Hereward Living History Society, King's Lynn (2026)

Hereward Living History represents the historical re-enactments in the Hereward legend. In recent years the WakeHereward Project has developed a number of live events centred on historical re-enactments based on a particular historical moment centred on Hereward, the Folk Hero of the Fens.
'Hereward Rising!' is based upon Hereward's raid on Peterbrough Monastery on 2nd June 1070 - where he and his

men accompanied by a Danish shipforce of Huscarls sacked the monastery at Peterborough and made their way back to the island stronghold at Ely.
'Hereward Returns!' is based upon Hereward's return from exile. now a warrior of great repute, who slaughters a group of Normans that had taken over his family's estate while he had been away.
'Hereward's Last Stand!' represents the final day of the rebellion across the Fens, when William the Conqueror finally gained access onto the Isle of Ely and Hereward's forces capitulated, with Hereward disappearing into the mists of the wild fen. These, and others, including 'Hereward's Exile!' and 'Hereward's Wake!' are events devised by the Wake Hereward Project and re-enacted by Hereward Living History. Hereward Living History are a group of re-enactors and actors who bring these events to life through their talents. Led by the characterisation of Hereward through actor and re-enactor Rory Gibson, Hereward Living History are augmented by the talents of Heather Bailey (Torfrida/Godiva), and include members of Grantanbrycg Anglo-Saxon re-enactment group. Luke Marshall as Throkell of Harringworth, Roy Joksas as Martin Lightfoot and Percy Lamb as Rahenald the Steward of Ramsey, are some of the actors who play specific roles in the re-enactments. Visit: herewardthewake.co.uk/herewardliving history

01/11/2025

The loneliness of the long distance runner..
Hereward the Wake will be roaming the Fens and watching over his folk on Sunday 23rd November when the Hereward Relay and Ultra 40 mile cross-country race along The Hereward Way from Peterborough to Ely takes place.
Best place to watch? March West End Park from 10:30am - it has plenty of parking.
Best places to have a Sunday beer or lunch and watch the athletes go by?
The Dun Cow at Christchurch and the Lamb & Flag Welney other pubs are open on the route.
In this photo by Ina at SunShy Photography Hereward appears at Welney Wash encouraging a lone runner competing in the relay race.
Watch out for the Ultra Runners who will be taking on the whole distance of 39.7 miles. That's a marathon and a half-marathon combined, or thereabouts!
This is the great fen run and is organised by Mark Darlow and the team at March Athletic Club News & Events with tremendous support from Peterborough, Ely and other Athletic Clubs and their members.
Over 100 teams of four runners will take part. It starts at Peterborough Athletic Track and finishes at Ely Leisure Centre. Race medals are presented in the Ely Rugby Club lounge thereafter. First runner home to Ely arrives some time after 12:30pm.
The race course along the Hereward Way re-imagines Hereward's journey from Peterborough back to his hideout at Ely after he sacked the monastery on June 2nd 1070.
The Hereward Relay was created by March Athletic Club founder Peter Jackman in the late 1990's after he hiked and jogged the Hereward Way Long Distance Path. He named it in honour of Hereward.
The Hereward Relay & Ultra exemplifies the ongoing cultural impact of Hereward the Wake upon local society and the efforts undertaken to preserve the cultural folk memory of the folk hero of the Fens by his own people.

Further details:
https://www.herewardthewake.co.uk/hereward-relay
https://marchac.co.uk/
Hereward Relay and Ultra

28/10/2025

Hereward in action at Ely.
Commemoration of Hereward the Wake at Ely Cathedral marking 954 years since Herewards Last Stand and the Fall of Ely on 27th October 1071.

13/09/2025

Rory G as Hereward opening the Hereward Wargames Show in Peterborough on Sunday 7th September.

06/09/2025

1st September 1067 - the death of Baldwin V, Count of Flanders, hastened the return to England of the Outlaw Hereward.
Baldwin was father of Matilda, the wife of England's new King, William I 'the Conqueror'. Hereward had been fighting in the Count's army as a military commander under his son Robert the Frisian when he heard of England's fate and decided to return home to collect his inheritance after hearing of the death of his father.
The 12th Century Gesta Herwardi claims that when Hereward returned to his hometown of Bourne he discovered his brother's decapitated head hanging from the entrance to his family estate and a group of unarmed Normans occupying his home. Enraged, he swiftly leapt from the shadows and slaughtered them, hanging their heads in place of his brother's and firing the rebellion in the Fens that would span five years
The WakeHereward Project marks the occasion through medieval re-enactor Rory G appearing as Hereward at Bourne Town FC on Saturday 6th September 3pm and opening the Hereward Wargames Show at 10am on Sunday 7th at The Cresset, Peterborough.

(Image: Count Baldwin V of Flanders).

01/12/2024

Hereward the Wake was at King's Ely Prep again on November 14th regaling tales of his exploits, demonstrating his weapons of warfare and showing the class how Hereward made his beer!
Pictured with his new band of Fen Rebels is Rory G as Hereward with some of the KS3 History scholars.
herewardthewake.co.uk/kingselyprep

Address

King's Lynn

Website

https://www.herewardthewake.co.uk/hereward-living-history

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