At the end of June, people will be flooding to South West England, camping gear in tow, buzzing to attend one of the most popular UK festivals of the year. No, not Glastonbury – we’re talking about the Chalke Valley History Festival.
The festival has a uniquely British origin. It began in 2011 as a fundraiser for the local cricket club, the brainchild of two James’: club stalwart and historian James Holland and founder and former CEO of Ottakar’s bookshops, and now historical novelist, James Heneage. Since those humble beginnings the festival has grown substantially in size and scope, while always staying true to its original purpose: to promote the understanding of history to all ages.
Taking place on a 70-acre farm in the village of Broad Chalke over a week in June, the festival welcomes around 25,000 people each year to enjoy literary talks, discussions and panels alongside immersive living history and historical performances and experiences stretching from the Iron Age to the Cold War.