Historical Reenactment

The Old Hall and its grounds make it an ideal place for historical reenactment and living history events.

Its ‘big’ event is the Medieval Fayre held every year in June when it recreates a holiday fair from the past, of travelling traders and victualers. With the fayre comes a motley collection of entertainers, falconers and ne’er-do-wells as well as knights, men-at-arms and their ladies. Visitors can experience living history groups and crafts people showing their particular interests and skills, armed combat and archery tourneys, sometimes loud bangs, sulphurous flame and smoke from musket and cannon and the battle finale.

The Old Hall is of course open throughout the event to help you to travel through time. Known throughout the reenactment world as the ‘one to come to’, competition for space is fierce and standards are high. A day out at the fayre should not be missed.

Tatton played a short but intense and important role during World War II.  It was a decoy site to lure the Luftwaffe away from Manchester before becoming the base for No.1 Parachute Training School. Many soldiers returning from Dunkirk were billeted here, American and British officers stayed at the Mansion and Tatton was home to evacuees and Land Army Girls.

To celebrate Tatton’s role we hold a 1940s weekend in June to recreate the ‘way we were’ with its hope and danger, music and dancing, laughter and austerity. The Old Hall has several period rooms that evocatively lend themselves to those times and the Tudor Great Hall becomes an evacuees’ school room. Outside, the grounds serve as an arena for living history groups and visitors can see authentic vehicles and the recreation of a battle involving British, American and German skirmishers. You can help with the back-breaking toil of washing with carbolic soap and a dolly tub or help us ‘make do and mend’. Historic buses will transport you between the Mansion and Old Hall and it is well worth the free ride for nostalgia’s sake.

Perhaps you lived through those days or have a lively interest in living reenacting them? If so, we’d like to hear from you. The 1940s Day is a family event so why not come dressed up and help us celebrate a part of Tatton’s history.

Other historic re-enactment events include Sir Thomas Stanley’s Retinue who revisit the manor they owned in the 1400s and a Viking Sunday that portrays the life and times of a fierce (or were they?) group of invaders who settled in the North-West of England. This year for the first time we have an American Civil War Group, who although a long way from the home they depict, have a link with Tatton’s part of the world.

If, as a re-enactor, you feel you have something to offer, please let us know by calling 01625 374432.