
It is with much regret that the organising committee have had to take the difficult decision to cancel this year's planned Battle of North Walsham 1381 event.
The main problem has been with funding. The aim had always been to be provide a totally 'free to attend' event, and that would have cost us around £30k to put on. The after effects of Covid and the state of the economy has meant that some of our potential sponsors and grant funds were not able to be as generous as we had expected when planning the event and so we were left with a large financial gap to fill. The impacts on inflation has also meant that many of the performers were no longer willing to travel long distances to take part.
Despite continuing efforts to find financial backing, with just five weeks to go, we have had to accept that it just wasn't possible to continue this year.
On the plus side our schools and costume making workshops were very sucessful and raised awareness of our town's history and taught new skills that can be used in future. We will now look at ways of creating a smaller scale future event
Barry Hester
Joint Chair of Battle for North Walsham - 1381 Revisited
New Medieval event for East Anglia – 22nd to 24th July 2022

Below is some music from the late medieval antiphon located in St Nicholas Church interpreted and recorded by Paul & Gill of TROUVERE MINSTRELS
The Battle for North Walsham, also known as the Battle of North Walsham took part between 25th or 26th June 1381, 641 years ago, and it was part of the local protests against the Poll Tax and known as the Peasants Revolt.
This huge new annual event taking place around the town of North Walsham and culminating on North Walsham’s Memorial Park is to commemorate the 740th anniversary of this battle.
It will feature many medieval activities. Archery and combat displays and a battle re-enactment on Sunday. Medieval traders, have-a-go archery and pony rides, as well as plenty of food and drink. You’ll also be able to see and talk to armored knights, the peasant army and minstrels.
You will be able to visit the living history encampment to meet the 120+ reenactors and see how our ancestors lived in the 14th century.
In the town itself there will be lectures, guided historical walks, medieval hanging banners, concerts, mummers and mystery plays, a parade and a church service.
The event starts on Friday 22nd July with Cinema in the Park showing Monty Python and the Holy Grail.
On the evening of Saturday 23rd July a costumed Medieval Banquet will be held in St Nicholas Church.
Between January and April FREE Costume Workshops and Costumed visits are available for local schools on the events of 1381.
Local residents, visitors and traders are all invited to take an active part in making this a spectacular new regional event. Contact us if you would like to be involved in any way.
The event is being brought to you by the newly constituted group Battle for North Walsham – 1381 Revisited and Black Knight Historical.