Re-enactments could be history

Re-enactments at a historic house near Wolverhampton could be a thing of the past after English Heritage axed almost every event – because the weather is too bad.

Poor attendance at events at Boscobel House in Bishops Wood has been blamed on downpours causing the conservation body to pull the plug on all its events for the year apart from ones organised for schools. The tearooms at the stately home, where King Charles II hid from Oliver Cromwell’s Roundheads during the English Civil War, have also closed.

And there are no immediate plans to re-open them.

Two weeks ago the house hosted re-enactors Colonel Richard Bagot’s regiment of the Sealed Knot group in civil war uniforms.

But bosses today admitted the public was only allowed to see this as the group was practising for an educational event with schools set to take place in June.

English Heritage spokesman Lee Rotheram said: “For a number of years English Heritage has been running a highly successful events programme.

“However, a significant number of the events were one or two-day spectaculars that were extremely weather-dependent.

“We have therefore looked very carefully at how we can continue to provide a wide range of appealing events without exposing ourselves to financial loss if the weather is poor.

“As a result, in 2007 we developed a completely new events programme with a strong focus on ongoing activity during the peak season rather than one off events,” he continued.

“So, the issue is one of planning and managing events so the maximum number of people are able to attend and enjoy them, at a broad range of our sites nationwide,” he added.

Boscobel House site supervisor Ella Harrison said: “It is not just here that has been affected but we do not have any events planned for this season as part of the corporate strategy of English Heritage.

“The Bagot’s group come every year through our education department to put on a display for schools but as they were practising this weekend it was a good opportunity for visitors to see them,” she explained.

“We are hoping to re-open the tea rooms shortly. They have been closed since our season began on Good Friday,” said the supervisor.