On the bed of the River Hamble lay the wrecks of some of the world’s most famous medieval vessels, the “great ships” built for King Henry V’s campaign against the French in the Hundred Years War. Among these historically significant treasures is King Henry V’s flagship, the Grace Dieu.
Now, some 600 years after her construction at Town Quay Southampton, the public are able to learn how the prized flagship, once the largest ship in the world, came to be an abandoned on the Hamble.
The King’s Great Ships Trail is an imaginative, digital interactive walkway, funded by Tesco’s Bags of Help initiative. Using the latest technology to bring history to life, the woodland trail through Manor Farm and Country Park, leading to the River Hamble, will explore the history of the “great ships” and detail their medieval connections to the region.
Featuring a soundscape filled with medieval music, facts and tales, including how the “biggest ship in the world” was constructed in Southampton Docks and how she came to be at the bottom of the River Hamble, The King’s Great Ships Trail is a contemporary pathway leading back into our region’s rich historical past.
Discover The Trail
Download Zappar for free from your app store and try it on one of the codes below, which gives you a flavour of the interactive trail. Remember to download our free trail guide booklet below and take it along with you too.
Meet The Designer
Print Designer Mariska Parent from The Sorting Office, created the waymarkers that mark the route of the King’s Great Ship’s Trail at Manor Farm and Country Park, which follows the pathway to the Grace Dieu, King Henry V’s grand flagship.
Watch her interview to find out more about the design process and where Mariska found her inspiration for the waymarkers.
Promotional Materials
Press Releases
Big Turn Out For Launch of New Interactive Trail at Medieval Weekend
An estimated 2,000 people turned out for the Road To Agincourt’s Medieval Weekend, which saw the Mayor of Eastleigh Cllr Des Scott officially open the King’s Great Ships Trail, a new accessible, interactive walkway at Manor Farm & Country Park, supported byTesco Bags of Help.
The family friendly Medieval Weekend featured a host of medieval entertainment including re-enactments performances, storytelling of the Legends of Sir Bevis, a Maritime History Discovery Bus, guided walks from Heritage guides and demonstrations from a medieval village complete with cooking, herbalists and arrow making.
Showcasing from leading experts, Dr Ian Friel and Professor Jon Adams, was also seen over the weekend with a popular 
guided walk with Dr Ian Friel, Writer and Historical Consultant and traditional shipbuilding methods demonstrated by Professor Jon Adams, Professor of Archaeology at the University of Southampton.
Quote from Eastleigh Borough Council Head of Culture Cheryl Butler, the organiser of the event:
“We were overwhelmed by the positive response from visitors and participants to Road to Agincourt Medieval Weekend.
The new King’s Great Ships Trail was a big hit and everyone loved they soundscape. We look forward to unveiling the virtual museum of the Grace Dieu next year.”
The woodland trail through Manor Farm and Country Park leading to the River Hamble explores the history of the ‘great ships’ used by Henry V during the famous Battle of Agincourt, through the use of a soundscape filled with medieval music and facts and tales.
The King’s Great Ships Trail can be accessed by following the newly designed way-markers and visitors can try out the temporary soundscape and give feedback before the permanent Zappar codes affixed. For more information email roadtoagincourt@outlook.com.
Interactive Trail to be Officially Launched at family-friendly Medieval Weekend
The team behind The Road To Agincourt is excited to announce The King’s Great Ships Trail, a new digital interactive walkway, will be officially launched at a FREE weekend of Medieval entertainment for all the family at Manor Farm and Country Park on the weekend of July 30 and 31.
The woodland trail through Manor Farm and Country Park leading to the River Hamble is funded by Tesco’s Bags of Help scheme, and will explore the history of the ‘great ships’ used by Henry V during the famous Battle of Agincourt.
Through the use of a soundscape filled with medieval music and facts and tales, the public will be able to learn of Southampton’s local connections to the battle; including how the ‘biggest ship in the world’ was constructed in Southampton Docks and how she came to be at the bottom of the River Hamble.
The special Medieval Weekend will feature a host of family-friendly entertainment, including historical re-enactments, a medieval village complete with leather workers, pole turners, felters and authentic cooking and singing demonstrations from the period.
Cressing 122There will also be the chance to find out more about the wreck of the Grace Dieu, one of the ships lying on the bed of the River Hamble, and the opportunity to take part in medieval sports, dancing and to watch tales from the past brought to life.
A sneak peek trailer that was released ahead of the Medieval Weekend…
