This event has been held twice, in 1995 and 1996, using actors with support from The National Trust and Haslemere Museum, to bring the history of the Common and its surrounding area dramatically to life.
We plan to repeart the event on Sunday 29th August 2010.
For further information, contact The National Trust at Witley Common Information
Centre – 01428 683207
The cast includes Sir Arthur Conan Doyle; Alfred, Lord Tennyson; John Tyndall; Jonathan Hutchinson; Whitaker Wright; sundry broomsquires, highwaymen, murderers; and of course Sir Robert Hunter himself, resident of nearby Haslemere and key founder of The National Trust in 1895.
Suitable for schools/groups or the casual rambler - trail accessible to wheelchairs.
Estimates vary, and nobody really counted, but probably
some 300 people
gathered by the Devil's Punchbowl Hotel at the start of the walk. Sir
Robert Hunter arrived in person, and led the cavalcade on a tour of the
common, stopping at a number of points to tell the assembled company a
little of the history of the area and the personalities who frequented it.
Sometimes this was supplemented by a dramatic scene acted out in front of
the crowd by a small troupe of actors, including several local National
Trust Wardens and the curator of the Haslemere Museum.
Perhaps the most impressive scene was one in which
two highwaymen on horses
suddenly sprang from a side track and held up some unfortunate travellers.
The walkers met in turn Mr & Mrs Tyndall, Sir Jonathan & Mrs Hutchinson,
Lord Tennyson, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle,
a pair of broomsquires
complete with besoms, and of course the unfortunate sailor and his
villainous murderers.