The Far Isles Medieval Society is a historical re-enactment society based in the UK, covering the period 500 to 1600 AD, that is from the Dark Ages to shortly before the English Civil War. The society is in its 25th year and, although it was initially a part of the US-based Society for Creative Anachronism, it has been independent for most of that period. Most of the membership is based around the South-East of England, but with other members elsewhere in the country. Revels (see below) are held around the country, most being one-day events. The highlight of the year is the Foundation and Independence Revel, held annually over a weekend in October.
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Reliving the Past : 500 - 1600 ADThe Far Isles is a re-enactment group dedicated to the researching and recreating of all aspects of medieval life. Since 1976 we have been holding regular revels, tournaments and workshops. We have eaten lots of good food, drunk lots of ale and encouraged the investigation of a wide range of medieval crafts and sciences. |
The most popular of our meetings are revels, recreations of medieval meals. A revel is an occasion for feasting, dancing, music and games. It gives members the chance to eat together, chat, relax and generally enjoy themselves. It also gives all those who practice the useful arts of the Society to show off their skills. The Cooks and Brewers prepare the meal to authentic medieval recipes, the Servitors and Scullions dish it up and the Storytellers and Performers provide the entertainments. A revel may be a grand affair lasting several days at an authentic medieval site, or a single evening's pleasure but at all times everybody tries to act and to converse in 'persona', as we say, and to create the illusion of having stepped back in time (even though you may have a Tudor lady on one side and a Viking on the other!)
We also hold recreations of medieval combat, often in conjunction with revels. The Far Isles promotes two distinct types of fighting based on medieval tournament forms. The first is a touch combat style using rebated (ie. blunted) steel weapons and the second a full force style using lots of armour and cane weapons. All our tournaments are fought for the same reasons that they were fought in the Middle Ages; to engage in a martial sport, and to have fun and to prove one's valour and prowess on the field! We also have a Corps of Archers. To recreate the splendour of such events we have a School of Heralds who promote the use of period style devices and banners.
The study and practices of the medieval arts and sciences is the backbone of the Society. The beauty, dignity and authenticity of our events is dependent upon the ability to understand and reproduce the things that the people of the Middle Ages considered necessary and beautiful.
Each area of interest has its own Guild or School intended to encourage the practice of a specific medieval craft by organising workshops, practice sessions and endeavouring to pass skills on to newcomers. They are always ready to welcome new members whether they are masters of their craft (in which case you can teach us) or mere apprentices (where we try to teach you!).
The skill or knowledge of each member of the Guild is tested and acknowledged by the Guildmaster and other Masters as the member gains in knowledge and skill with the aim of becoming a Master in their turn.
The list of Guilds is long and getting longer as new interests are recognised by the Society. We have Armourers to make our fighters' weapons and armour. We have Herbalists and Healers to look after the fighters when they get injured. We have Brewers and Cooks to keep the populace fed. We have Performers, Storytellers and Gamesplayers to keep the populace amused. We have Heralds to read out proclamations and Calligraphers to write them. We even have our own University to debate suitable medieval philosophy (although we haven't got around to deciding how many angels can dance on the head of a pin yet).
These are the key to our style of re-enactment. In order to authentically recreate the feel of the Middle Ages we think that you have to do more than simply put on historical costume - you have to try to behave and think like a person from the period, or as we say act in Persona. Your 'persona' is then the character you create to be at our events. You can choose to be any type of person who might have lived between 500 and 1600 AD; peasant, merchant, clergy or military - the choice is yours. The society's long period, running from the fall of the Roman Empire to the death of Queen Elizabeth, gives you a wide range of cultures to choose between so you can feel free to play the role of the type of person you have always wanted to be! (The only thing we won't let you do is have an actual historical or literary persona - we don't want a society full of Good Queen Besses and Conans - thank you!)
Whenever we get a group of members living close together we encourage them to form a local group so that they can organise their own revels, tourneys and workshops to supplement the major ones run by the Society. Hopefully there will be a local group close to where you live.
For further details or membership enquiries, please contact the Master Secretary:
| Trevor Barker 35 Manston Road Guildford Surrey GU4 7YE United Kingdom E-mail: secretary (at) farisles.org.uk |
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This page last updated 22-MAY-2004 |