It is the height of the English Civil War, and no-one can escape the choice between the King or Cromwell’s parliament.

As the Royalist troops camp within the village, there are rumours that the Parliamentarians are close by with a skirmish bound to happen by the end of the afternoon.

During your day you can visit the camp kitchen to find out what the officers will be eating that day, as the Grand Salad is prepared. The kitchen helpers will also be making lunch for the rest of the camp, which might include a nice warm stew, followed by bread pudding.

If you are brave enough, the surgeon will be happy to talk to you about the gruesome injuries suffered by the soldiers and the ways that he might be able to help them. He may tell you about a recent amputation he has performed, or maybe just his cure for a common cold.

Then, as the beat of the drums gets ever louder, you know that the men are marching to battle. Gunfire can be heard and the acrid smell of black powder drifts across the field as the two sides come together in a skirmish.

The camp is open from 10.00 am until 5.00 pm each day with a skirmish at 3.00 pm.

Shortly after the end of the skirmish visiting children will be able to train with the soldiers.
The drill will be on a first-come-first-served basis and children must be aged over 8 years old.
All times are approximate and subject to change
* The Drill display may be slightly later on Saturday.

Writing Competition

Today I … On Saturday we will launch our summer writing competition. To celebrate the 350^th anniversary of the start of Samuel Pepys’ Diary, we would like to invite you to write a diary entry about someone who lived in the past. Using our Museum and events as an inspiration you may like to write as someone who was very famous or someone that you have made up who may have been very poor. We would be delighted to hear from you whoever you chose to write about.

The closing date for entries is Friday 16 July and the winner will be announced on Saturday 21 August.

• Each entry must be one side of A4 only.
• Only one entry per person.
• Please write your name, address, telephone number and age on the back of your entry.
• Your diary can include words as well as pictures/illustrations.
• Your diary can be handwritten or typed.
• Entrants must be aged between 5 and 18 years old.

Please send your entries to:

Melissa Maynard, Education Officer, Chiltern Open Air Museum, Newland Park, Gorelands Lane, Chalfont St. Giles, Bucks. HP8 4AB.

Normal Museum admission prices apply.

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

See where the shepherd lived as he kept watch over his flock. Then discover the art of ‘folding’ by using miniature hurdles to make a pen and make a model ‘rave’.

Oxford Down sheep were once a frequent sight amongst the Chiltern Hills, but are now a rare breed.

Normal Museum admission prices apply.

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

Girlguiding Buckinghamshire welcome you to their ‘Guide Camps through Time’ centenary celebrations. Find out more about the Girl Guides today.

Normal Museum admission prices apply.

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

This weekend the Museum welcomes a pair of shires from Hertforshire, as well as a Percheron and a Suffolk (breeds of heavy horse)  who will demonstrate the use of some of the Museum’s collection of horse drawn vehicles and traditional farming cultivation and carting techniques, including a roller, chain harrow or hoe. Resident Clydesdale Harvey will be continuing his recent training in the use of horse drawn traditional farming techniques. New arrivals West Winds Samuel and West Winds Joshua, two shire foals will also be on view in their new home.

All demonstrations will be weather dependant – please check for confirmation of activities on the day of your visit

Normal Museum admission prices apply.

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

Visit the cavalry’s magnificent horses as they rest. Then see the difference between life in the camp for the soldiers and their families, and that of the officers.

And of course you mustn’t forget to visit the feared Scots who, if the spy’s word can be taken as truth, will be attacking the English at 3 o’clock (but don’t tell the English!).

The camp is open from 10.00am until 5.00pm each day with a skirmish at 3.00pm.

www.lacewars.co.uk

Normal Museum admission prices apply.

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