Buckingham's Retinue returned to the wonderful Avoncroft Museum of Historic Buildings in Bromsgrove. Though the group has performed at events at Avoncroft previously, this was the first time we had taken part in the International Living History Fair (ILHF) for Pike and Shot Events. ILHF is a multi-period show, with visitors able to see shows and displays from across the span of history, from the Bronze Age all the way up to the Cold War.
For our part, Buckingham's Retinue provided a range of 15th century displays covering cooking and food, armour and weapons, games, music and medicine/surgery.
The displays set up in the medieval wattle and daub barn.
The camp and kitchen tent
The Dukes banner flying in the sun.
The tools of the barber-surgeon's trade.
Chopping onions for the pot.
Preparing a meal over the fire.
Our next event will be the Saint George’s Day Festival at Wrest Park, Bedfordshire on 22nd and 23rd April. See the English Heritage website for further details: Wrest Park | English Heritage (english-heritage.org.uk)
Buckingham's Retinue once again ventured to the depths of Wiltshire to attend the spectacular Chalke History Festival. In addition to authors, historians and presenters, the festival hosts some of the best living history groups and performers in the country, with displays from the Iron Age to the Cold War.
This gave us an excellent opportunity to work together with other medievalists, to provide much larger archery and firepower displays and an excellent turn out for our medieval music and dance demonstration, both of which proved popular with the public.
These were in addition to our regular medieval arms and armour, medicine and cooking talks and displays.
Some group members will be attending the Tewksbury Mediaeval Festival on 13th-14th July. Our next full event will be Skipton Castle, 27th-28th July.
Over the late May bank holiday weekend Buckingham's Retinue were at Tattershall castle, a beautiful 15th century brick castle in the heart of Lincolnshire and home of Lord Ralph Cromwell, an important politician in the government of King Henry VI.
The castle
Despite somewhat inclement weather, the castle received good numbers of visitors, with our living history displays being busy throughout the day and the timetabled talks proving popular.
The view of the camp from the castle roof.
Castle volunteer photographer Mike Pounder has kindly taken some wonderful photos of the site and the group, available on his website.
Your humble scribe taking a well earned snooze.
Link to Saturday photos:Buckingham's Retinue (mikepounder.com)
Link to Sunday photos: Buckingham's Retinue-260524 (mikepounder.com)
Due to the cancellation of the Barnet Mediaeval Festival, our next event will now be the Chalke Valley History Festival, in Broad Chalke, Wiltshire on the weekend of 29th and 30th June. Please see the CVHF website for details and tickets: Home - Chalke History Festival (chalkefestival.com)
