It is May 1944 and the invasion and liberation of France is about to begin. The fate of the world is in the balance!

Join us as British and American troops prepare for the D-Day landings in a small English village. See the the American Airborne unit who will be practising going ashore from the small boats that will land them on the coast of Normandy, the British armoured infantry undertaking training exercises, REME, the 133 Intelligence Section and the RAF manning their small station.

Then meet the civilians from the village who represent the Home Guard and the National Fire Service. The local Boy Scouts and the Women's Land Army will also be doing their bit!

Visit the various encampments and re-enactments at any time during the day, although a few demonstraions will be at specific times during the day (please look out for blackboards around the Museum).

Training exercises will be carried out in the training field at the following times:

1100-1230 hours Training scenarios, gun drill and a small arms range.

1230-1330 hours A short demonstration of German weapons

1430-1530 hours Pistol and sniper rifle shoots

1615-1700 hours Armoured Infantry training exercises

Many of the groups may ask if you would like to join in the training, although some training will be for the re-enactors only.

Some of the re-enactors will be working in "first person" (this means that they are in the character of someone living in the 1940s and may not understand modern phrases and items) and others will "come out of character" to speak to you.

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Normal Museum admission prices apply.
Candle making available - additional charges apply.

Visit the real RAF at Wood End as they illustrate the kit and life of pilots during the Second World War.

The Museum welcomes medieval re-enactment group Pelican in Her Piety and their living history encampment with demonstrations of medieval cooking and opportunities to try on medieval armour throughout the weekend.

Arming a Knight
12.00 pm & 3.00 pm

'Archery Through the Ages
with a focus on the 100 Year War'
2.00 pm

Normal Museum admission prices apply.
Candle making available - additional charges apply.

In addition, all the Museum's buildings will be open to visitors.

Demonstrations of the skills involved in making and maintaining saddles and associated equipment.

Normal Museum admission prices apply.
Candle making available - additional charges apply.

In addition, all the Museum's buildings will be open to visitors.

Visitors will have a wonderful opportunity to watch and try out the traditional craft of basket making with the Basketmakers’ Association. Demonstrations will be held from 12.00 pm until 3.30 pm and will include traditional willow basket making, rush seating, willow sculpture and chair restoration.

Normal Museum admission prices apply.
Candle making available - additional charges apply.

In addition, all the Museum's buildings will be open to visitors.

The Hertfordshire Heavy Horse Association return to the Museum with a wonderful array of heavy horse breeds such as Shires, Suffolk Punches and Clydesdales. See the spectacular sights of these wonderful animals parading in the arena, pulling traditional horse drawn vehicles and farming equipment.

Throughout the day at intervals visitors will also be able to see pairs of horses working in the Museum fields demonstrating the type of work undertaken by the horse in traditional farming in the Chilterns. Demonstrations may include hay making - mowing, turning and sledging, horse logging in the woods and ploughing in the Museum's arable fields.

Arena Events

12.00 pm and 3.00 pm

In association with the Hertfordshire Heavy Horse Association (www.hhha.co.uk)

Displays and demonstrations are subject to the weather and as such may be liable to change.

Normal Museum admission prices apply.
Candle making available - additional charges apply.

In addition, all the Museum's buildings will be open to visitors.

Discover more about the life and times in the 1920s through hands-on activities and demonstrations.

This weekend the Museum will focus on two of our historic buildings, Maidenhead Tennis Pavilion and Leagrave Cottages.

• Listen to jazz on the Village Green (Sunday afternoon)
• Enjoy a game of croquet or tennis at Maidenhead Tennis Pavilion, followed by a refreshing glass of Pimms or traditional lemonade (a small charge for refreshments will be made)
• Design and make some 1920s style beaded jewellery
• Find out more about town and country life looking at the rise of "Metroland"
• Join the General Strike in the farmyard and design your own strike banner!
• Discover more about the depression after the First World War at Leagrave Cottages
• Sovereign the Shire Horse will also be on hand to greet visitors and offer carriage rides at certain times of the day

Visit the RAF as they celebrate their 90^th birthday with us and find out how the Chilterns welcomed them in their early days (Saturday only)!

Normal Museum admission prices apply.
Candle making available - additional charges apply.
In addition, all the Museum's buildings will be open to visitors.

Due to unforeseen difficulties the previous event to be held on this date, in aid of MacMillan Cancer, has been cancelled by the organiser Leonards Advertising and Marketing Ltd.