THE GROUNDS of the Kingston Maurward Estate will be transformed into a Napoleonic battlefield for a weekend of 19th Century themed entertainment.

The International Napoleonic Weekend at the college near Dorchester will see military re-enactments complete with muskets and cannons, market traders selling goods and traditional music and dance.

Special guest Jason Salkey, star of television series Sharpe, will also be at the event on Saturday October 3 and Sunday October 4.

The Napoleonic festival follows last year’s successful Regency Weekend and will celebrate the 200th anniversary of the Duke of Wellington’s pivotal military offensive of 1809.

The college’s commercial director Ivan Smith said: “There’s going to be something for everyone.

“It’s an opportunity to learn more about the period in history as well as having a fun day out.”

Kingston Maurward is also holding an educational day on Friday October 2, for local schoolchildren to come and find out more about the era.

Mr Smith said: “We are inviting local schools to bring children along to meet some of the people who will be leading the weekend.

“There will be talks on different subjects, a 120 square foot model of the Battle of Waterloo and the chance to find out more about costumes and etiquette and manners from the period.”

The weekend’s entertainment will see history come alive with military re-enactments featuring original working Napoleonic guns and a recreated military camp with soldiers in period costume.

An indoor and outdoor market will also be offering Napoleonic and Regency books, maps, costumes, paintings and leather goods. Visitors will be able to make a weekend of it with camping in the college grounds available for those who book in advance.

Day tickets cost £8 for adults, £7.50 for adults, £4.50 for children and £20 for a family of two adults and two children.

Special two-day passes are also available. Call 01305 215123, email events@kmc.ac.uk or visit www.kmc.ac.uk/events