Immersive experience for young historians at Chalke Valley History Festival
The festival is on all week, with a variety of speakers
Young historians have been getting been immersing themselves in different parts of history at the Chalke Valley History Festival (CVHF).
Schools brought groups of Year 12 students to the festival to take in the sights, sounds and smells of the displays and live re-enactments.
Festival co-founder James Holland told us history is more than learning from a textbook.
“We want people to experience a sense of the past and that’s what you get (at the festival),” he told us. “You get amazing historians talking about stuff and putting different perspectives across on what happened, but there’s also much to see, do, smell and listen to as well.”
Chalke Valley History Festival entrance
Follow their interests
We spoke to some of the teachers of the students at the festival on Tuesday, with the general feeling being that the festival’s multi-format style allowed the children to follow their interests.
One teacher told us: “I’d rather they looked at what’s on and followed their curiosity. History is something that’s more alive rather than something just out of books in a classroom.”
Another teacher said: “It’s a great opportunity for them to see history beyond their A-Levels and hopefully open a few doors of interest.”
The popular topics among the students were crime and British Empire talks.
A third teacher told us the festival offered the chance to hone a valuable skill in listening and reflecting. “We do a lot of interactive teaching now. Sitting there listening and having to think, and then reflect on something is a skill they’ll need in later life.”
Highlight of the Summer
We got to catch up with historian Tracy Borman, who was giving a talk about Anne Boleyn and Queen Elizabeth I. She told us the festival is the highlight of her summer.
“I love Chalke Valley! I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve been here,” she told us. “It’s such a treat, because as well as coming here to talk, I get to experience the festival and the re-enactments and the other talks.”
Tracy has recently released a book exploring the influence Anne Boleyn, Henry VIII’s second wife, had on her daughter Elizabeth.
She told us it’s a “fascinating” mother-daughter relationship, saying it “changed England forever”.
Asked what makes the Tudor period such an interesting part of history, Tracy said: “When it comes to the Tudor’s you really couldn’t make it up! It’s such a dramatic period. It’s a case of truth being stranger than fiction.”