The Medieval Siege Society is a British
living history
Living history is an activity that incorporates historical tools, activities and dress into an interactive presentation that seeks to give observers and participants a sense of stepping back in time. Although it does not necessarily seek to ree ...
and
combat reenactment association dedicated to costumed
reenactment of
siege warfare
A siege is a military blockade of a city, or fortress, with the intent of conquering by attrition, or a well-prepared assault. This derives from la, sedere, lit=to sit. Siege warfare is a form of constant, low-intensity conflict characterize ...
, combat reenactment and events surrounding the history known as the
Hundred Years War
The Hundred Years' War (; 1337–1453) was a series of armed conflicts between the kingdoms of England and France during the Late Middle Ages. It originated from disputed claims to the French throne between the English House of Plantagene ...
and the
Wars of the Roses
The Wars of the Roses (1455–1487), known at the time and for more than a century after as the Civil Wars, were a series of civil wars fought over control of the throne of England, English throne in the mid-to-late fifteenth century. These w ...
(circa 1350–1490). Apart from reenactment, it is also involved in research into the history of the period, and education (at the school or college level) about the same.
The Medieval Siege Society frequently performs at heritage sites around the UK and beyond, The Medieval Siege Society was formed in 1993 by a group of re-enactors and archers with an interest in
Medieval reenactment
Medieval reenactment is a form of historical reenactment that focuses on re-enacting European history in the period from the fall of Rome to about the end of the 15th century. The second half of this period is often called the Middle Ages. This m ...
and living history.
Events
The Medieval Siege Society are an active society who take part in a number of events over the season,
[ ] including
Tewkesbury medieval festival, St Albans
Hedingham Castle,
Dover Castle
Dover Castle is a medieval castle in Dover, Kent, England and is Grade I listed. It was founded in the 11th century and has been described as the "Key to England" due to its defensive significance throughout history. Some sources say it is th ...
Eltham Palace
Eltham Palace is a large house at Eltham ( ) in southeast London, England, within the Royal Borough of Greenwich. The house consists of the medieval great hall of a former royal residence, to which an Art Deco extension was added in the 1930 ...
and England’s Medieval Festival at
Herstmonceux Castle.
They are also very active in recreating battles from
the Wars of the Roses and have been heavily involved with
English heritage
English Heritage (officially the English Heritage Trust) is a charity that manages over 400 historic monuments, buildings and places. These include prehistoric sites, medieval castles, Roman forts and country houses.
The charity states that i ...
,
The National trust
The National Trust, formally the National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty, is a charity and membership organisation for heritage conservation in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. In Scotland, there is a separate and ...
and various TV and Film work.
550th Anniversary of the 2nd Battle of St Albans
On 26 & 27 February 2011 to commemorate the 550th anniversary year of the
Second Battle of St Albans, the Battlefields Trust hosted a conference on the battle, close to the battle site. This featured authentic recreations from The Medieval Siege Society, a guided tour of the battlefield, and culminated in a Requiem Mass for the fallen at St Saviours Church conducted by Father Peter Wadsworth.
Awards
Units from the Society have won a number of top prizes for "Best Living History" at England's Medieval Festival.
In March 2011, the Society was awarded "Best Educational Display" at the British Leisure Show, a national showcase for the leisure industry.
See also
*
List of historical reenactment groups
This is a list of Wikipedia articles on notable historical reenactment
Historical reenactment (or re-enactment) is an educational or entertainment activity in which mainly amateur hobbyists and history enthusiasts dress in historic uniforms ...
References
External links
Official websiteNational Association of Re-Enactment SocietiesArchived Philip McGaw Medieval Siege Society page(dead)
Battlefields Trust
{{Reenactment
*
Historical reenactment groups
History organisations based in the United Kingdom