~ is the activity of bringing history to life. Most combat orientated groups use the "six foot rule", if it looks authentic from six feet away that will do. However living history groups will try to provide as authentic an experience as possible for the public, demonstrating traditional skills and displaying accurately constructed costume, armour, furniture and so on. The quality of Living History can vary enormously, from weekend enthusiasts and combat groups with nothing better to do between fighting displays, to highly practised professionals, with expensively prepared props who make a living visiting schools and heritage sites.
~ before the start of each battle all the people taking part gather at the "muster point". Quite often it's here that the sides are decided after doing a head count so they can be divided evenly and the traditional (and essential) "reading of the safety rules" is undertaken.
The muster is usually 15-20 mins before the actual battle is due to take place to allow for the above as well as allowing time for the "admonising of those who are late for muster", usually in the form of a loud dressing down from "he who is giving muster" as well as a chorus of "tuts" from those who were on time.
The muster point is usually somewhere out of sight of the public and hopefully somewhere in the shade to prolong the fighting life of the combatants. Also it's here that the water bearers start their task.
~ not all re-enactors find the thought of strapping on 65lbs of plate armour, marching across a field of broken ground and well disguised pot holes only to be clubbed vigousley with a blunted weapon fun. Some prefer the quieter life and either choose to stay in the camps during a battle or else to go onto the battlefield but take on another role, say a safety marshal or water bearer rather than a fighter. Non-coms do not fight in anyway, shape or form and should never be hit, threatend or harmed in any way!
Note:- archers, water bearers, banner bearers and gunners are, unless they indicate a change of status (say picking up a weapon, waving at you whilst saying something along the lines of "come on then lets 'ave it out") are all non-coms and should be treated as such!
~ Not all re-enactors camp in authentic tents. Authentic camping can be expensive, and not everyone wants to spend the night in a canvas tent, when they could spend it in a fully heated caravan with a fridge/freezer, their own toilet and a TV. So a plastic campsite is designated for modern tents, caravans, or even authentic tents whose owners have decided that this weekend their medieval lifestyle is going to be augmented by electric lighting, gas fires and other modern contrivances.
When attending an event you MUST sign in here. It's run by the household that is organising the event that weekend, if you dont sign in then you aren't at the event (for purpose of the insurance) even if you are! So should something happen and you need the protection of the insurance then you don't have it cos you didn't! Clear? Good!
~ What we do at the weekends, attempting to re-create (re-enact) events, professions and lifestyles from our history , hopefully with a good degree of accuracy, helped along with a large amount of personal research and tips from other re-enactors.
Also see Authentic camp.
~ At most of our shows we take it in turns to see that our safety rules are followed, this role is usually undertaken by experienced fighters who have decided to have this battle off or have been in the beer tent the night before (usually past their bedtime) and were too late for Muster!
~ Any item of clothing that isnt weapons or armour (hard kit) so this covers everything from shoes to hats coats to cloaks, if you cant hit someone with it and it dont bend then its soft kit!
~ A must for any re-enactor, strips of leather cut into 5mm wide strips, it has a million uses and is very durable. Ive known people who, rather than actually fix a broken or missing strap on their armour, to use a bit of thonging as a temporary replacement and when it eventually breaks to just replace it with another bit of thonging!!
~ A vital job both during the original battles as well as today at an event. These 'angels of mercy' can be seen lurking at the rear of most battles guarding bottles, flasks and cups of precious water, when the fighting men retreat to their lines the water bearers rush out to offer the troops much needed refreshment.
IMPORTANT NOTE:- always remember to be both polite and courteous to them cos without them you wont last long and remember THEY ARE DOING YOU A FAVOUR, when they could easily be back in the camp relaxing whilst you are sweating it out in your armour!
Water bearers are Non-Com