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EVENTS DIARY 2008

WE ARE CURRENTLY AVAILABLE FOR HIRE!!!

APRIL

19th - St George's Day - Luton

MAY

3-5 - Rockingham Castle - Corby, Leicestershire

JUNE

12 - Orpington - TBC

21 - St John's of Eden Park, Beckenham, Kent - TBC

JULY

12 - A country Fayre - Margaretting, Essex

19-20 - '1425', Cheshire

AUGUST

3rd - New Addington Woodland Festival, Croydon

9-10 - Bodelwyddan Castle, Wales

SEPTEMBER

5-8 - Beckenham Recreation Ground.

13-14 - East Anglian Medieval Festival - Cressing Temple

27-28 - Ruthin Medieval Festival - Wales

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If you have an event that you would like to hire us for please

SHOW FORMATS

We can provide the following shows which last between 20-45 minutes. Our shows consist of the following formats:

Archery Display:

Our Archery display consists of a 30-45 minute demonstration on the use of the English Longbow, Eastern European Recurve Bows and the Crossbow. Our display involves all members, whilst one person acts as speaker. The speaker provides historical information regarding the use of the longbow throughout the display, he also acts as commander and after explaining each type of shoot to the public he gives the archers their orders. The types of shoot we carry out are as follows: Formation shoot, Numbered shoot, Speed shoot (Longbows only), Speed shoot Crossbow vs the Longbow, Mass volley at targets, and the final shoot often involves two teams of archers who are faced with the challenge of knocking down all the targets on their side of the castle, the first team to knock down all the targets and to ring the bell wins. Our displays often involve audience participation, especially during this last shoot as they choose a team to support. We also get a member of the public to time the speed shoots.

Arming of a Knight and Development of Arms & Armour:

This display lasts approximately 30 minutes. This display involves a close up demonstration of how a knight was armoured up in the 14th and 15th centuries. Alongside this we talk about the connection between the development of medieval weaponry and the resultant changes to armour over time from chain mail to full plate armour.

Weapons handling Sessions: Show and tell

Our site always displays a wide range of medieval armour and weaponry. Throughout the day members of the public are encouraged to ask questions and handle some of the armour and weaponry we have on display (with the supervision of a member). We offer the opportunity to feel the weight of the chainmail and/ or the helmet a knight was expected to wear. There is also the opportunity to have a close inspection of swords, longbows and a wide selection of medieval arrowheads. We feel that allowing the public to experience the restrictions a medieval knight would have felt, such as the reduced visibility of a helmet for example, lends something extra to our talks on medieval weaponry and armour. Our members are also able to answer general questions on medieval daily life for both the noble and the peasant.

Mummers Plays:

This is a relitavely new addition to our itenary of events. A mummers play is a seasonal folk play performed by a troupe of actors. Pagents and plays were very popular at this period in English history as an excellent form of entertainment for all. Mummers plays were humerous and cleverly worked together with rhyme. We have written our own mummers plays in which we always get the audience involved. Our plays often feature swordplay, usually in slow motion for added effect.