The longhall at Wychurst

Around the turn of the millennium Regia Anglorum began work on the Wychurst project, to build an 11^th century fortified manorial longhall on two acres of its own land in Kent. In February 2010 I got the chance to see the place while attending some film work for a forthcoming documentary.

In 1999 Regia’s leadership first mooted the possibility of building some form of permanent structure at the ‘Wildwood’ discovery park near Canterbury. This was the genesis of what became the Wychurst Project, and now, ten years later, the first phase of this hugely ambitious undertaking is almost complete. A 60’ by 30’ Saxon longhall surrounded by a pallisaded bank and ditch stands on two acres of the society's own land.

I was extremely excited when this project began and have keenly followed its development, but unfortunately distance and a young family conspired to keep me away from Wychurst until February 2010 when Sarah and I were able to take the boys down for a four day film shoot and we were able to see this remarkable site at first hand.