Had a great time at this. Thought the new venue was much better than the Hop Farm and there was so much to see that even two days was not enough. It was very dusty and hot! The full set of my photos here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/battlefield_historian/sets/72157634690828948/
I like the way the slide show works in your post. Clever that, couldnt do that with the old software could we.
Great pictures Paul. I hope to visit next year as it looks like a great event. Thanks for sharing. Ross
What's the new site like then, Paul? Not heard back from my chaps who are in attendance. Looks pretty similar. Arena better? (Hop farm one was always a tad flawed.) And what's that thing on (rail) tracks? I like it, but it's not familiar.
good day paul reed.yesterday.01:27pm.re:war & peace revival.2013,great photo"s thank you for sharing.regards bernard85
Thanks all - glad photos of interest. The new site is much better. The facilities are much better, the array of food superior and the arena much easier to access and see. Better array of cleaner toilets too! The layout of living history much better too and so vast we did not see it all! The thing in rails is a WW1 light trench railway.
Ok I have found a positive Paul, out of curiosity where was the car park? I noticed there were signs towards the M20 roundabout (The one you use to go home) but they just stopped when you got there. Must make an effort to go next year.
There were three car parks on site and by the weekend they were also operating a Park & Ride from near the M20. Easiest way was by train, which is what I did. Westenhanger station is right next to the site and you come out and are straight in.
Cheers - any disable facilities? Can you camp there with electrical hook-up? Sorry for the interrogation, I'm assuming they have a website
There are disabled facilities. Camping I don't know, as I didn't do that but there did seem to be proper facilities and I heard they are better than Hop Farm. Web: http://www.thewarandpeacerevival.co.uk/
Will have word on Public camping soon, perhaps by this evening. We steered clear as we weren't sure it'd be as 'tolerant' as it always was, so are relying on the view of a small but intrepid part of our usual larger contingent. The book stalls are usually the best physical concentration of Military titles you'll find in the UK.
Agreed re books, I picked up a book I have been after for many years. Wasn't cheap, but never seen another copy.
Hmm, I don't quite agree with Paul. I camped for the full week as usual in Public camping. Which was as far away from the action as it is possible to imagine. Being a racecourse the actual site is vast. I was camped on the two mile straight, on the racecourse itself. So it is a long trek first to get to the Grandstand area, which is still the width of a racecourse away from the arena. Very flat in front of the arena with no chance of a bank so with crowds ten deep on the barrier there was very little chance to see. It was sightly better sat in the Grandstand with binoculars. The arena 'village' is closer to the barrier than the Hop Farm but this means that the pyrotechnics are reduced. The napalm strike at the end of the 'Rolling Thunder' display didn't have the same impact! Catering facilities were better with a choice of permanent restaurants and bars as well as the usual marquees and mobile vans. Although they were all concentrated in the centre. There was nowhere to get a drink or an ice lolly out in the traders field and only one caravan in the enormous Living History field. Toilets are another matter, they were very few and far apart, I thought. Most of the racecourse facilities were not open it seemed and only half of the campsite loos were open at any one time first due to a lack of water and finally when the vacuum pumps gave out. So they were better to begin with but they did not last the course. Maybe I don't like change and I'm judging it harshly, but I'd rather have the old place back.
I tend to agree with Paul , my 11th year as a stall holder , and the venue was superb , lots of character , one gripe would be the distance from main entrance to the market area , seemed like miles when going to pick up my daughter ! The food was its normal self expensive and horrible ! but the bloke who owns the station had the idea of sending a girl around to sell the best burger I have ever eaten and only £5 with all the trimmings bargain and she was a babe to boot ! a few bargains to be had as well , yes it needs a tweak but roll on next year ,and this weekends Military Odessy