History Visits
So What are you Getting?
You are getting someone who has been involved in re-enactment since leaving school in the early 1990’s!
Over these many years I have gained a huge amount of knowledge and experience, and collected a lot of kit - including props, items, tools and equipment, and costume (filling my garage, and some cupboards in the house - whoops!).
When I come to visit, I use this 'kit' to help illustrate the subject I'm talking about. For example, it could be something as simple as a hazel stick for performing an Anglo-Saxon charm, or it could be as intricate as a replica of the arrow extractor John Bradmore had made for treating Prince Henry.
My visits can either take the form of a 'show and tell' type presentation for a timed duration to a fixed audience, or they can last a whole day while I interact with folks passing by my table under my awning.
Early morning trip to the porta-loo at a weekend re-enactment event. It was so very wet! You can see the tide mark and the depth of mud on the bottom of my dress and yes, I am wearing modern boots because my 'proper' shoes were still drying by the fire! (2000)
How I've Gained my Knowledge and 'kit'?
My first membership of a group was as a Viking, where I began to learn about making equipment. 'Maille' as it is called, is fascinating stuff. We used wire wound round a mandrel and cut, then pliers to kind of 'knit' it together. Some of the original extant pieces were held together with the teeniest tiny rivets, believe it or not! Then I've progressed through almost all of Medieval history, settling on a group portraying the 15th century - the Medieval Siege Society - who do actually have their own siege weapon!
From Pagan Anglo-Saxon burial excavations I've learnt about grave-goods and fabrics to recreate clothing. I've taught myself Old English to be able to read original manuscripts to find out about early magical and medical procedures. I've studied scientific reports into the analysis of food remains on cooking pots, and dye-stuffs on fabrics; for tasting sessions and bespoke costumes respectively. I've pored over many a Medieval romance and illumination to inspire my creativity and follow new paths. I've even helped skin and gut a deer to experience the Stone Age!
All of these fascinating studies and activities mean I have a great variety of knowledge and skills, and I just love to share.
A lot of re-enactors are also craftspeople and sell the goods that they demonstrate making during events. This means that you can buy pretty much anything from any period of history at the dedicated re-enactors markets that happen during the year. Whilst some of my 'kit' has been purchased from other re-enactors, I have had a go at making almost everything... pottery, shoes, wooden items. etc., though I will admit I've never tried metalwork. Maybe that's my next rabbit hole....
What is my approach?
I would call myself more of an Historical Interpreter than a weekend re-enactor. Of course I still do do that with my group - the Medieval Siege Society, but while I'm there I engage more in the whys and hows of things, rather than being a 'character' which I find quite limiting. 'Living History' as it is called, has become a big thing these days, and that's what I tend to focus on (although a big battle with knights in shining armour is still a wonderful spectacle!) I much prefer to show the daily activities and hand crafts of a particular time period.
I use what I call 'factoids' to back up my claims. These can be anything from a print of a page from a manuscript, to a quote from scientific report, to a photo of an object or piece of preserved clothing.
Whilst at a weekend re-enactment, I don't rely so much on these 'factoids' (because of remaining authentic) but I will show them to folks that are interested. At a timed talk, these factoids help keep me on track because I will just keep going with a particular subject while folks are still interested, and I can expand a 45 minute talk into an hour and a half without noticing!
So if you would like to engage me for your event, group, or venue for a day or just an hour, please get in touch using the contact form, or by clicking the link in the menu above.
Afiliations, Associations, Memberships etc.:
The Vikings (Ulfstahm)
Regia Anglorum (Norvic Lith)
Friends of West Stow Anglo-Saxon Village
Moyses Hall Museum
Bury St. Edmunds Cathedral
Time and Tide Museum
Gressenhall Museum and Workhouse
Norfolk and Suffolk County Councils
Wars of The Roses Federation
Norwich and Norfolk Medieval Association (NANMA)
Registered speaker for the Women's Institute
Cub and Beaver parent helper for several years
Radio Norfolk Interview with Roy Waller
On Wednesday the 30th of January 2007, I was interviewed for Radio Norfolk’s ‘Phone Book Challenge’ by Roy Waller.
Here I am, dressed as a Pagan Anglo-Saxon (from roughly 550 C.E.) chatting to Roy in my kitchen. I had Roy also get dressed up – as a later Christian Anglo-Saxon (around 900 C.E) with the typical ‘seax’ knife on his belt. We had a little joke about "which side do you dress, sir."!
Roy's challenge was to:
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get dressed up;
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make and taste a herbal cough medicine using honey, pepper and dill seed. (It actually did make us cough!);
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drink from a mead-horn and recite a pledge.
To finish up, we stood outside on Holt Road trying to get bibbed at by passing cars. It wasn't a very busy day, so we didn't get much get attention, but it was fun!
CBBC 'My Story' - Anglo-Saxons
In July 2017, my son and I were involved in some filming for a CBBC production called ‘My Story’. They did an episode about the Anglo-Saxons which was filmed at West Stow Anglo-Saxon Village and as I was working there at the time, I got involved. The show followed a youngster and her Mum finding out about what life might have been like for the Anglo-Saxons. They both were so enthusiastic, getting involved in all of the activities!
There were several other re-enactors and their families involved - doing pottery, talking about the crops, and forging an arrow-head. For my part, I cooked a stew using purple carrots, which no-one ate because it was 'scary'! I didn't mind, it WAS very different looking to soup out of a tin!
Along with my son, I was involved in the section of the show about archery. There were 7 other kids of differing ages, dressed in really good costumes shooting at the targets. My son was so impressed that he hit the target - he was only 7 years old at the time, about the age when a real Anglo-Saxon would start learning to shoot! I remember one young lad had just broken his leg, and in order to keep him in the show, he had his cast all wrapped up and braced. It was great, because in one scene where he's running, you can really see that his leg is not right - there is existing archaeological evidence that the Anglo-Saxons looked after their disabled folk.
Overall, my son said that he was very pleased to have missed 3 days of school* to do the filming, but it was a bit boring – mostly waiting around for everything and everyone to be ready! There’s a lot of organisation that goes into making TV programs that people just don’t realise ;-).
(*It was 3 days right at the end of Summer term and it was authorised!)
With thanks to BBC for permission to show screen grab.
Screen grab from my TV of the show.
Gallery
Representing West Stow Anglo-Saxon Village on their outreach program in 2007.
Acting test with 'The Vikings' in 1994.
Health and Safety in 1996. Yes, it's chicken! And look at all that iron, oooh...
(I know better now ;-) )
Glenn using the pole lathe he made for the group, with the help of Ian and Rob. From the Ulfstahm archive, 1999
Saxon 'Geteld' tent and cart me and Glenn made (with the help of members of Ulfstahm) and some of our kit.
Ulfstahm archive 1999.
Norwich Sveiter in 1993, I believe, so long ago its on Polaroid!
When we were allowed to shoot sharp arrows...
Our Viking tent and display from 2006. Glenn made the frame (spot the fox) and I sewed the canvas.
The Ulfstahm banner / windsock.
Glenn and I attended a Battle of Bosworth re-enactment in 1997. Wow, that was an experience!
Always fun being thrown over the shoulder - look at his grin!