Up to 1,000 people in Cavalier and Roundhead costumes will give dramatic demonstrations of cavalry charges, infantry attacks and large-scale cannon and musket fire, during West Acre History Fair on Sunday and Monday.

And archaeologists led by John Shepherd and Michael de Bootman will be on site to show the foundations of an early 12th century chapel that they unearthed and other discoveries they made during a dig this summer in a field near St Peter's pit.

Other attractions at the fair will include displays of flint-knapping to make prehistoric-style tools, a working Roman iron smelting furnace, a replica of an Iron Age roundhouse from the time of the Iceni tribe and guided walks around the remains of West Acre Priory which are not normally open to the public.

English Civil War Society members will be setting up a living history camp in the village and carrying out cavalry, musket and pike drills, together with musicians and drum calls.

Children will be able to try on armour and visitors can watch displays of games, weaponry, cooking and needlepoint from the 17th century.

Many local historical and archaeological groups are also taking part in the fair.

Mr Shepherd and Mr de Bootman set about finding the lost St Peter's Chapel in West Acre, with help from metal detector enthusiast Steve Brown, this year and organised a radar survey of the field near St Peter's pit.

As well as locating the building, the radar showed that it survived in very good condition and was quite large – similar in size to a small church.

In July, a small team of amateur volunteers from East Anglia and Lincolnshire, as well as students from Leicester, Exeter and Bournemouth universities, started an excavation to reveal the plan of the building and learn more about it.

The trench they opened up shows the outline of the chapel in its entirety, measuring 24 metres long and almost seven metres wide.

Finds on the site have included medieval coins, window glass and the lead that held it in place, pottery and iron nails from the interior of the building.

Mr de Bootman said money raised from the history fair would help fund further archaeological research in the Nar Valley.