Experience ‘1878: The War That Never Was’ at Fort Nelson this February
LONDON / AGILITYPR.NEWS / January 23, 2020 / Experience ‘1878: The War That Never Was’ at Fort Nelson this February
Friday 7th & Saturday 8th February, shows at 6.30 pm 7.30 pm & 8.30 pm
On the 7th and 8th February Royal Armouries Fort Nelson will be taking intrepid visitors on an after-dark, time-travelling tour of a Victorian fort under siege.
Presented in association with acclaimed interpreters, Griffin Historical, ‘1878: The War That Never Was’ will introduce visitors to a parallel version of history in which the French have successfully invaded Britain and enemy troops are closing in on Portsmouth.
Time-travelling visitors will be led on a fully immersive tour where they can witness events as they could have been had history taken a different course.
Buoyed by its victory against Prussia in 1871, France is set on adding Great Britain to its empire. French troops have landed and are marching on Portsmouth and the home of the British navy must be defended at all costs.
Fort Nelson’s underground garrison is waiting nervously for news of the invasion. The first exploratory attacks have been fended off and they have discovered that not everyone within the walls of the Victorian fort is as trustworthy as they seem!
This interactive event will give visitors an insight into all of the grit, blood and noise that would have occurred in the event of such an attack, including live-action big gun firing demonstrations, dramatic acted pieces and a chance to meet lots of interesting characters along the way.
Fort Nelson was built between 1861 and 1870 as part of a network of defences intended to protect the key British naval base at Portsmouth when a French invasion had been considered a serious possibility. Buried in the Downs, designed using cutting edge defensive technology and bristling with artillery, the Fort waited for a war that never actually happened.
Subsequently, Fort Nelson has been used for a range of military purposes, but never the one it was intended to fulfil. It now houses and displays the Royal Armouries’ remarkable collection of artillery.
The Fort Nelson Café will be open on both evenings serving a selection of snacks and beverages.
Performances at 6.30 pm, 7.30 pm & 8.30 pm
Tickets for ‘1878: The War that Never Was’ are only available in advance online: https://royalarmouries.org/event/1878-the-war-that-never-was/, £16 per person, suitable for ages 12+, children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult at all times. Participants are also advised to wrap up warm and wear practical footwear, as parts of the experience take place outdoors and in the tunnels.
For more details about the Royal Armouries and the national collection housed at Fort Nelson, visit www.royalarmouries.org
For The War That Never Was: 1878 event updates follow:
royalarmouries.org/event/1878-the-war-that-never-was/
facebook.com/RoyalArmouriesFortNelson/
www.instagram.com/RoyalArmouriesMuseum/
Additional pictures and video are available on request.
About Us
About Royal Armouries
Entry to the museum is free but some activities carry a small charge.
- The Royal Armouries has been witness to remarkable historical events and is the guardian of one of the world’s greatest collections of arms and armour, including objects which have transformed the world as we know it.
- Our experts are authoritative leaders in the field of arms and armour, and our networks offer access to expertise on matters as diverse as military and political history as well as art, curatorship and conservation.
- The Royal Armouries has sites in Leeds, HM Tower of London and Fort Nelson in Hampshire
- The Royal Armouries Museum in Leeds houses a major part of the national collection of arms and armour and displays over 8,500 objects throughout its five themed galleries
- Website: www.royalarmouries.org
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