must be as accurate a representation as possible to what would have worn at the time – to be considered a successful event, the experience should feel like a deep-sea dive into the past.
‘Most people are either interested in it and so start conversations with me on it,’ Jenny explains. ‘Or else they are not – but at least can see I enjoy it. ‘Both my husband and I have autism, and many other people within the society are either diagnosed or currently seeking diagnosis for any form of neurodivergence,’ she explains. ‘For us, reenactment is probably one of the least tiring forms of social engagement, because you get fewer people taking insult when you say the wrong thing, and because you have a clearly defined role. That’s why a lot of neurodivergent people actually go into acting, because you can put the mask on.
The hobby is also a way of bringing history to life for her boys, adds Jenny. While school may have her twins learning from books, dressing up alongside other reenactors teaches them ‘the bits that really interest kids – not just who the king was at the time,’ she says. In the wake of the US Capitol riots in 2021, Taylor felt compelled to call a meeting to discuss the relevance of the NHS’ historical reenactment events.
Living history societies have good reason to be wary. In the past, they’ve been targets for white supremacy groups, who have appropriated pictures from historical reenactment social media pages to use in their promotional drives. ‘I’m quite openly pagan’, says Kay. ‘I was wearing a cross around my neck and have been putting pentagrams in my window for years before I started reenacting. So to family and friends, reenacting didn’t come as much of a surprise.’
‘Before retiring, I worked as a bus and coach driver. I used to get insulted more or less every day,’ she explains. ‘Somebody will make some sly remark about me being a weirdo – and I was not uncommonly called a paedophile.’ Bringing history to the public is especially important for Liam Telfer, an ex-military firefighter from Sunderland. Though he’s only been reenacting as a Napoleonic soldier since September 2021, he’s quickly become hooked.
Liam’s first experience of living history was at Tilbury Fort last year – a setting radiating British history.‘Being able to put all the uniform and equipment on in a place that predates the Napoleonic period, and to really feel it you know – the sound of boots on the cobble stones, and the feel of the musket and the sun on the uniform – it just brings it to life,’ he says.