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AUGUST
NEWS
The
Retinue event at Oakham castle in Rutland saw the first outing for our
new kitchen cooking stands, made in iron by Wayne Cooper of Pastlincs (pastlincs@aol.com),
both standing about 6 ft high with pierced feet to allow them to be
pinned into the ground for extra stability and taking a 3” pole up to
7’ long which covers two 3’ fire trays if required!
Hooks
to take a 7’ long roasting spit are fire welded down one leg and iron
chains and hooks allow different sized cooking pots of riveted make,
also made by Pastlincs, to be suspended above, in or beside the fire for
effective cooking. Wooden lids with pierced centres allow them to be
safely lifted using flesh hooks or other narrow implements and these
have been carefully copied from Peter Brears research (see his latest
book on medieval cooking). Other additions to the kitchen are a series
of large sturdy baskets made by Ted Bruce (link), basic lead weights
(made in house) for the scales and a grater made by 6 of 1 (link); all
these latest acquisitions are aimed at finishing off the kitchen and
making it the most accurate available as well as easy to transport and
use by the household. The sharper eyed regular visitor will have noticed
that the large awning we used to use for our camp meals is now employed
as the kitchen shelter and this has been replaced with the great
‘mess’ tent giving us much more flexibility.
The
event at
Oakham
Castle
itself saw some twenty members camping in the inner bailey around the
magnificent Moot Hall. The scenario was a Commission of the Peace 1483
just before King Edward IV dies, and the aim was to look into rioting in
the town, find the perpetrators and deliver justice which was easier
said than done with the Duke of Buckingham’s Sheriff planting red
herrings and misinforming the commissioners along the way! With
excellent music from our own players and Peter Bull (link) we also
featured archery and crossbow displays, harquebus firing and arms and
armour along with meals and manners and finally the court of the
Commission set within the Moot hall itself.
We
have received excellent feedback from Rutland Museums and we would,
funding allowing, like to stage another, possibly bigger, event in 2011
– watch this space!
About
a dozen members attended the Kelmarsh Agincourt event for English
Heritage in July; Rough weather failed to dampen our spirits and we
were, mostly, on the French side which resulted in outrageous French
accents and much mirth. One of the highlights of this multi-period event
is the grand parade of all the periods and the good natured fun shared
by all (well, mostly all). Next year it could be
Orleans
1431 siege but we will let you know.
The
most important event of 2011 for The Retinue has been Under Siege at the
manor 1470. Based around the real attack on The Old Hall in Gainsborough
by Lord Welles in February 1470 we joined forces with The Beaufort
Companye (www.beaufort-companye.org.uk
) to recreate it, fielding some thirty-five re-enactors who, working
together, brought the kitchens, Hall and Solar to life with displays of
cooking, writing and administration, accounting, medicine and surgery as
well as the Top Table and some sustained combat which included fully
harnessed knights, archery, heralds, harquebus and deftly swung kitchen
ladles as the manor was stoutly defended. Music was provided, on the
Sunday, by Master Garrod and The Lincoln City Waites (www.lincolnwaites.org.uk
)
who played rousing and wonderfully loud period numbers for us.
We
have already had very good feedback from members of the public and The
Old Hall and, funding allowing in 2011, well, you never know!
Our
thanks to The Beaufort Companye, especially Allan Harley and Phil Howell
for helping to make this event become a reality for you our visitor and
the Old Hall itself.
WAG
films were present taking more footage for the forthcoming film on The
Old Hall as well as dozens of stills; you can view these here at their
site (link).
Coming
up is The Battle of Bosworth Federation event (www.bosworthbattlefield.com
) and our last camping event of 2010 at Ayscoughfee Hall in Spalding, a
favourite venue for The Retinue (www.ayscoughfee.org)
where we will be basing our event on crime and punishment over the bank
holiday, we hope to see you there.
We
are starting to look at events for 2011 and are happy to discuss
requirements should you be looking at booking us, for further details
you need to check out the Bookings pages which list our activities and
fee’s as well as detailing requirements such as parking, camping and
security.
August
2010
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