (Gladiatorial combat, soldiers, Britons and encampments)

Dark ages - Weorod (C7th Germanic warriors, battle tactics and encampment)

Early Medieval - Regia Anglorum - Encampment and displays, Jorvik Vikingr (Viking warriors, encampment and combat)(to be confirmed)

Medieval  - The Albini Household,  The Erpyngham Retinue, (encampments, knights and combat), Hellequin, (mounted knights and equestrian skills-at-arms) Dragons of Wye-Tel Puppet Theatre (puppet shows) and the Knights Hospitaller  Association (encampment and have a go archery).

Tudor -  The Dorchester Historical Dancers (dancing only Sunday), Earley Days  (children's dressing up and have a go activities), Fahnlein Uri (encampment and have a go archery). Farthingale and The Tudor Group (English militia and skills-at-arms at the time of the Spanish Armada)

C17th -  The English Civil War Society (musketeers, pikemen, artillery, battle tactics and encampments),  History re-enacment workshop (White Horse Inn 1625), (Restoration era coffee shop), Stuart Regalia, (Fashion and social history) and Warhorse (Polish winged hussars).

C18th - The Association of Crown Forces 1776 (American War of Independence redcoats and encampment) Lace Wars, (Jacobites and redcoats 1745-46, battles and encampments) and New France & Old England (French and Indian wars 1755-63, battles and encampments).

Regency/Napoleonic -  12th (Prince of Wales's) Light Dragoons,  The Coldstream Regiment of Foot Guards, 1815,  The 2nd (Queens Royal) Regiment of Foot, 2nd Battalion 95th Rifles and 62eme Regiment d'Infanterie de Ligne (French and British infantry, encampments and battle tactics) and Farthingale.

American Civil War - The American Eagle Society (Confederate army camp and "bushwackers"), The Southern Skirmish Association (battles, parades and encampments) and  9th New York Volunteer Cavalry  (Union cavalry)

American West -  The Wyoming Wild Bunch (Cowboys, native Americans, shoot outs and encampments)

Victorian -rans), The Die Hard Company, (1880s redcoats), Grymm Tooms Travelling Museum (“Victorian exhibits”) and Skinners Horse (Indian Raj era equestrian displays).

Edwardian -  The Antarctic Adventurers  (Polar explorers)

World War One - Croix de Guerre  (French army)

1930s - La Columna  (Spanish Civil War volunteers and encampment).

World War Two - World War Two Living History Association, (Allies and Germans in Normandy 1944, encampments, field fortifications, vehicles and battles), Panzer-Füsilier Regiment Großdeutschland living history group (Easter Front German infantry and encampment),  Military Equipment Collectors, (Burma campaign) Ancient Wisdom (Battle of Britain and Mr Punch versus Adolf Hitler) 2nd Tales (British casualty dressing station) and Za Oberonu (Russian soldiers on campaign) and 43rd Reconnaissance Regiment (The Gloucester Regiment) Living History Group (British reconnaissance troops) (to be confirmed).

Vietnam era - Rolling Thunder

1980s-modern era - Forces 80 (to be confirmed) and Past Regiments (vehicles, equipment and camps)

Space Race - Ancient Wisdom (see photo -  the story of the space race including the little known but true story of the 1938 British moon shot project)

Pre-1970 classic and military vehicles and owners are warmly welcome to set up a static display at this event, so long as you agree to abide by our conditions of participation for classic and military vehicles.

Re-enactment groups and other performers: If you are interested in taking part in a future Blasts from the Past or our other events, please contact us for further details and click the link for our Standard terms and conditions for participation.

Timetable of displays and activities   

Please revisit for details once the timetable has been confirmed.
                                                
The historical market

In addition to enjoying the huge array of living history and arena based displays, you can browse through the wares offered by first class historical traders, within their tented historical market. Fascinating, absorbing and full of superb reproduction and other items you won't readily find in the shops, including pottery, leather goods, ironware, glassware, muskets, swords, bows and arrows, furs, jewellery, cloth, buttons, hats, uniforms, plus gifts, rocks and crystals, children's toys, games and dressing up sets, books, DVDs and even an opportunity to put on period costume for a family portrait.

Our on-line traders' booking form will be ready shortly please revisit to book, or in the meantime, click for details of  trading opportunities  

Trading opportunities

As usual Blasts from the Past welcomes high quality historical and related traders. Click for details of trading opportunities at this and other events

Admission prices

Adult £10.00, Child £5.00 excellent value for an amazing day out.

Important Health and Safety information – please note

• In the unlikely event of an emergency, please stay calm and follow instructions given over public address systems and by stewards.
• Historical displays can be dangerous. They can feature real weaponry and explosions! Do not cross tape barriers at any time unless invited to as part of a  “have a go” activity!
• Battles and skirmishes can be noisy so you may wish to move small children and pets away from arenas during these displays. Keep dogs on a lead at all times.
• Stand well clear of the horses, which although friendly can kick and bite!
• All children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult at all times.
• Take care not to trip, slip or fall on site. Beware of uneven ground and tent guy lines.
• Keep clear of camp fires. These are real and often cooking hot food. Don’t touch!
• Do not - and do not let your children - pick anything up in the living history areas unless specifically invited to do so by the re-enactors. The weapons and cooking knives are real and can be dangerous in untrained hands!
• Do not discard burning cigarettes if the ground is dry.
• Litter can kill the animals that live and graze here – please take all your litter home.
• Please beware of moving vehicles, in the car park and within C20th living history areas.

How to get there





Broadlands is on the A3090 Romsey by-pass, ½ mile from Romsey town centre. The M27 motorway runs 3 miles from Broadlands providing excellent motorway and trunk road links in all directions - Central London is only 2 hours from Broadlands via the M3 and M27 motorways. Drivers should leave the M27 motorway at Junction 3 if approaching from the North and East, or Junction 2 if approaching from the West, and follow the signs to Broadlands. Click here for a printable map and directions





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 2011

Click here for details of many other historical events organised by EventPlan during 2011.