The Battle of Orgreave

Mounted police sweep up the field. With the horses moving at speed amongst 350 re-enactors and extras, many of which had not worked with horses before, health and safety formed a vital part of everybody’s remit. Advancing at speed, the mounted unit looked every bit as intimidating as the real thing.

This photo does, however, show how easily a re-enactment could change the perception of a real event. Video footage from 1984 shows that the mounted police did not actually draw their batons until almost at the end of the "battle", instead mostly using the speed and size of their horses to disperse the demonstrators. For the sake of historical accuracy, this one small slip in authenticity at our re-enactment should not go unrecorded.

Photo © Dick Clark.

Back to Orgreave picture gallery or account of the 1984 battle.

For more information about the battle and re-enactment, follow the links to:

Re-enacting the Battle of Orgreave    Account of the 1984 battle

Battle of Orgreave film review    Magazine article about the re-enactment  

Historical Film Services is the TV and film division of EventPlan Limited.

Page updated 7 April 2004