WakeHereward Project
Safeguarding the Hereward legend since 2013.
Forgotten hero..
Freedom fighter..
Legend..
Hereward Returns!
Since 2017 the WakeHereward Project has arranged a Hereward Returns! event annually to mark the historical return from exile of the Outlaw Hereward. (van Houts 1999, Bartlett (BBC) 2011). This year we commemorated Hereward with the kind agreement of Bourne Town Football Club (Saturday 6th September) and the annual Hereward Wargames Show in Peterborough (Sunday 7th September).
The project aligns with official biographer David Roffe's history of Hereward in the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, that Hereward was the son of a nobleman, Leofric of Bourne. (Roffe 1994, 2004).
Hereward Returns! September 1067-2025 958th anniversary
1st September 1067 - the death of Baldwin V, Count of Flanders, hastened the return to England of the Outlaw Hereward.
Baldwin was father of Matilda, the wife of England's new King, William I 'the Conqueror'. Hereward had been fighting in the Count's army as a military commander under his son Robert the Frisian when he
heard of England's fate and decided to return home to collect his inheritance after hearing of the
death of his father.
The 12th Century Gesta Herwardi claims that when Hereward returned to his hometown of Bourne he discovered his brother's decapitated head hanging from the entrance to his family estate and a group of unarmed Normans occupying his home. Enraged, he swiftly leapt from the shadows and slaughtered them, hanging their heads in place of his brother's and firing the rebellion in the Fens that would span five years.
In 2025 The WakeHereward Project marked the occasion through medieval re-enactor Rory G
appearing as folk hero Hereward the Wake at
Bourne Town FC on Saturday 6th September 3pm and
Opening the Hereward Wargames Show at 10am on Sunday 7th at The Cresset, Peterborough.
The event serves to connect to our cultural past so that we may better understand who we are and where we come from and how our local society was forged. Through the nickname 'The Wakes' and 'Hereward Wargames' to our own Hereward re-enactor and a Hereward's Revenge wargame the legend of Hereward lives again among his own folk. His actions and deeds in defending his own people from an oppressive governing regime are commemorated among those local folk 958 years later. Hereward goes from forgotten memory to active memory and his tales are regaled again.
Hereward Returns to lead out The Wakes!
Hereward leads out The Wakes in their Cup encounter. Image courtesy Millie Deakin Photography & Bourne Town FC.
Hereward Returns to Bourne and leads out The Wakes in their FA Trophy encounter with Rushden & Diamonds on Saturday 6th September at Abbey Lawns, Bourne with several hundred in attendance on a bright sunny day in a buzzing community environment.
Bourne Town Football Club is in a golden streak, having recently climbed into the Northern Premier League after gaining promotion from the United Counties League last season.
Hereward mingled with Wakes supporters in the bar, met with children for photos, sounded his horn to lift the crowd and team, led the Wakes out at the start of the match, got to sit on the bench with the Subs, and was even featured in the matchday programme.
Such a fantastic moment thank's to the Chairman, Staff, Officials, Players and Supporters of Bourne Town Football Club for making Hereward Returns! a special moment.
It proved to be an ideal environment to connect the present to the past in our local culture in the Fens for the edification and entertainment of all. Hereward continues to anchor the community in a deep sense of place and time—his legend still echoing through the evolving streets of Bourne and across the Fens.
Hereward Returns to lead out The Wakes
Hereward Returns!
Hereward the Wake: The Outlaw Hero of the Fens Returns!
1067-2025
958th anniversary
Remembering a local hero
Gather round, folk of the Fens, and hear the tale of Hereward the Wake, the fearless warrior and outlaw who defied the Norman yoke and carved his name into the heart of our land! This weekend, the WakeHereward Project invites you to join us in celebrating this legendary figure at two thrilling events in
Bourne and Peterborough.
Our very own Hereward, brought to life by the spirited re-enactor Rory G, will be on hand to regale you with tales of rebellion, pose for photos, and mingle with the proud folk of the Fens. So, come one, come all, to honor a hero who stood tall against tyranny 958 years ago!
The Legend Ignites: Hereward’s Return to Bourne In the first days of September 1067, after the sudden death of Baldwin V of Flanders, Hereward the Outlaw returned from exile to his homeland in Bourne, a fire in his heart and a sword in his hand. The Normans, fresh from their conquest at Hastings, had seized his family’s lands and oppressed his people. But Hereward would have none of it. In a blaze of vengeance, he descended upon Bourne, slaughtering the Norman occupiers in a daring raid that set the Fens alight with rebellion.
From the shadowy depths of Bourne Woods, he waged a five-year campaign of resistance, striking fear into the hearts of the invaders and rallying the folk of the Fens to his cause. This was no mere outlaw; this was Hereward, the beacon of hope amidst famine, slaughter, and fear.
Join us on Saturday, 6th September, at 3pm at Bourne Town Football Club for The Wakes vs. Rushden & Diamonds in the FA Trophy (details at bournetownfc.co.uk). Rory G, as Hereward, will be there, sword in hand, to greet fans and share the spirit of the Fens’ greatest hero. Whether you’re cheering from the stands or soaking in the atmosphere, come celebrate the legacy of Hereward and thank you for supporting the WakeHereward Project in keeping his story alive!
A Knight’s Oath and a Rebel’s Fire: Hereward at Peterborough
The saga continues in Peterborough, where Hereward’s legend took root in sacred stone. Knighted at Peterborough, likely in the shadow of its ancient abbey, Hereward was no stranger to the city’s hallowed halls. But when the Normans threatened the treasures and traditions of the monastery, Hereward struck back. In a bold and infamous act, he burned parts of Peterborough and sacked the monastery to deny its riches to the invaders.
This audacious move, chronicled by 12th-century monks, cemented his reputation as a defender of his people, willing to risk all to protect the Fens’ heritage. From there, he would go on to make his legendary stand at the Isle of Ely, but it was in Peterborough that his defiance burned brightest.
On Sunday, 7th September, at 10am, Hereward strides again at the Hereward Wargames Show at The Cresset in Peterborough (details at www.hereward-wargames.co.uk). Rory G will open the event as Hereward, welcoming all who attend to dive into the history and heroism of the Fens’ folk hero. We extend a hearty thank you to everyone joining us, from wargamers to curious visitors, for helping the WakeHereward Project honor Hereward’s enduring legacy
.Why Hereward Matters
When King Harold fell at Hastings in 1066, England did not kneel. Across the land, from Kent to York, resistance flared against the Norman conquerors. Hereward’s rebellion in the Fens stands out as one of the most enduring, a five-year campaign of cunning and courage that made him a folk hero. Far from the 19th-century image of Hereward as “England’s Patriot,” crafted by Charles Kingsley as a symbol of imperial might, today we see the real Hereward: a local man, an exile returned, who fought for his people, their land, and their way of life. Revisionist historians paint him as a more nuanced figure, a defender against oppression who became a symbol of hope in a dark time.
Join the Rebellion!
This weekend, let the spirit of Hereward the Wake stir your soul. Whether you’re at Bourne Town Football Club, cheering amidst the roar of the crowd, or at the Hereward Wargames Show, immersing yourself in history, Rory G as Hereward will bring the outlaw’s tale to life. Snap a photo, hear a story, and feel the pride of the Fens. Together, we keep the flame of Hereward’s rebellion burning bright.
Thank you, people of Bourne and Peterborough, for joining the WakeHereward Project in commemorating our hero. Visit herewardthewake.co.uk for more on Hereward’s legacy, and we’ll see you at the events!
“For the Fens, for freedom, for Hereward!”
