An international best-selling author will be visiting a rural Dorset village to introduce part of a tennis-court sized model of the Battle of Waterloo.
Ken Follett, known for his Kingsbridge series including The Pillars of the Earth, will be visiting Bishop’s Caundle in north Dorset in two successive evening events celebrating a highly accurate scale model of the Battle of Waterloo.
The model will be filmed by the best-selling author for a short film to accompany his next model.
Follett will introduce the model, which will be exhibited for the first time since 2021 when it made its debut in a critically acclaimed exhibition at the National Army Museum entitled Waterloo Remodelled.
On Saturday, February 11 and Sunday, February 12, Bishop’s Caundle Village Hall will host Follett, Waterloo Remodelled, and the model’s creator Major General James Cowan for two evenings, featuring a model viewing, drinks reception, introduction by Follett and talk by Major General Cowan on the fascinating process of researching and creating the model.
The event will raise funds for the veteran support charity Waterloo Uncovered.
Ken Follett first became involved with Waterloo Remodelled when he visited the exhibition at the National Army Museum.
The visually impressive and highly detailed model sparked an interest in the Napoleonic in the author, inspiring Follett to set his upcoming novel, the fifth in the highly popular Kingsbridge series, in the lead-up to the Battle of Waterloo.
The model will be filmed by Follett while in situ in Bishop’s Caundle for a short film to accompany his next novel The Armour of Light prior to its release in September 2023.
As the expansive model is too large to be exhibited in its entirety in this space, the village hall will host the corner of the model featuring Plancenoit, the location of a pivotal turning point in the Battle of Waterloo where some of the bloodiest fighting occurred.
The section will include thousands of individually hand-painted model soldiers, painted by 80 volunteers from all around the world including many veterans and serving personnel.
All proceeds from the event will go to Waterloo Uncovered, the groundbreaking charity combining archaeology with veteran support and helping those who have served find recovery through discovery.
The charity made global headlines in summer 2022, when its annual excavation on the battlefield of Waterloo uncovered a human skeleton at the Duke of Wellington’s former field hospital – only the second complete skeleton ever found on the battlefield.
Find out more and book tickets at the website https://www.tickettailor.com/events/waterloouncovered/830318
Tickets are priced at £20, including wine and soft drinks, while additional charitable donations are appreciated. Tickets are limited so early booking is essential.
Limited parking is available in the adjacent car park with additional spaces along Holt Lane and the A3030. Email events@waterloouncovered.com with any queries.
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