Living History FLEXIBLE PROJECT
GREAT BRITAIN
Culture
Manual work
Renovation
Culture
Manual work
+1
Fixed dates
About the project
Living History FLEXIBLE PROJECT
📝 Detailed information
🏢 About the local organisation
The Grayhill project is an historical restoration and re-enactment project based in a re-created 16th century landscape near Chepstow in Monmouthshire, they have been hosting international volunteers since the project began in 1987.
Grayhill Historical Farm was bought by the Historical Land Group Trust and renovation of the entire 15.5 acre site to its late 16th early 17th century condition began in 1987. There are 30 fields in the 15 acres which have been returned to their historical land uses, hay meadows, pasture, woodland, arable, gardens and orchards.
Ten collapsed period buildings have been restored so far, from Longhouses to pig sties. Much of the 3 miles of field boundaries have been reinstated along with ponds and wells. The site provides the ideal background for film shoots and educational courses as well as the production of period foodstuffs. The BBC historical documentary TV series 'Tales from the Green Valley' was set here.
See more at http://www.stuart-hmaltd.com/green_valley_farm.php
💼 What the programme involves
Be a part of recreating British history in this unique project! The workcamp covers three weeks and involves two weeks of various renovation work including re-building roofs in oak timbers and stone slate and constructing walls. You will work alongside local volunteers and experts, and historian Stuart Peachey.
In the last week the site will be holding its annual Living History display for schools, this is a big celebration and a chance to be involved in an immersive history event. During the Living History week, around 40 volunteer experts in period costume will demonstrate life in the English countryside in 1599. A variety of skills from dyeing to cooking, haymaking to charcoal burning will be shown. Volunteers taking part in this week will be supplied with period costume and work with a small group of English experts at one of the activities.
FLEXIBLE PARTICIPATION:
The host is happy to accept volunteers who wish to come for a shorter amount of time than the full three weeks, so you arrival and departure date can be flexible. Please let us know your preferred dates when applying.
🏠 Accommodation on site
PLEASE NOTE: This is an authentic historical experience, and as such facilities are very basic - you will be living in tents and cooking will be done over open fires. There are sustainable compost toilets of a good standard. There are no showers on site but visits will be organised to the local swimming pool where there are showers, and there is also a river which you can bathe in and when the weather is nice we may have improvised showers on site. There is no piped water or modern facilities on the site, this means no electricity. Hot water is limited.
📍 About the location
The Green Valley Farm is in an area of natural beauty and there is plenty to do and see in the surrounding areas if you are a nature-lover. Their will be a diverse range of people involved in the project and they enjoy to spend evenings sharing nice meals and enjoying stories and music around the campfire. Trips to the nearby town for showers and use of 'modern comforts' will be arranged regularly and the host will try to accommodate the interests of the volunteers. The project is close to train and bus terminals and you can easily access nearby small towns and villages, and the larger cities of Newport, Cardiff, Bath and Bristol are also within 1 hr on train.
⚠️ Requirements
WHAT TO BRING:
• Old clothes for working in
• Boots or wellies for garden work (we have some spare wellies)
• Waterproof coat and trousers
• Insect repellant and sunscreen
• Toiletries and towel
• Musical instruments and songs/stories to share from your country
• Torch
• Sleeping bag
• Bring your own tent if you want privacy. Tents will be provided, however you will need to share these
ℹ️ Additional information
The extra fee of 50E is to support the work of UNA Exchange and does not go to the host of this project.
Interested in this project? Create your account and apply online.
Sign in to apply📅 Available sessions
UNA09
18/06/2016 → 09/07/2016
Volunteers registered
0 / 18
♂ 0/9
♀ 0/9
ℹ️ Key information
Age required
18–99 years old
Solidarity donation
50.00 EUR
French tax residents may be eligible for a tax reduction of up to 66% of their costs (membership, plane tickets, solidarity donation).
📍 Location
Llanvair-Discoed, Chepstow NP16, UK
GREAT BRITAIN
🌍 Location info
Local currency
United Kingdom Pound (GBP / £)
Exchange rate
1 GBP = 1.195652 EUR
Rate as of 31/05/2026
🛡️ Before you leave
✅ Features
🗣️ Languages spoken
English