Joining us

• Re-create the English commoner during the Wars of the Roses.
  
  
• Practice living history appropriate to the scenario of the event, such as cooking, brewing, preparing to hunt, medicine, or music etc.
  
  
• Play a variety of medieval games, including both physical games and various dice and gambling games.
  
  
• Indulge in medieval combat with pole-weapons, bows and swords.
  
  
• Be involved in skirmishes and battle re-enactments involving from a handful to 1000 participants.
  
  
• Perform drill and archery displays.
  
  
• Camp in authentic tentage, using medieval sleeping and cooking equipment, and eating food prepared to 15th century recipes.
  
  
• Camp in some of the country's finest heritage sites, whilst discovering a rich social life!

What is Sir William Gascoigne's Fellowship?

Sir William Gascoigne's Fellowship is a small historical interpretation group, covering only 40 years of English history (1450 -1490). We specialise in the portrayal of a group of tenant farmers raised from a manor of Sir William Gascoigne to fight for Sir Henry Percy, Earl of Northumberland during the Wars of the Roses.

We restrict ourselves to the lower social classes, as it was such men that made up the majority of the armies that fought at such battles as Towton (1461) and Bosworth (1485).

Why a 'Fellowship'?

In late fifteenth century England, a fellowship was the term used for a small group of soldiers.

What does Sir William Gascoigne's Fellowship do?

We participate in living history displays, skirmishes, battles, and all manner of activities connected with late fifteenth century England.

Events, both large and small are held on weekends during the Spring and Summer, with members camping over each weekend, using authentic tentage and cooking equipment.

Life for the common person in the late 15th C wasn't just confined to fighting the battles of the Wars of the Roses, and we demonstrate a range of every-day skills. However, as many of events we are employed to do are military, we have also developed a living history appropriate to a military scenario: recreating aspects of camp life and using authentic skills of the period. We use a different range of skills for domestic scenarios, and often combine the two where appropriate.

Men can fight with bills (a pole-weapon), or with bows, and women can also fight at sieges and practice archery as a sport. (We do not allow cross-dressing, but encourage and help women to find roles suited to the military setting of the majority of our events).

All of these activities are done with the highest degree of authenticity and are meticulously researched. It is our aim to portray the life of the common person in the Wars of the Roses as accurately as knowledge allows.

We are interested in how these people lived: not just how they died.

The social life within the society is excellent, and lots of good friends can be made, both within the group, and with the other groups with which we work. As we are a relatively small group, a true feeling of camaraderie is experienced.

Types of events

We are members of both the umbrella re-enactment organisations of Livery and Maintenance and The Federation of the Wars of the Roses. This means that there's the opportunity to do many quite large events, sieges and skirmishes etc. all over the country (so although we're a small group, it doesn't stop you from getting a good fight, if that's what interests you).

Our own events are more living history and demonstration based, so if you have any particular skills or interests, let us know!

We also have strong connections with a new group, 'Herstorie'. The basic premise of Herstorie is that there are a number of individuals who tell tales as a means of educating the public about certain aspects of 15th Century life (e.g. we have a Midwife's Tale, Soldier's Tale, Alewife's Tale etc). The tales are delivered along the lines of an Alan Bennett monologue. There is absolutely no pressure to become involved in this, but where appropriate, some tales are incorporated into some Gascoigne events, as part of a timetabled slot.

Equipment and clothing

We have very specific clothing standards, but are willing to lend kit to new members, and will give detailed advice on obtaining kit. We don't expect new members to research their own (unless they want to!), and can give them as much or as little information as they want. Indeed, some people are willing to wear whatever they're given, so long as they get to have a fight, do archery etc, and these people are every bit as welcome as those with an interest in historical research!

The group owns authentic tentage, cooking and other camp equipment, as well as spare weaponry, helmets etc. So there is nothing to stop new members from joining in straight away. (We will, of course provide training before sending you onto a battlefield!).

How much does it cost?

A small membership fee is agreed upon each year. This gives the member use of group equipment, and public liability insurance cover at events. In addition 'The Farming Times', the Gascoigne's newsletter, is sent to all members.