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The Middle Ages

At the Battle of Hastings the Normans won control of England and the Saxons became second class subjects in their own country. The time of invasions was over.  The fighting was now between Norman Lords and their Norman King, or against their French cousins across the Channel, or with their Welsh and Scottish neighbours.The Longbow began to dominate the battlefields of the 100 Years War and knights on horseback had to start protecting themselves with full suits of plate armour against arrows designed to punch through chain mail.

At home a period of prosperity and growing population was brought to an end by poor weather, bad harvests and finally the Black Death.

The Hands on History medieval demonstrations, using volunteers from our audience, show how the chain mail armour of the Normans and the Crusades failed to protect the knight from the crossbow and longbow. Then whilst dressing a volunteer in full plate armour we show how even at Agincourt in 1415 this armour failed to protect the French from the deadly war bows. Our demonstrations end with the shooting of our Trebuchet siege catapult and longbows.

Then, in a controlled and safe manner, everyone can get their hands on our chain and plate armour, helmets, swords, shields, maces and war hammers to experience life as a Medieval Man at Arms. Our trained staff will be on hand to help and answer any questions.

A visit to our marching camp will show how the Medieval Soldier could live off the land whilst on campaign by both looting and foraging from the wild and how itinerant traders following the army could meet all his other needs.