Shrovetide Football

Two days a year, Ashbourne transforms into something resembling medieval mayhem. Shrovetide Football isn't football as you know it - it's a centuries-old game where the entire town becomes the pitch and hundreds of players battle to move a ball three miles between goals at opposite ends of town. This gallery documents one of Britain's most extraordinary sporting traditions.

The photographs capture the controlled chaos brilliantly. You'll see the 'hug' - massive scrums of players locked together around the ball, sometimes for hours. Action shots show competitors wading through the River Henmore, scrambling up hills, and charging through streets while shopkeepers hastily board up their windows.

History buffs will love the exhibition's depth. The game dates back to the 12th century, possibly earlier, and the rules are wonderfully simple - get the ball to your goal by any means except murder. The gallery explains how this anarchic sport survived attempts to ban it and why Ashbourne still shuts down completely each Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday.

Families with older children will find it fascinating, though younger ones might struggle with the concept. The violent-looking scrums are actually quite safe - serious injuries are remarkably rare.

Staying at one of the nearby parks like Callow Top or Sandybrook Lodges puts you right in the heart of this madness if you time your visit for early March.