REALLY LIVING HISTORY?

So you’re a medieval re-enactor, heh? Enthralled with the idea of recreating the 14th or 15th century? Mmmmm... Do you think you really could live that life? And why would you want to?

Heritage Open Days- Norwich 2005

Really fancy swapping your mod cons for a mediaeval lifestyle? Well you soon could as an amazing scheme to build a ‘new’ mediaeval village gets the go-ahead.

Here in Norfolk, with its beautiful churches and ancient buildings we’re surrounded by history. But while there’s some evidence for how people used to live at the time, wandering round a museum or ruined building can only tell you so much about the past. And we’ve wandered around more than most!

The Cloisters, Gt Hospital, Norwich

We may know many of the facts from archaeology and written archive, but you’ll need something more akin to time-travel to experience the real noise, smell and tastes of the mediaeval world, the atmosphere of cooking, eating and sleeping inside a timber-framed house or the colours and textures of the clothes our ancestors wore.

An ambitious project by The Mediaeval Trust will plug those sensory gaps and transport people back to the period 1327-1485, by giving them a glimpse into how it really felt to live in mediaeval England.

Early days

So what makes the Mediaeval Trust unique? It’s origins in re-enactment.- and the input, help, drive and determination of re-enactors to take this idea and make it work.

It is now a fully fledged registered charity and limited company, which is taking re-enactment and Living History of the period to higher and higher levels.

The Mediaeval Trust started as a small group of Living History enthusiasts with the big dream - their aim to create from scratch, using traditional techniques and materials, a purpose-built, authentic late-mediaeval village on a scale not seen before in the UK.

Built to traditional designs, using ancient techniques and materials, everything about this ‘village’ would, as far as possible, be historically accurate, from ploughing with oxen, to the types of original crops grown on the land, the processes involved in producing cloth, right down to the pins & needles used to sew the inhabitants’ clothes.

Ploughing with oxen -14th century style

The project, called the Mediaeval Life Centre, will ultimately be a tourist attraction of epic proportions, offering visitors the chance to visit a real community, living and working and, if all goes to plan, even spend a few days there as 21 st century tourists.

A replica 15 th century leather archery bracer

It’s an ambitious project but one which the Trustees believe would transform the way we think about the mediaeval period and which would bring huge benefits to the re-enactment world. Imagine what you could really achieve in just one day?

As well as teaching people about the period in a way not yet explored by most re-enactors, it’s intended to become a training base where people can learn traditional building, craft and period art skills, preserving old skills for future generations. Indeed, this has already started thanks to grants from UnLtd, Awards for All & Acorn.

“It is a big challenge, but not unrealistic,” says Company Secretary Ian Pycroft “The benefits will be great, not just as an educational asset for all [and that includes re-enactors!], but in terms of tourism, jobs, preserving traditional craft-skills, promoting green environmentally-sound principles and boosting the local economy.

Hurdle making at a recent Training Course

Why that time in history? “Well, it’s a hugely rich and fascinating period, with so much happening here and on the continent. We’ve chosen to spread the focus from 1327 to 1485, and the site will reflect the cultural changes that happen during this time.

It’s a period often avoided or belittled by educational authorities as ‘before the Tudors’-- current trends dictate that the whole of English history obviously started with Henry VIII!

Fashions, style of architecture, the beauty of the churches, art, armour, technology- the introduction of the printing press –so much happened.

Mediaeval churches blazed with colour inside when they were built, a real battle between heaven and hell was taking place on those painted walls, they weren’t white like they are today -they were stunning examples of what man is capable of when inspired”

High Altar of mediaeval cathedral.

“At some point, we would like to recreate that feeling by constructing a church or chapel building and people would really see how it felt to go in there as a 14 th or 15 th century worshipper. But that’s a long way off; to begin with the centre will start with just a few simple buildings and perhaps some rare breeds and a yeoman tenant farmhouse. The possibilities are endless.”

Artists Impression of first buildings

What the members of the Mediaeval Trust have in common is a passion for the period and plenty of expertise in Living History and historical re-enactment. Collectively there’s about 500 + years of medieval living history experience at work within the Trust!

Our members are also members of the limited company, with all the benefits; what we collectively build is an asset for all, and what a legacy for the future!”

The Trustees know that for some people, the scope of the project might seem daunting but in Europe similar centres have proven highly popular with visitors.

The Mediaeval Life Centre would be similar to the hugely successful Danish Centre for Mediaeval Technology, south of Copenhagen.

Here they have recreated down to the last detail an authentic 14 th Century market town, complete with market stalls and produce, working craftsmen and a working harbour used by period ships.

Visitors can try their hands at working alongside the blacksmith, watch a jousting tournament or see soldiers experimenting with period weaponry and gunpowder. There’s even a chance to sample 14 th Century food in the Sundkobing banquet hall, and this will be replicated as our project grows in Norfolk..

“The support we’ve got has been great, not just from Norfolk and the UK but from all over the world,” says Ian.

Mediaeval Trust members in Haut Koenigsburg with the Swiss-based Company of St. George

“Re-enactment attracts people from all over the world and we’ve got lots of members in Europe who are happy to come over and help on the project.

Indeed we’ve already helped in the production of a DVD for Dragon Hall in Norwich, on the life and times of Robert Toppes, the merchant, mayor and MP.- and members from Italy and Poland appeared on the film.

Film scene at Dragon Hall, the only surviving 15 th century trading hall of its kind in Western Europe.

Most of the people involved with living history prefer to take a wider view and seriously try and live the life our ancestors would have, even if only for a weekend or few days.

14th century huswyf spinning wool

“Doing that in an original historical building isn’t easy; for one thing there aren’t that many surviving and also the use of many has changed, making it impossible to recreate life accurately. And of course, because they’re historic buildings, priceless treasures, then lighting a fire in the middle of the hall is no-go.

Having our own buildings would allow us to do just that, and show people what it was really like to live back then.

Buttery interior

We also have plans to build a tavern, where visitors could get something typical to eat or drink.

Special emphasis would be placed on getting things as historically accurate as possible: This project will be run to the highest standards of research and historical integrity; living history of the highest calibre,” says Ian.

“We’ll be judged on what we do, right down to whether the types of crops grown and the lack of modern anachronisms-we’re going to be that particular.. And if we don’t yet know the answers then there’ll be a certain amount of experimental archaeology- but everything will be done with historical accuracy as our first aim.

And when the houses and cottages are built it’s hoped some visitors might even sign up for short holidays, swapping mod cons for a simpler lifestyle and working as volunteers at the centre.

Other options would include offering corporate events and team-building weekends to businesses.

If people don’t know anything about the period except perhaps what they’ve seen in films then they’re in for a shock. We aim to cater for all levels of knowledge, ones who know very little or nothing and people who’ve perhaps spent their lives researching the period.

The first year will be spent actually getting things built on site so that we can open up for schools, volunteers and other visitors. We intend to have a visitor interpretation centre too, with typical modern displays and media.

If I thought that through the Centre we could persuade just one person to appreciate the mediaeval treasures we have around us, like original windows in a 14 th Century church, and stop them being vandalised, then I’d be happy.

It’s really getting exciting. We want to make time-travel possible - and we can.”

For more information contact the Mediaeval Trust at 25 Thackeray Road, Ipswich, Surfolk, IP1 6JA

OR

Email Mediaeval Trust