Issue 41 June

The Ermine Street Guard

1972-2012

The Tudors At Temple Newsam

The Site Temple Newsam is a 1,500 acre estate three miles east of Leeds city centre. It has a

magnificent Tudor-Jacobean mansion, Stable Courtyard with café and toilets, a 17th century

farm with rare breeds from Vaynol to Irish Moiled, a Capability Brown designed parkland

and acres of woodlands and formal gardens.

“The Tudors at Temple Newsam” is an all-day educational re-enactment designed for up

to 30 Key Stage 2 children and is led by the Education

officer and Education Providers in character.

The year is 1565. The Earl and Countess of

Lennox own Temple Newsam. Margaret Lennox is Henry

VIII’s niece. They have two children, Henry and Charles.

Henry Stewart, Lord Darnley has just travelled into Scotland

to the court of Mary, Queen of Scots, who is also his cousin. Lady

Margaret Lennox is hoping that he will marry the Queen!

We need servants to attend to Lady Margaret and her

house servants, when she arrives from Queen Elizabeth’s

court in London later this day.

There is grain to be threshed, flour to be ground, bread to be made, herbs to be gathered and

fresh herb bags and tussie-mussies to be made; the Barber Surgeon’s Chest has arrived ahead

of him and all the contents must be checked; there are always secret papers to be translated,

copied and read and if ye do not work hard enough… thou shalt be a vile vagabond and we

shall put thee in the stocks!

“The Tudors at Temple Newsam”

Is now in its 12th

year and is available from March to July and October to November each

year, from Tuesdays to Thursdays. “The Tudors” is a very popular activity and many schools

choose to book two or more consecutive dates.

“The Tudors at Temple Newsam” Costs £5.50 per child for Leeds schools per day’s activity and £6.50 per child for schools

outside Leeds. Accompanying teachers and adult helpers go free.

To make your booking, please contact the Education Officer on (0113) 3367559 or write to

The Reception Office, Stable Courtyard, Temple Newsam Estate, Leeds, LS15 OAD or email

her at Julia.w.thorpe@leeds.gov.uk

The Education Officer is always looking for suitably skilled and experienced re-enactors to

get involved with The Tudors At Temple Newsam. Initially you would be recruited as a

volunteer and may progress to become a paid casual Education provider. The pay may be

smalle but the goode ye do would be immense! All posts, including volunteer positions are

CRB checked to an enhanced level. We book between 25 and 35 days a year, but may do

more with more help! If you are interested, give me a ring on (0113) 3367559 or email me at

Julia.w.thorpe@leeds.gov.uk

On The March

Onager

Features This Month 1: Barbed arrows or Bodkins? 2: Competition.

3: Interview with Giles Kristian (Author)

4: Waits – Music about Town

5: Book Reviews-The Historical Novel Soc.

6: ‘D’ Troop: Lancashire Hussars

7: Event Listings

8: The Ermine Street Guard. 40yrs old!

Greetings All

Had anyone else realized that The Ermine

Street Guard had been in existence for 40

years-I certainly hadn’t. I would like to

wish them an excellent anniversary year and

here’s to the next 40!

Congratulations to all of the lucky winners

of last month’s competitions, there are too

many to list here. Only one competition this

month but there are 5 books on offer. My

thanks to Giles Kristian, and his publishers,

for the donation of the books.

The season is in full swing in the UK and

Europe with events happening all over the

place most weekends from now until

October-Do keep me informed of any

events that you hear about and I will gladly

advertise them in the magazine.

A huge thank you to everyone that has

supplied an article for this issue of the

magazine and to those who have supplied

articles for previous issues. If you have

something you would like to see published

and sent around the world to 36 different

countries please contact me at the email

address below.

I am already starting work on the next 2 or

3 issues and welcome any and all

correspondence.

Kindest Regards

Editor.

thereenactor@btinternet.com

Competitions:

All competitions are free to enter

Winners will be selected at random on the 24th

of

each month for the relevant competition.

Winners will be notified via email shortly after

the draw takes place.

No correspondence will be entered into.

The editor’s decision is final.

The views and opinions expressed in the articles in this ezine are those of the individual authors

themselves and not those of the Editor

To receive a copy of this magazine just send

your email address to:

thereenactor@btinternet.com

So did they use Barbed Arrows or Bodkins….

by

Kevin Goodman

http://bowsbladesandbattles.tripod.com/

A question guaranteed to ignite a heated debate amongst medieval archery re-enactors is

always “What kind of war arrows did they use in Medieval times?” Did they use barbed or

bodkins? On one Living History website one re-enactor states:

“There is also no good evidence to suggest military archers used anything but bodkins for

warfare. Swallow-tails and Fowling (crescent) heads are for hunting, not military use.”

(http://www.livinghistory.co.uk/forums/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=26904)

While others debate the reliability and validity of the two available typographies, The

London Museum (Ward Perkins 1940) and Jessop (1996), forwarding findings from medieval

battlefields along with medieval pictures.

However, archers weren’t the only group who dealt with arrows. One source,

frequently overlooked, that provides a great deal of information about arrows and their forms

are the accounts of surgeons and physicians from the past.

The Susruta Samhita, (Bhishagratna 1907), one of the major texts of Ayurvedic

medicine (3rd

-4th

Century BC), divides arrows into two classes, feathered or unfeathered, (i.e.

fletched or unfletched), while arrowheads are described as being made in the shape of: trees,

leaves, flowers or fruits or being made to resemble the mouths of birds and wild and

ferocious animals.

The great Byzantine 7th Century physician Paulus Aeginata or Paul of Aegina (c.625–

c.690) in his De Re Medica Libri Septem or Medical Compendium in Seven Books describes

arrow shafts as being made from wood or reed and arrowheads from: iron; copper; tin; lead;

horn; glass; bone; reed and wood. The heads had a variety of appearances: round; triangular;

pointed and lance-shaped. Some had three points; some were barbed and some were without

barbs. They differed in size from three fingers breadth to the size of one finger. Some

arrowheads were attached by a tang and others by a socket.

He also noted that some tribes would go to great lengths to make their arrows difficult

to remove. He described four such types (Adams 1844):

(i) Arrowheads attached loosely to shafts, which separate when extracted, leaving the

arrowhead inside the wound

(ii) Arrowheads possessing barbs moveable by hinges that would unfold at an attempt to

withdraw the arrow.

(iii) Some having barbs diverging in opposite directions like forked lightning, so when pulled

or pushed they fastened in the wounded person’s flesh.

(iv) Composite arrowheads which had small pieces of metal set into grooves at the side of the

point which would remain inside the wound when the point was removed.

While no arrowheads corresponding to these descriptions in (ii), (iii) and (iv) have

been found, Salazar (2000) observes there are some pyramidal arrowheads in the collections

of the British museum which have a small hole, that may not necessarily have served for

attaching it to the shaft, but may have held an extra piece of metal. Alternatively, they could

have been arrowheads which were disintegrating due to poor manufacture.

The 13th Century Bishop and medical writer Theodoric Borgognoni, or Theodoric of

Cervia (1205–1298), observed that : “Some [arrows] have large heads; some small, some

concave, some blunt, some barbed, some have two angles, some have four, some three”

(Campbell and Colton 1955, p.83), while the French surgeon Henri de Mondeville (1260 –

1316), observed that some arrowheads were attached to the wooden shaft with a socket and

others with a tang which entered the shaft (Nicaise 1893).

The famous illustration of Roger Frugard removing an arrow (below) shows a barbed

arrowhead, although it could be argued this is artistic license

A 13th

Century illustration of Roger Frugard (c1140 – c.1195) removing a barbed arrow

De Mondeville and the Flemish surgeon Jehan Yperman (1320-25) noted that English

arrows were notorious for their barbs, (Nicaise 1893; Rosenman 2002c), thus confounding

the theory that only barbs were used in Warfare during the medieval period. We even know

what kind of arrowhead was embedded in the young Henry V’s face during the Battle of

Shrewsbury (1403), the surgeon who removed it, John Bradmore, described it as a “bod” or

bodkin (Cole and Lang 2003)

The 16th Century surgeons Hieronymous Brunschwig (1450-1512), Giovanni Andrea

Della Croce (1509 -1575) and Ambroise Paré (1510-1590) acknowledge the variety of arrow

that exist. For example:

“Some of them are of wood, others of canes or reeds: some of them have their

extremities or heads garnished with iron, tin, lead, brass, horn, glass or of bone…some are

round, others angular, others sharp, others barbed, some of them having their points turned

backwards and some have it divided into two parts: some are made broad in their heads and

cutting like a knife …some of their heads are of three fingers in length; others of smaller

size…[some] are simple , having but one point only; others are composed into two or

many…some of them have the iron or head inserted within the wood of the arrow, [tanged]

and of others the arrow is inserted into the head [socketed]. Some heads are fixed and nailed

onto the shaft, and others not...” (Paré 1617).

A variety of arrowheads from Paré 1617

While in the New World, Herman de Soto who explored the Mississippi in 1539

described Native Arrows:

“Arrows are made of certain canes, like reeds, very heavy and so stiff that one of

them, when sharpened, will pass through a target. Some are pointed with the bone of a fish,

sharp and like a chisel; others with some stone like a point of diamond; of such the greater

number, when they strike upon armour, break at the place the parts are put together …and

will enter a shirt of mail, doing more injury than when armed.”(p.228, Worcester 1945).

In the 19th Century surgeons still provide information regarding arrow heads. The

U.S. Army Surgeon, Joseph Bill (1862) reported that Indian arrowheads were made of flint,

obsidian, agate, wood, iron, horn, antler or glass and were attached to the shaft by wrapping

them with animal tendon, while Elliot Coues observed that Apache arrowheads were held in

place with gum at the end of a small hardened stick which was set in a hollow arrow shaft,

(possibly a reed), (p.90 Broadhead, 1973).

Granted, in many cases, few of the arrows so described have been found, but does this

render the accounts invalid? I would argue not. Such physicians and surgeons often described

arrowheads and their inherent problems in their writings for the benefit of their students, so

there would be little benefit from making fraudulent claims, (although it could be argued that

those in the illustration from Paré, above, may be subject to a degree of artistic

interpretation).

This also shows the inherent dangers of sticking too narrowly to a particular subject.

By not exploring a wide range of sources a great deal of valuable information that brings new

light upon a subject can be overlooked.

Author Details:

Kevin Goodman aka “Owain Leech – Surgeon” is the Author of the book “Ouch! A History

of Arrow Wound Treatment from Prehistory to the Nineteenth Century” available from

Amazon Books:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/offer-

listing/0957137702/ref=dp_olp_new?ie=UTF8&qid=1331193260&sr=1-1&condition=new

References:

Adams F. The Seven books of Paulus Aegineta. Volumes I-III. London: Sydenham Society,

1844.

Bhishagratna, K.K.L. (1907) An English Translation Of The Sushruta Samhita (Vols.1-3).

Calcutta: J. N. Bose

Bill, J.H.(1862) Notes on arrow wounds. American Journal of Medical Science, 44, 365-87.

Broadhead, M.J. (1973) Elliot Couse and the Apaches. Journal of Arizona History, 14(2), 87-

94.

Brunschwig, H. (1517) The noble experyence of the vertuous handy warke of surgeri

practysyd & compyled by the moost experte mayster Herome of Bruynswyke. EEBO.

Campell, E. and Colton. J. (1955) The Surgery of Theodoric (Vol 1 and 2 ). New York:

Appleton Century Crofts.

Cole H and Lang T. (2003) "The Treating of Prince Henry's Arrow Wound, 1403" in

Journal of the Society of Archer Antiquaries , 46, 95-101.

Della Croce, G.A. (1573) Chirurgiae. Apud Lordanum Zilettum

Jessop, O. (1996) A new artefact typology for the study of medieval arrowheads. Medieval

Archaeology, 40, 192-205.

Nicaise, E. (1893) The Surgery of Master Henry De Mondeville. Paris: Ancienne Librarie

Pare, A. (1617) The Method of Curing Wounds Made by Gun-shot Also by Arrows and

Darts. Faithfully done into English by Walter Hammond, Chirurgean. EEBO Books.

Rosenman, L. (2002c) The Surgery of Jehan Yperman. Philadelphia: Xlibris.

Salazar C.F. (2000) The Treatment of War Wounds in Graeco-Roman Antiquity. Boston:

Brill.

Ward Perkins, , J. B.(1940) London Museum Medieval Catalogue 7, 65-73(5c).

Worcester, D.E. (1945) The Weapons of American Indians. New Mexico Review, 20, 227-38.

Kevin Goodman is a historical interpreter, who specializes in the medicine and surgery of the

past. Much in demand as a speaker and as a presenter in schools, he can also be seen

performing around the country as “Owain Leech: Surgeon” at historical festivals.

Further details can be found at: http://bowsbladesandbattles.tripod.com

Bows, Blades & battles Press

ISBN

978-0-9571377-0-7

“Ouch” A History of Arrow Wound Treatment Surgery IS the child of war.

Nowhere is this better demonstrated than in the study of

arrow wound treatment.

This book reveals how the physicians and surgeons of the

past were not quacks or poorly trained butchers, but skilled

and educated men who made many innovations in their

treatment of arrow wounds.

Competition One

England 1642: a nation divided. England is at war with itself. King Charles and

Parliament each gather soldiers to their banners. Across

the land men prepare to fight for their religious and

political ideals. Civil war has begun.

A family ripped asunder.

The Rivers are landed gentry, and tradition dictates that

their allegiance is to the King. Sir Francis’ loyalty to the

crown and his desire to protect his family will test them

all. As the men march to war, so the women are left to

defend their home against a ruthless enemy. Just as

Edmund, the eldest of Sir Francis’ sons, will do his

duty, so his brother Tom will turn his back on all he

once believed in...

A war that will change everything.

From the raising of the King’s Standard at Nottingham to the butchery and blood of Edgehill,

Edmund and Tom Rivers will each learn of honour, sacrifice, hatred and betrayal as they

follow their chosen paths through this most savage of wars.

I have 5 copies of this excellent book to give away in this month’s competition.

All you have to do is visit: http://www.gileskristian.com/ and answer this simple

question:

Q: Which Pop Group was Giles the lead singer of during the 1990’s?

Send your answer along with your full postal address to the following email

address: thereenactor@btinternet.com

The competition is open to all readers of the magazine and I will post out the

prize to wherever in the world you may live!

The competition closes on June 24th

2012

Interview with Giles Kristian

First: A brief history!

I am married and we have a little girl called Freyja, who is eagerly awaiting the arrival of her

brother in June. I’m wondering how much of the current book I can get written before all Hell

breaks loose. Sally and I met when I was a singer in a band and she was my publicist. She’s

been pulling my strings ever since! We have lived mostly in London, did a three-year stint in

NYC and now live in rural Leicestershire, where I grew up.

Question 1. After your first, very successful, foray into book writing with the Raven Series-

why the change of period?

I felt the English Civil War to be under represented in fiction. To my knowledge no one was

doing full-blooded, action-packed ‘smack you in the privates with a poll-axe’ type novels set

in the period. I even asked Bernard Cornwell if he had any leanings towards the era and he

said no, it’s all yours. (Phew!) I am drawn to so many different historical periods and what

really pulls me in is conflict and the fellowship of fighting men. I was a little concerned that

my RAVEN saga readers might find it a bit of a leap period-wise, but I hope they’re willing to

march with me into what was, after all, one of the most extraordinary episodes of this

nation’s history.

Question 2. How did you go about researching the period of history?

I’m not going to lie to you; the research for this period is a pain. Many aspects of the

environment I’m describing; London, Oxford, the villages, streets, cathedrals and churches

are still visible today, meaning I can’t just make it up. But everything has changed to an

extent, meaning (obviously) that it’s not as easy as describing them as they are today. For

example, take Catte Street in Oxford. I cannot assume that it existed at all in my period. And

if it did, I can’t assume it was called Catte Street then. So I have to dig. Turns out it was

recorded as Kattestreete in the early 13th century, as Mousecatchers' Lane in 1442, and as Cat

Street in the 18th century. In the mid-19th century it became Catherine Street, but there was

another street of this name in east Oxford and in 1930 the City Council changed the name to

Catte Street, using a 15th-century spelling. All this for one street! And this exercise is

repeated twenty to thirty times every day, which slows the writing process right down. But

it’s important to try to get the details right.

The fashions of the period, the technology that was and was not available in the 1640s, the

gear of the different types of soldier, the constitution of military units, the tactics and

techniques of war and the intricacies and mechanisms of the various firearms; it all has to be

painstakingly researched. The information which the author needs at his or her fingertips is

staggering. Then, of course, the secret is to not put it all in the novel. Historical novels in

which the author seems determined to show how much they have learnt about their subject

tend to be terrible. So yes the research can be tough, but then no one forced me to write

historical fiction.

Question 3. Did you set yourself targets each day or week, as in numbers of words to write?

If I write a thousand words in a day I am happy. Because so much of my day is spent on

research it’s not a question of simply sitting there and letting it pour out. But even then I

suspect I’m on the slow side. I take my time over those thousand words and they barely

change at all from the day they’re first written. All authors work differently and I’m always

fascinated by how others do it, but for myself I don’t do draft after draft. My ‘editing’ process

is perhaps unusual as it invariably involves adding words – the seasoning as I call it - not

taking words away.

Question 4. Do you have a special place you go to, when you write?

Yes, I write in a log cabin in a Norwegian forest. But in real life

I write in my study surrounded by books. I have begun to be more disciplined and only turn

on my email at certain times of the day so as to avoid inevitable distractions. I’m hopeless.

I’m always up and down from my chair doing this and that…thinking, grinding coffee beans,

playing with my little girl, staring out of the window, procrastinating. But somehow it seems

to work and if it ain’t broke…

Question 5. What or who inspires you to write?

The contract I signed committing me to producing a novel a year! Also the need to feed and

clothe my family and enjoy life, for which money comes in handy. Then there’s the constant

need to avoid any sort of normal work. Oh yes, and of course the creative drive that makes

me who I am.

Question 6. Odin’s Wolves being made into a film, what does that feel like?

I have not signed a movie deal for any of my books yet. I did however make a short film to

celebrate the launch of Odin’s Wolves, the third in the RAVEN saga. It was an incredible

experience and not only because I got my own little cameo and had the pleasure of running

around in mail with axes and swords for two days. What made it so amazing was working

with Philip Stevens, a brilliantly talented director whose vision down to every detail was

breathtakingly faithful to the novels, both in visual terms and in spirit and tone. I’d wager that

rarely, if ever, happens when the big Hollywood studios adapt a novel for screen, not least

because the book’s writer ends up near the bottom of the food chain.

Question 7. Did you have much say in the Script for the film?

The script for the short film Odin’s Wolves: Prologue was taken directly from the prologue of

the book, though we cut out a few lines here and there to make the script a little leaner. Many

people tell me that my books read like films. Perhaps I watch too many films!

Question 8. Any thoughts on your other books being made into films?

I think my new novel The Bleeding Land lends itself beautifully to some sort of screen

adaptation, whether it be a full-length feature or a mini-series. The story being told from three

different points of view would translate well, I feel, but also being a family saga it has all the

elements and themes you want in a good drama; Love, loyalty, hatred, revenge, battles,

strong female characters etc.

Question 9. In the 90’s you were lead singer with Upside Down, with whom you had 4 top

20 hit records. Any thoughts on getting the band back together or going back to singing?

I’ve always had a short attention span and a wandering mind. I’m easily distracted. What was

the question? Oh yes…when I stopped making music professionally I made the very

deliberate decision to concentrate on my writing. After all, song writing and making music is

a creative process and I didn’t want to dilute my creative energy by indulging several

passions simultaneously. Now though, after three years writing full time I do get urges to

make music again. Nothing serious, just the fun of singing in front of a five-piece band and

making a racket. The performer in me is still there somewhere and now and then he likes to

get out. I’ve recently been doing a little signing with a concert pianist, just to see if the pipes

still work. As for getting the boyband back together, you’re joking! I’d prefer to remember

my hip thrusts and knee slides as they once were.

Question 10. You are in the process of writing your latest series of novels set in the English

Civil War, have you plans or ideas for another series of books?

I hope so! But as yet I haven’t decided where I’m going after the English Civil War. I would

like to write another part of the RAVEN saga at some point as I feel there is still much for my

motley crew of Vikings to get up to. I’d like to bring them back north to the cold, dark waters.

But there are other eras I’d like to explore too. Ideas on a postcard, please!

Waits – Music about Town:

You can get in touch with me

through my website:

www.gileskristian.com and my

Facebook page GilesKristian and

you can follow me on Twitter:

@gileskristian

Don’t forget to also

check out The Raven Series by

Giles Kristian

The 5th International Festival of Town Pipers comes to Colchester 2

nd - 4

th June 2012

This year 100 costumed historical musicians from around the world will be visiting Colchester for the

5th International Festival of Town Pipers. During the event, which takes place on 2

nd-4

th June 2012, a

dozen bands of Waits will be performing in and around the town centre.

Waits were civic musicians employed by European towns from the Middle Ages until the early 19th

century. They wore colourful livery coats and played loud wind instruments for civic occasions, banquets, processions and public concerts. Colchester employed a band of Waits throughout the late

Middle Ages and Renaissance periods and nowadays this band is re-created using reproduction

costumes and instruments by the modern Colchester Waits Shawm Band

(www.wyldesnoyse.co.uk/colchester). This year the Colchester Waits will play host to the biennial Waits' festival, inviting similar groups from the UK, Netherlands, USA, Sweden, Germany and Spain

to visit the town and perform.

The Festival is organised by the International Guild of Town Pipers (www.townwaits.org.uk), a

registered charity which supports Waits bands and their international counterparts with workshops,

repertoire and research. Previous Festivals have been held in 's-Hertogenbosch (NL), York and Lincoln. This will be the first time the event has been held in Colchester, and the dates have been

chosen to coincide with the town's annual Medieval Festival (formerly known as the Oyster Fayre) in

Lower Castle Park where there will be archery, a historical market and a range of other Medieval

entertainments.

Events in the Festival will include performances by individual bands and “The Big Blow” where all

the musicians perform together. There will also be free Tudor Dance and Waits' Music workshops for the public, to be held at Firstsite, Colchester’s spectacular new Visual Arts Facility. Performances will

take place in the Medieval Festival, in Upper Castle Park, and at Firstsite as well as in Lion Walk &

Culver Square shopping centres and at CO1 café. Visiting bands include the colourful Stadspijpers van 's-Hertogenbosch, the Charlotte Waits from North Carolina, and the world-renowned York Waits.

For more information please visit: http://www.townwaits.org.uk/

Montfort: The Early Years; The Viceroy; The Revolutionary; The Angel with the Sword BY KATHERINE ASHE

When reading through the ample “historical context” notes that follow each volume of

Katherine Ashe’s utterly remarkable tetralogy of novels based on the life of 13th-century

warrior-statesman Simon de Montfort, one thing becomes obvious: she could easily have

produced the most authoritative English-language biography of her subject ever written. She

is consummately familiar with every detail of Montfort’s life: his scandalous marriage, his

troubled relationship with King Henry III, his summoning of the first elected parliament; and

yet she’s chosen to present that life in four historical novels rather than in a long, footnoted

monograph. Surely she herself gives us the reason when, in one of her notes, she mentions

that “actual events can be far more odd than one would write in fiction.” These novels are full

of actual events—the research is resoundingly complete—but they brim with life as well, as

they follow Simon and his family and his beloved from France to England and back; as

Simon becomes first close friend and then suspected enemy of King Henry, who becomes a

person who can confirm Simon as Earl of Leicester with one hand and hound him out of the

country with the other. These are wonderfully assured novels, on every page of which Ashe’s

dramatic sense brings the era to vibrant life in a way no history could. A massive

achievement, highly recommended. ($12.99, $12.99, $17.99, and $19.99)

For reviews on other historical books check out:

http://www.historicalnovelsociety.org/

The Festival of History

Kelmarsh Hall

Northamptonshire, UK

July 14th

& 15th

2012

Visitors immerse themselves in 2000

years of England's past during the

Festival of History at Kelmarsh Hall,

Northamptonshire, presented by

English Heritage. The event features

everything from falconry, jousting

displays and battle re-enactments to

music, dance and ale.

The Historical Writers Association will

also be there with various talks and

meet the author sessions throughout

the weekend.

http://www.kelmarsh.com/

Battles of Camlann

28th

& 29th

July 2012

A 13th Century Re-enactment

event to coincide with the British

Festival of Archaeology Week, this involves an

active dig at the original

Medieval village on the site.

11th

& 12th

August 2012

Early through to mid 15th Century-“Tintagel Style”

Open to the public 10am – 5pm daily

Camping available on site – Wed before to Wed after

for £5

Water, wood, toilets and showers available. Fri-Mon

camping & Trader Pitches are FREE 2 Battle daily, morning and afternoon

Re-enactor competitions

Beer tent, Music, Archery, Story Telling, Rural

natural crafts

Archaeologists on site for July event

On the site of King Arthurs Stone and an actual early

medieval battle site!

Location: Arthurian Centre on the B3314 half mile

from A39 and B3266 junctions. Post code PL32 9TT.

Approx. 3 miles from Tintagel.

For booking, please email: heburbeck@gmail.com

COSTUME-MAKING

SUMMER SCHOOL with Chalemie

Oxford 14-19 August 2012

Come and spend a happy week making a

period/historical costume under the expert

supervision of

Ann Susan Brown

Other courses available: Baroque Dance,

Commedia, Singing and Instrumental Music

Fees: £485 for full board and tuition

(financial help available, age immaterial)

Enquiries and full brochure from

Barbara Segal on 020 7700 4293

email: chalemie@thorn.demon.co.uk

website: www.chalemie.co.uk

The Battle of Mortimer’s

Cross (C1461)

September 15th

& 16th

Hampton Court Castle &

Gardens, Herefordshire

Living History Combat

Archery Cannon

Traders Row

Music Dance

Barber Surgeon

Beer Tent

Bring & Buy sale (Sat eve)

www.mortimerscross.co.uk

‘D’ Troop Lancashire Hussars 1914 -1918 display troop.

The main thrust of the project I have undertaken is to discover what happened to the unit

between November 1915 and 1918 when elements left these shores to fight in the Middle

East and France. I am concentrating on the actions of ‘D’ Squadron as it shipped to France.

The unit served as reserve cavalry during the 1916 Battle of the Somme, and eventually

amalgamating into the Liverpool Pals as Infantry. Our Aim is to have a laugh and engage the

people of the area in local history of the period.

We have had a busy few months and have brought on board a wide range of experts in

military history of the period. The project has three main directions, the research side, the

creation of a portable museum standard display, and most importantly the riding display troop

based upon the research carried out independent of the Unit.

The troop is pulling together kit wise and we are finally getting onto horses and putting our

money where our mouths are. This is year one, and we have a two year expansion plan to put

on bigger and better displays aiming to put on a small number of riding displays and parades

from mid summers in Lancashire and North of England.

And yes although the photos don’t show it we have a few full sets of period horse tack and

saddles. And a very small amount of spare uniform and personal equipment, although the

emphasis is buying it yourself (albeit we have sourced some brilliant and easily affordable

suppliers).

Sometimes projects seem right and go at a pace

that astounds the organisers; this is one such a

project. The Lancashire hussars are a unit that

existed in the Liverpool/Wigan area from mid-19th

century to the mid-20th

century, back in the era

when wealthy men had ideas and ran with them,

Lord Gerard was one such man. He created the

regiment amongst local men as a yeomanry force,

with a high percentage of ex professional soldiers

in the ranks of his personal Boy Scout troop. A

good friend of Winston Churchill (come with me

Winnie boy and I will show you sights that will

make your hair curl) who was a member for a short

time during the Boer war.

It’s a long way to go, but so far

the ride is a blast. Why not see if

you fit in. Our contact details are

in the group listing but we can

also be contacted at: Lancashire_hussars@hotmail.co.uk

if you have any questions.

Whittington Castle

Whittington Castle stands on the English side of the Welsh Border in Shropshire but

this was not always the case. In the early medieval period Whittington stood in the

March of Wales, which stretched down the border area between England and

Wales. This was a ‘frontier’ area and one of the primary roles of the Marcher Lords

was the defence of the border against Welsh invaders. This was the situation

throughout the 12th

and 13th

centuries but after the defeat of the Welsh princes in the

1280s the March became more peaceful.

In 1310 Fulk FitzWarine V1 and his young bride Eleanor de Beauchamp acquired the

Castle and set about making it a more comfortable home. The great hall was rebuilt,

apartments refitted and a pleasure garden created. A Castle more suited to the noble

tastes of Lady Eleanor was created during this time of peace.

The Castle still functioned as a manor courthouse until the 19th

century but from the

17th

century, the long decay of the Castle became irreversible. William Lloyd in the

early 19th

century funded a restoration programme that left the gatehouse as it stands

today. Whittington Castle Preservation Trust was formed in 1998, to protect the site

in perpetuity, and develop it as a tourist and educational facility. In 2002 a 99-year

lease of the Castle was granted by the Lloyd family to the Trust.

The Preservation Trust is a registered charity and has had a varied history from its

first settlement in The Ironage right up today and beyond.

July 28th

& 29th

2012 sees the first Multi-Period event at the Castle and any

groups interested in taking part are asked to contact the castle directly:

Email: info@whittingtoncastle.co.uk or Telephone Sue Ellis: 01691 662500

Event Information

June

2nd

& 3rd

Duncannon Fort Military Re-Enactment, Wexford, Ireland

https://www.facebook.com/events/355113937856761/

2nd

& 3rd

De Quaeye Werelt, Sterckshof, Belgium

http://www.delegendevzw.be/

3rd

– 5th Holkham Hall, Queens Jubilee 1950’2 Celebration

Details: http://www.blackknighthistorical.co.uk/

9th Boerderij aan de Giessen, Grotewaard 38, Noordeloos, Netherlands

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=158081454283009&notif_t=event_invite

12th

– 14th Wymondham Abbey, Medieval Educational Workshops

Details: http://www.blackknighthistorical.co.uk/

15th

Stoneham Owl Barns, Medieval Education Day

Details: http://www.blackknighthistorical.co.uk/

16th

The Minstrels Court, St. John’s Church, Chester, UK

www.pilgrimsandposies.co.uk

16th

Llangan Village Festival, Llangan, Vale Of Glamorgan, United Kingdom, CF35 5DP

https://www.facebook.com/events/318028121567941/

16th

& 17th

Stoneham Owl Barns, Medieval Entertainment

Details: http://www.blackknighthistorical.co.uk/

16th

& 17th

Kedleston Hall Derby War of the Roses Medieval week end. Invited groups only!

www.nationaltrust.org.uk/kedleston-hall/ Contact: Tod Booth foxblade4@hotmail.com

16th

& 17th

Tatton Park Medieval Fair

http://www.plantagenet-events.co.uk/

18th

& 19th

Waterloo Major European Event Belgium

www.2ndfoot.org.uk

22nd

– 24th "By Paths of History - Medieval Amieira do Tejo” War of Independence (1383 -

1385) Castille claim to Portuguese Crown.

Details: http://youtu.be/WNZCXz_2jSA

23rd

& 24th

Wartime Clumber (1940s event), Clumber Park, Notts, UK

www.eventplan.co.uk

23rd

& 24th

The Yorkshire Museum of Farming, Murton Park, Yorkshire, UK

www.mitlivinghistory.co.uk

23rd

& 24th

Peterborough Cathedral, Living History Festival

Details: http://www.blackknighthistorical.co.uk/

26th

Wymondham College, Medieval Education Adventues

Details: http://www.blackknighthistorical.co.uk/

30th &

1st Laxey, Isle of Man, Victorian Adventures

Details: http://www.blackknighthistorical.co.uk/

30th

&1st Medieval Festival, Harewood House, Yorkshire, UK

www.eventplan.co.uk

July

2nd

& 3rd

Cheriton Battle Display Weekend Hampshire

www.2ndfoot.org.uk

7th & 8

th The Romans are Coming! Burgh-le-Marsh, Lincolnshire

www.eventplan.co.uk

13th

– 15th “Sword & Fire” 1012, Ontario, Canada

For more details: http://www.scallagrims.com/sword-and-fire

14th

Hereford Historical Day

Details: http://www.blackknighthistorical.co.uk/

14th

& 15th

The Battle of Tewkesbury, Tewkesbury, UK

http://www.tewkesburymedievalfestival.org/

14th

& 15th

Kedleston Hall, Derby. 1745 Jacobite Rebellion

Details at: www.lacewars.co.uk

14th

& 15th

The Festival of History, Kelmarsh Hall, Northamptonshire, UK

http://www.kelmarsh.com/

21st & 22

nd Victorians at Hughenden, Hughenden Manor, Bucks

www.eventplan.co.uk

21st & 22

nd Anglesey, Costumed interpretations

Details: http://www.blackknighthistorical.co.uk/

21st & 22

nd Berkeley Skirmish, Berkeley castle, Gloucestershire, UK

http://www.plantagenet-events.co.uk/

21st & 22

nd The Battle of Azincourt, Azincourt, France.

http://www.azincourt-alliance.org.uk/

21st & 22

nd Battle of Clontarf, St Ann's park Dublin

https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=10150614131419800&id=307994099799

22nd

The Battle of Salamanca, 200th anniversary

http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=183242878392002&notif_t=event_invite

27th

– 30th C13th Event at The Arthurian Centre. Slaughterbridge, Camelford, Cornwall, UK

https://www.facebook.com/groups/36242274237/

28th

& 29th

Longthorpe Tower, Medieval Painting Workshops

Details: http://www.blackknighthistorical.co.uk/

28th

& 29th

Tournement of Walraversijde, Belgium

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=252511704798690&notif_t=event_invite

28th

& 29th

Multi Period event at Whittington Castle, Shropshire

Email: info@whitingtoncastle.co.uk

30th

Highclere Castle Battle Prom Berkshire

www.2ndfoot.org.uk

31st Priory Maze, Beeston Regis, Norfolk, “Have a Go” Medieval Archery

Details: http://www.blackknighthistorical.co.uk/

August

4th & 5

th The Second Annual GREAT ROAD ENCAMPMENT 18th Century Encampment

1700-1799, Elliston, VA, USA

Contact Henry Bryant at fortvauseoutfitters@gmail.co

10th

– 14th Robin Hood Festival, Sherwood Forest, Notts, UK

www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk

11th

& 12th

Castle Rising, Norfolk “ Soldiers Through the Ages” Event

Details: http://www.blackknighthistorical.co.uk/

11th

& 12th

Town and castle Budyne nad Ohri, north-western Bohemia, Czech Republic

http://bitva-budyne.cz/en/

11th

– 13th The Battle of Camlann, The Arthurian Centre, Slaughterbridge, Cornwall, uk

https://www.facebook.com/groups/36242274237/

14th

& 15th

Anglesey, Costumed Interpretation

Details: http://www.blackknighthistorical.co.uk/

18th

& 19th

Douglas, Isle of Man, WWII Tribute

Details: http://www.blackknighthistorical.co.uk/

25th

– 27th Pensthorpe, Norfolk. The 8

th Medieval Spectacular with Jousts

Details: http://www.blackknighthistorical.co.uk/

26th

& 27th

Multi-period re-enactments at The Sheffield Fayre, Norfolk Heritage Park,

www.eventplan.co.uk

27th

– 29th Loseley House Battle Display Weekend (NA) Nr Guildford, Surrey

www.2ndfoot.org.uk

31st – 2

nd “Borderland 1474”, Poland. Near the border with Ukraine

https://www.facebook.com/events/266904843403804

September

1st & 2

nd Ayscoughfee Hall, Tudor Weekend

medievalcooking@gmail.com

1st & 2

nd On the Home Front 1939-45, Rufford Abbey Country Park, Notts, UK

www.eventplan.co.uk

1st & 2

nd Etal Village Northumberland. Flodden, early 16

th century weekend.

Contact: Tod Booth foxblade4@hotmail.com Traders: Annie Doebereiner anndoebereiner@aol.com

1st & 2

nd Gloucester through the ages, City of Gloucester. Major Roman to WWI

www.eventplan.co.uk

8th & 9

th EMA weekend at Caldicot Castle, wales

http://www.theema.co.uk/

15th

& 16th

The Battle of Mortimer’s Cross, Leominster, Herefordshire, UK

www.mortimerscross.co.uk

22nd

& 23rd

Wimpole at War (1940s event), The Wimpole Estate, Cambs, UK

www.eventplan.co.uk

22nd

& 23rd

Blasts from the Past multi-period show, Broadlands, Romsey, Hampshire

www.blastfromthepast.co.uk

29th

The Hundred Years War, A Century of conflict re-evaluated. Tower Of London

http://www.royalarmouries.org/events/events-at-tower-of-london

27th

– 31st Holkham Hall, Haunted Halloween Horror

Details: http://www.blackknighthistorical.co.uk/

29th

& 30th

Sherwood through the Ages multi-period, Sherwood Forest, Nott, UK

www.eventplan.co.uk

October

6th & 7

th Hughenden’s Wartime Weekend, Hughenden Manor, Bucks, UK

www.eventplan.co.uk

November

9th – 11

th The Original Re-Enactors Market, Ryton, Near Coventry, UK

www.reenactorsmarket.co.uk

24th

& 25th

Ludlow Castle Medieval Christmas Fair, Ludlow, Shropshire, UK

http://www.ludlowcastle.com/

December

1st & 2

nd Holkham Hall, A Victorian Christmas

Details: http://www.blackknighthistorical.co.uk/

8th & 9

th Holkham Hall, A Victorian Christmas

Details: http://www.blackknighthistorical.co.uk/

13th

– 16th Peterborough Cathedral, Historical Christmas Market & fayre

Details: http://www.blackknighthistorical.co.uk/

Throughout the Roman Army, the Twelfth Legion is notorious for its ill

fortune. It faces the harshest of postings, the toughest of campaigns, the

most vicious of opponents. For one young man, Demalion of Macedon,

joining it will be a baptism of fire. And yet, amid all of the violence and

savagery of his life as a legionary, he realises he has discovered a vocation

– as a soldier and a leader of men. He has come to love the Twelfth and all

the bloody-minded, dark-hearted soldiers he calls his brothers.

But all that he cares about is ripped from him when, during the brutal

Judaean campaign, the Hebrew army inflict a catastrophic defeat upon the

legion – not only decimating their ranks, but taking away their soul – the eagle.

There is one final chance to save the legion’s honour – to steal back the

eagle. To do that, Demalion and his legionnaries must go undercover into

the city of Jerusalem, into the very heart of their enemy, where discovery

will mean the worst of deaths, if they are to recover their pride.

And that, in itself, is a task worthy only of heroes.

MCScott, Author & Chair of the HWA

Website: http://www.mcscott.co.uk

Blog: http://wordpress.mcscott.co.uk

THE ERMINE STREET GUARD

Will Celebrate 40 years of Roman Historical Interpretation

When The Ermine Street Guard proudly marches out in 2012, it will be exactly forty years since

the eight founder members of the society first paraded at a historical pageant in the combined

Gloucestershire villages of Witcombe and Bentham.

Fired with enthusiasm the original eight members contacted H Russell Robinson, the then

Keeper of Armouries at the Tower of London who famously remarked “what a pity it was that

such great effort had been put into getting things wrong”! Consequently, with his help and in

consultation with leading academics and archaeologists the group embarked on a programme of

producing more authentic and accurate armour and equipment. This ideal continues to this day

as more archaeological finds and research become available. It has resulted in The Guard being

recognised as the oldest, most widely known and respected Roman re-enactment group in the

world.

As a registered charity, one of the prime aims of the group is to educate and inform the

general public about military life in the second half of the 1st century AD. To this end, the

group has displayed at all major Roman sites in Britain and many in Europe since it’s

beginnings in 1972. Countless visits have been made to schools, colleges and museums and

frequent media participation, in the form of TV programmes, books, websites, DVDs and

magazines, is requested from both sides of the Atlantic.

Two of the original eight founder members continue to play a full part in the life of the

Guard, including chairman, administrator and centurion, Chris Haines, at whose farm the

group has its headquarters. In 2007 Chris was awarded the Order of the British Empire

(MBE) for services to Roman archaeology and re-enactment. A third founder member, Bill

Mayes, died in 2005, well into his eighties, still taking a part in Guard activities.

Throughout its forty year history the Guard has prided itself on and set its standards by

painstaking and thorough research of development projects. The vast majority of armour,

equipment and exhibits is manufactured and maintained by the Guard, thereby offering members

the opportunity to use existing skills, learn others and to develop new interests.

After forty years of historical interpretation the Ermine Street Guard has firmly established an

international reputation for authenticity, reliability and professionalism. We shall be proud to

take the opportunity to celebrate these achievements in 2012.

The Ermine Street Guard,

Oakland Farmhouse,

Dog Lane,

Bentham,

Gloucester,

GL3 4UG.

Telephone: 01452 862235.

Email: TheESG@aol.com

Website: www.erminestreetguard.co.uk