The International Living History Festival (ILHF) provides an event for all those with an interest and love of history.
From a historical market, Living History displays, and immersive have-a-go hands-on history activities, it is also a meeting place and fabulous opportunity for all, visitors and re-enactors alike, to spend a weekend visiting and discussing all periods of our historical past. Many of Europe’s best artisans, craftsmen and traders are on hand, happy to advise and provide a huge array of items and replicas of historical heritage. This Festival of history has become the primary multi-period market place for re-enactors, historical interpreters and historical enthusiasts across Europe. The site is located at Cressing Temple Barns, Witham Road, Braintree, in Essex (CM77 8PD), a fabulous Templar Farm from 12th Century England.
Cressing Temple has unique buildings and gardens. Given to the Knights Templar in 1137, its Grade I-listed Barley and Wheat Barns, built in the 13th century, are among the oldest timber barns and few surviving Templar buildings in England. Permanent displays inside outline the history of the Templars and the site. Among Cressing Temple’s many gardens, the Walled Garden is faithfully reconstructed as a Tudor pleasure garden – one of few in the country.
