Nelson Mediæval holds camp at Rangihaeata
Mediaeval Club. Photo: Neil Wilson
“We call it living history. We like to recreate the more colourful and enjoyable aspects of life in the Middle Ages. Things like sword-fighting, dancing, singing, dancing, feasting, archery and crafts,” says Boyd Chester-Freeman about what brings members of Nelson Mediæval together.
Eighteen of the group recently camped at Rangihaeata for a weekend-long celebration of the things they like. They had an archery tournament, craft workshops and an authentic feast featuring venison and mulled wine.
People are encouraged to pursue their own interests under the broad mediaeval banner. The sword-fighting group meets weekly and so does the singing group. Other people research and experiment with cooking, brewing and other crafts like sewing and weapon-making.
When The GB Weekly visited the Rangihaeata campsite, a pouch-making workshop was taking place. Awls were being wielded with great skill and the finished products were destined to enhance the costumes worn at upcoming replica occasions.
“We focus on the positive side of the period between about 1000 and 1600AD, “ explained Jim Mackie, the host of the camp and the only Golden Bay-based member of the Nelson group. “We try to keep things as authentic as possible without going overboard. That means our feasts don’t feature potatoes and tomatoes that came from South America after our period. Our garments are mostly made of wool and linen and we use replica English longbows or bows of a type that was in use at the time.”
Markus Erdmann showed off an arrow constructed just as the craftsmen of the day would have made it. He also explained how bowstrings were cleverly twisted at the time to give them strength without joins or knots. The group had been practising that skill the previous day and the results of their work were evident in the bows already made.
Boyd explained that the people interested in the skills of combat train hard and focus on safety as well.
“Beginners learn with wooden swords before graduating to rebated [blunted] steel weapons. Some actual fight books were discovered in the Tower of London, dating back to 1250-1300. They explain in some detail the vicious, aggressive style of fighting that was favoured. It was all about killing the other person as soon as possible. Our fighting is much safer because our swords are rebated. It makes them heavy, though. They weigh about 1.6 kg—a bit heavier than the real thing. This kind of martial art is like any other physical sport; it has some risks. I’ve had a couple of injuries but nothing too serious.”
The group welcomes anyone with an interest in the period. They turn out in costume for events like Marchfest and the Canterbury Faire and they say that their Golden Bay camp was such a success that it’s likely to be repeated.
Nelson Mediæval can be contacted through Jim Mackie in the Bay on 525 9443, or through their website www.nelsonmediaeval.webs.com
Neil Wilson
