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Saturday 18th September 5pm to 8pm
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As darkness descends over the South Downs, venture to Butser Ancient Farm for an evening of spectacular entertainment and music to celebrate the autumn equinox. Join with the Vikings and Saxons as we mark the turning of the year, culminating in an awe inspiring ceremonial boat burning at dusk. The evening begins as the mighty Viking hoard of Wuffa take their chance to raid the fertile lands of Butser Ancient Farm and oust the Anglo-Saxon war band Herigeas Hundas from their mead halls. Only a clash of shield walls and battle of spear and sword will decide the victor and which mighty warriors will have songs sung about them. For the defeated there will be the consolation of a hero’s farewell. As the battle cries fade Nordic shamans Seidrblot will take to the stage with their haunting melodies and hypnotic vocals to celebrate the Equinox and call in the new season of the year, their powerful music echoing across the South Downs landscape, lamenting the lost and glorying in the victorious. With a bar, hog roast and vegetarian BBQ, visitors will be able to join in the feasting and enjoy mead, ale and delicious food as they explore the evening beauty of Butser Ancient Farm. As dusk nears, follow the pulsating rhythms as a drum procession of Vikings, Anglo-Saxons, led by the amazing Pentacle Drummers heads towards the specially made ceremonial Viking boat. Watch as we light up the sky with a spectacular burning, to bid goodbye to the long days of summer and welcome the wealth of the autumn harvest, in true Butser style. After such a difficult 18 months, money raised during our Equinox Boat Burn will enable us to conduct more research, educational activities and development in the year ahead. Thank you! Adult £20 child £16 (includes booking fee) Saturday, September 18, 2021 from 5pm to 8pm Butser Ancient Farm, Chalton Lane, PO8 0BG
Vikings Attack!
An action-packed weekend as Anglo-Saxon group Herigeas Hundas defend the magnificent Butser Saxon Hall from the marauding Vikings of Wuffa, back for a second attempt to claim it for themselves! During the Dark Ages in Britain, a terrifying new enemy launched blood-thirsty attacks on these shores, leaving a trail of panic and fear in their wake. The Viking raids saw invaders from the North pillaging all over the UK, including in Hampshire. But they were not the first Pagan invaders to wreak havoc on these islands. After the Roman’s deserted Britain many decades before, war bands of Angles, Saxons, Jutes and Franks made their way to these rich lands to make their new homes, forcing back the native Britons as they went. These invaders became the Anglo-Saxons, and the new enemy was familiar to them - they shared the same ancestors. This September, the Viking horde of Wuffa from Suffolk will make the journey to the prosperous Hampshire farm of Butser, planning a raid to take it for themselves, by whatever means necessary. But Butser have a fearsome war band of AngloSaxons, the brutal Herigeas Hundas who call these lands their home and are prepared to fight to the death to keep what they hold sacred! In 2019 the Vikings were defeated in their attempt so this time there is a score to settle! Don’t miss this unique opportunity to see these two titans of history do battle in the grounds of Butser Ancient Farm, with Herigeas Hundas defending the magnificent Saxon hall from the marauding Vikings of Wuffa! Get up close and personal with vicious warriors from both tribes, and touch, smell and see the day-to-day events of camp life, both on the road to war and in an established settlement. There will be living history talks, crafts, traditional skills, combat and archery demonstrations on throughout the weekend, culminating each day with a final battle as the Vikings make their attack on the Saxon hall. Can Herigeas Hundas defend their settlement and keep the beautiful mead hall at Butser safe, or will the Vikings of Wuffa be triumphant and drive out the Anglo-Saxons for good? Only a clash of the shield walls will decide! 18th/19th September 10am – 3pm (please note the farm will be closing early at 3pm in order to set up for the Equinox Boat Burn) Normal admission prices.
