Civil War comes to South Norfolk

This weekend, the quiet village of Hingham in Norfolk transforms into an authentic site of the American Civil War.

It is marking the bicentenary of the birth of Abraham Lincoln, whose descendents left the village 375 years ago.

This breathtaking re-enactment has been organised as part of a huge joint community effort, and forms part of South Norfolk Council's Festival of the Arts.

“It’s going to be an absolutely spectacular weekend,” said South Norfolk Councillor and Deputy Leader Martin Wilby.

"I don't think Norfolk has seen anything like this for years. The people of the village who have organised it deserve the highest praise."

He added:

"Up to 150 members of the American Civil War Society from across the UK, plus wives, children and hangers-on, will set up in two great opposing encampments on the Fairlands in the village.

“With horses, more than 80 tents, two grand staff headquarters, displays, flags, muskets, authentic uniforms with spats, drums, marching bands, drilling, dancing, cooking and canons blasting away, the Abraham Lincoln Festival is not to be missed!”

Visitors will be able to walk through the armed camps taking in the sights, sounds and smells of an 1860s America at war with itself.

Their route will be along wide boulevards beside the senior officers' HQ tents, and then down crowded and narrow regimental streets - to see for example, the 69th Irish Regiment from New York, with their fiddle players; and the "sharp shooters" in their distinctive green.

A senior US Embassy Diplomat from London, Deborah Heine, will open the event, watched by the very many visitors expected from local US airbase communities.

On Sunday, a large contingent of the Civil War Society will form a guard of honour and march to the 650-year-old St Andrew's Church, for a commemorative service and laying of standards at the bust of Abraham Lincoln.

Sunday's church service will include “a firebrand Civil War preacher” – local vicar the Rev Mark Kitchenside - delivering a sermon from the 1860s, period hymns and lesson readings. A representative from the Civil War Society will give one of the most famous speeches in the world – the Gettysburg address.

Inside will be a patchwork quilts display by the Norwich Society of Friends (Quakers) commemorating the abolition of slavery, and including a Lincoln bicentenary quilt. The Quakers were among the very first to speak out against slavery.

The East Anglian Traditional Music Trust has been in Hingham preparing local schoolchildren to join in authentic Norfolk and American Civil War era social dances, demonstrating links to the "old country" when music and dance from Norfolk crossed the Atlantic with the new settlers.

Meanwhile, in Hingham, Massachusetts, USA - a similar celebration will be taking place on exactly the same day.

Councillor Wilby said:

“As with many of our Festival events, this dramatic re-enactment is free to attend and there is ample to keep the whole family entertained all afternoon.

“In the evening at £5 and £4 concessions, the Orwell Blue Grass Band and Cambridge Folk Festival favourites, the Chuffinches, will perform Blue Grass and foot-tapping Old Time inside Lincoln Hall."

To book tickets call 01603 630000.

Members of the prestigious Foreign Press Association have already visited Hingham (13 May) to unveil and leave behind their special commemoration banner for the festival.

Now that the local US community has been tipped off about the Lincoln 200th birthday bash, the buzz around the village is - the Americans are coming!

The special relationship is alive and well…in Hingham, Norfolk.

Web links

• South Norfolk Festival of the Arts

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