Stop the (hand powered printing) presses! Two more events have been added to our 2023 calendar!
In addition to our other shows and events, we will now be attending the Chalke Valley History Festival and returning to Avoncroft Museum of Historic Buildings!
Buckinghams Retinue will be providing medieval living history with a focus on food, ettiquette and dance as part of the wider Chalke Valley History Festival on 1st and 2nd July, in Broad Chalke, Wiltshire.
We have also been invited back to Avoncroft Museum of Historic Buildings in Bromsgrove on the 27th and 28th August, where we will be proving our full range of medieval displays in our living history camp.
We are delighted to announce the Buckingham's Retinue events list for the 2023 season! We have a range of exciting events across the country, from London to North Yorkshire.
Do come and visit us – and if you are interested in participating in any events with the group then contact us at
7th - 10th April - Beeston Castle, Cheshire - The season kicks off with Buckingham's Retinue returning to the impressive Beeston Castle as part of the Easter Escapades weekend for English Heritage.
15th -16h April - Avoncroft Museum, Bromsgrove – A well beloved site for the group, this year appearing for the first time as part of the International Living History Festival.
22nd - 23rd April - Wrest Park, Bedfordshire - Festivities to celebrate Saint George's Day at one of English Heritage's finest stately homes.
15th - 16th July - Skipton Castle, North Yorkshire - A firm favourite, Buckingham's Retinue once again occupies the mighty fortress of Skipton, bringing the castle to life throughout the weekend.
8th - 9th July - Tewkesbury Medieval Festival, Gloucestershire - Buckingham's Retinue will be gloriously fighting for York/Lancaster (delete as applicable) at the largest mediaeval festival and battle re-enactment in the UK.
29th - 30th July Eltham Palace, London - The Legendary Joust returns to Eltham, an epic mediaeval palace crossed with an art deco manor house.
16th - 17th September Bromwich Hall, Birmingham - The final outing of the year sees Buckingham’s Retinue taking over the historic seat of the de Marnham family for the weekend.
Group members will also be attending the Barnet Medieval Festival and the Battle of Bosworth, as well as the ARM and TORM markets in March and November.
On the 15th and 16th July, Buckingham's Retinue once again returned to Skipton Castle, the historic seat of the powerful Clifford family and guardian of the Yorkshire Dales. Skipton castle is a popular site with both group members and the public alike, as we are allowed to occupy rooms within the castle and bring parts of the historic fortress to life as it would have been in the mid 15th century.
Skipton castle looking moody in the rain
Each day began with the noble ladies dressing in thier finery
Kitchen staff hard at work
Marchpane subtleties in the shape of the Clifford wyvern being prepared
Just part of the large array of wonderful food prepared by the kitchen team.
Despite the persistent rain, we provided a full range of historical performances, with music and dance, mumming plays and a fashion show appearing as timetabled talks along side our living history displays of arms and armour, medicine and crafts
The dragon waiting to pounce on the unsuspecting champions in our mumming play
Rob and Zoe portraying Lord and Lady Clifford
Each day ended with arming of the knight and a brief display of mediaeval combat, taking place inside against the dramatic backdrop of the old chapel.
Our next event will be supporting the Legendary Joust at Eltham Palace, Greenwich, London, on 29th and 30th July. Please see the English Heritage website for tickets and further details Legendary Joust at Eltham Palace | English Heritage (english-heritage.org.uk)
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