The History
951 years ago, just before daybreak on the 2nd June 1070, a fleet of Viking longships fared into Peterborough. Onboard was an exiled English rebel named Hereward and his Band of Men. They had allied with elite Danish Viking warriors called Housecarls and they sacked the monastery at Peterborough leaving it desolate and ruined. Hereward and his allies made their way back to their monastery base at Ely ready to cause more havoc for England’s new French-Norman king, William ‘the Conqueror’. Hereward was Outlawed and Excommunicated for his actions, yet claimed he was stealing the gold and silver to keep it from the clutches on the new incoming Norman abbot, a man with a reputation for being a ‘harsh man’ called Turold.
The Event
At 9am on June 2nd and 3rd re-enactor and long-distance hiker Lewis Kirkbride performs the role of Hereward with a Band of Men and takes up the Hereward Charity Challenge for his chosen charity, ManHealth and receives the Hereward Charity Challenge Trophy from the Very Reverend Chris Dalliston, Dean of Peterborough. The trophy represents the gold and silver Hereward stole from the monastery and Lewis will hike the 40+ miles along the Hereward Way Long Distance Walking Path to Ely.
Day 1 (Wednesday 2nd June) our Hereward and his Band will be in Whittlesey at around 11:30 am to 12 Noon before arriving outside March Library in the West End Park, where people may gather to hear a short talk on the historical event from Historian David Maile of the WakeHereward Project and from Hereward re-enactor Lewis Kirkbride. March Library are also hosting the WakeHereward Project’s 13 Exhibition Boards which tell the story of Hereward’s exploits and his defence of the Fens against William the Conqueror.
Day 2 (Thursday 3rd June) Sees Hereward and the Band of Men leaving from March Market Place at 7am and walking the Hereward Way through Christchurch, Welney and Little Downham, and arriving outside Ely Cathedral at 6pm.
Fenland Flag
The hikers will be led into March and Ely by James Bowman leading with the popular Fenland Flag he created and Hereward’s Standard Bearer Raenald the Steward of Ramsey will be holding aloft the newly designed flag of Hereward.
Prior Athelwold
Then on Celebrate the Fens Day, Saturday 19th June, re-enactor Nigel Amos takes up the role of Turold the newly appointed Norman Abbot of Peterborough who after some time heard that some of the gold and silver had been secretly hidden at Ramsey Abbey and goes to Ramsey to retrieve the loot. Nigel will be on horseback picking up the trophy at 10am from Ramsey Abbey Gatehouse before stopping at Pondersbridge for an hour between 12 Noon to 1pm and arriving at Peterborough Cathedral at 4pm.
ManHealth Charity
In this inaugural year of the event the chosen charity by Lewis Kirkbride is ManHealth Charity from Durham and the target to raise £1070 (1070 being the year of Hereward’s Rising in Peterborough) has already been surpassed. Donations can be made via the Facebook Page at: Facebook.com/herewardcharitychallenge
Full details of the Hereward Rising! Event featuring the Hereward Charity Challenge can be found on the WakeHereward Project website at herewardthewake.co.uk
Press release from Hereward Charity Challenge
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