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It's Time for a Historical Adventure!

Welcome to CEMA

CEMA is the home of historical experimentation, focused on military attack and defence over the ages. From the Roman period to the Second World War, we aim explore soldiers’ day-to-day lives through practical experimentation.

Our first project was to build a replica WWI trench system based on Railway Wood, Ypres, which is currently open to the public at the Kent Showground. The site itself has a rich military heritage with more than 2000 years of history that we aim to uncover!

CEMA works in collaboration with the University of Kent and Wessex Archaeology to provide research and educational experiences for schools, army recruits and fellow historians. We are also available to hire for private groups and film production organisations.

Learn More About Us

Getting to us

Events

Services

Our Services

School Visits

Private Groups

Hire for Film & Media

Home Educators

"The CEMA experience is a fantastic one. We have been visiting for 2 years running now - taking in excess of 100 students both times - and we intend on making it a permanent feature of our Year 10 Curriculum . It reinforces so much of what is covered for the Western Front unit in the Medicine Through Time paper with the talk on the chain of evacuation being a particular strength for this. The other talks and the trench provide invaluable context for the war.
All guides are incredibly knowledgeable and passionate which helps the students really engage with the subject matter. Lastly, the mock trench, set amongst atmospheric woodland, is not only a brilliant replica but really helps students to understand how unprecedented this war was.
Our school would highly recommend this!"

Rocky Haines

Highworth Grammar School, Ashford