The joys of being a historical re-enactor
As a child I saw a battle re-enactment in my local park, but had never heard of the phrase “re-enactor”. It was a civil war re-enactment, recreating the Battle of Brentford. There was a whole encampment with fires, tents, and cooking, as well as the canons, muskets and pikemen.
I found it fascinating. I’d always loved history, but had only ever seen it in books or museums, never in ‘real life’ as it were. I really wanted to give it a go, but it wasn’t until about 10 years later that I got my chance.
Meeting the Dark Ages Society
Some friends and I went to a Medieval Fayre in Woodmansterne. It was fancy dress and we all dressed up as well. A friend went as a princess/lady and I went as her Matron. Another female friend also went as a lady and our male friends dressed as peasants, in old post office sacks.
During the Fayre a group called the Dark Ages Society gave a fighting display which was great fun to watch. After the display some of the members came over and talked to our group and they invited us to their next weekend event.
This was my chance and I took them up on their offer and became a viking re-enactor. My first weekend took place at Cadbury hillfort and I loved it. Although I wasn’t able to fight during the day, it was fun to watching the fighting and then there was a banquet in the evening, in candlelight, which made it feel very magical.
Becoming a viking re-enactor
Joining the society, I had a great time for the next 16 years, eventually becoming a unit officer. I fought with a spear and shield and later with a 2 handed spear and scramascaex (short knife). Organising weekends was fun, I even cooked a banquet on an open fire for nearly 40 people.
Tudor re-enactor at Kentwell Hall, Long Melford, Suffolk
However I had to give it up for health reasons and had to look elsewhere for my new re-enactor kicks, which turned out to be at Kentwell Hall in Suffolk. Kentwell Hall is a Tudor hall and they do a lot of educational work for schools. The host large numbers of volunteer re-enactors for all areas of the house, from lords and ladies, to dairymaids, bakers, painters, blacksmiths, circus entertainers and lots of other characters.
We made our own costumes from patterns that we also made ourselves after costume sessions from their head seamstress. In the photo above I’m wearing a fully lined and hand finished skirt, fully lined, boned and hand finished bodice, underdress, and hand sewn headpieces and apron. The only thing I didn’t make were my period shoes.
“Kentwellese”, was the language, which was a psuedo type of Tudor speech that allowed us to talk about modern things but in a way that the visitor wouldn’t always understand. During the day the house and grounds were open to school children, at the weekends it was open to visitors, but in the evening it was all ours and we had a great time.
The King’s Army
Whilst I didn’t actually join the group and become a civil war re-enactor, I also spent a weekend with the civil war era King’s Army re-enactment group at Bolsover Castle.
I loved heritage and history enough to complete a Post Graduate Diploma in Heritage Interpretation and wrote about re-enactment and living history for my dissertation. Re-enactment, of any period and living history can be a fun day out for visitors to historic venues and locations, but it can also be a fantastic way to discover more about how people lived in the past.
I’m now exploring the past through filming making
The story behind my short film What did you do in the war Grandad?
Tips to help you make short films on a budget.
To discuss your creative project requirements call 0775 341 3005 or email info @ iconiccreative.co.uk.
