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Charlwood, Surrey: Replica WW1 Trench

The village of Charlwood on the border between Sussex and Surrey is perhaps best known for its proximity to Gatwick Airport. Surprisingly, it’s also the place you will find a painstakingly faithful recreation of a British World War One trench.

The trench is the labour of love of a former history teacher, Andrew Robertshaw, and is part of his attempts to understand and to show what life was like to ordinary soldiers during the Great War.

Mr Robertshaw and 30 helpers spent a month shifting around 200 tonnes of earth from his back garden to build the enormous three-room trench. Periodically, the trench is open to the public and school parties. It’s even staged an overnight re-enactment of a World War One battle.

Location: Charlwood, Surrey RH6 0EL
Image shows the reconstructed trench
Presented by Trevor Nicholls

Release date:

Duration:

3 minutes

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