The age of the Tudors will be brought to life at the Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre in Chippenham at an annual open day later this month.

Visitors will get to meet the crew of Henry VIII’s ship, the Mary Rose, shoot arrows with a longbow and look at real Tudor documents from the archive during the free event on Saturday, September 26.

Doors open from 10am and there will be lots of activities for families, including writing with a quill pen, dressing as a Tudor and a behind-the-scenes tour of a strong room holding seven miles of archives dating back more than 100 years.

Some of the rarest documents include the marriage deed of Henry VIII to Jane Seymour and a signed letter from Elizabeth I about her cousin Mary Queen of Scots.

Louisa Burden, acting heritage service manager, said: “ We are delighted to be holding our third annual open day and I hope this year’s event will be even bigger and better with loads of great activities for families and children.

“It’s a fantastic opportunity for people to find out what goes on behind the scenes at the history centre.”

Visitors will also be able look at original artefacts from the Tudor period and find out how waterlogged objects from the Mary Rose were recovered and conserved in the centre’s conservation lab.

For more information call 01249 705500.