Chalke History Festival

Guest Writer at GetHistory

Chalke History Festival is the UK's largest history festival. It aims to excite, enthral and entertain about the past through programmes of talks, living history events, and programmes for schools. All proceeds from the festival have, since 2012, been directed to the Chalke History Trust, which promotes the understanding of history to all ages, but especially children.

The Latest from Chalke History Festival

On this day in history

193 - Roman emperor Pertinax was stabbed to death by his Praetorian Guard.

845 - Vikings sacked Paris, possibly led by Ragnar Lothbrok. They left after being paid 7000 livres of gold and silver.

1917 - Women were recruited for service with the British army in a non-nursing capacity for the first time.

1941 - Writer Virginia Woolf filled her pockets with stones and drowned herself in the River Ouse in Sussex.

1987 - Maria von Trapp, who provided the inspiration for The Sound of Music, died of heart failure, aged 82.

1991 - A jury returned a verdict of 'accidental death' at the inquest into the 1989 Hillsborough disaster.