It's our first visit to the UK, so we're looking for tips on where to get quality medieval re-enactment goods, particularly stuff that's hard to get in Australia like pewter ware, woolen fabric, brocade. We're particulary interested in late 15 century Burgundian / English re-enactment.

We're hoping to cut down on our international postage bill this year by doing some shopping, if the baggage weight limit doesn't get us

We'd also appreciate information on any medieval events / fairs / sites that would be worth visiting while we are there. Admittedly the "must see" list is already a mile long...

Be advised, however, that a) a lot of these people work to order, so you can't just walk in, slap down cash and walk out with a sword or whatever, and b) the UK is small, but not THAT small - if you want stuff from Lancaster Armouries, they're only an hour from the Royal armouries, which you'd peobably be visiting anyway. Armour class, by contrast, are in Glasgow, another 4 hrs drive.

Neil

PS - must-see list

Jeff and I are planning to go in March for 2 weeks- dates TBD when fares hit rock bottom.

Any chance we could meet up while there? Where are you? (OK, I admit it, one of the things I want to do while in the UK is go to little local pubs and talk reenactment with some of the folks we "talk" to on these boards)

quote:

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Originally posted by Ginevra:
Hi Neil-

Jeff and I are planning to go in March for 2 weeks- dates TBD when fares hit rock bottom.

Any chance we could meet up while there? Where are you? (OK, I admit it, one of the things I want to do while in the UK is go to little local pubs and talk reenactment with some of the folks we "talk" to on these boards)

Gwen

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Gwen, do you think youguys will get to Barley Hall? (I think that's what its called...) that's the York Arch Trust's re-creation of a 15th century house....

*sigh*....

--AM, who got to see Phillip le Bons kitchens in France, but there werent any TOYS there!

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If you're over, we should definitely try to meet up.

I'm in Reading, about an hour from London max. If there are things you're doing in London (and there should be) we could meet up there.

Have you been to the UK before?

A-M, if you want kitchens, have you tried Hampton Court? A reconstruction of the great kitchen of Henry VIII, and more in keeping with the status of the one you'd be used to working in as Antoine's Cuisiner...

We have 4 days scheduled to "do" London, so I'm sure we could meet up. That would be GREAT!

AM, as it turns out, in addition to doing Barley hall at some point, Archie's godfather in-real-life (Archie is Jeff & my page) is William Gasgoine, who lives on the ancestral estate in Northmark, which is next to Stanton Harcourt near Oxford . The ancestral estate includes a Norman/medieval kitchen, and we have been promised a tour. The tour includes the second story, where Alexander Pope scratched his name into the window glass...

Also Virginia's brother (Archie's mom) has just been installed as the head guy at Dover castle (I wish I could remember military stuff better). Since he and his family are living there, we have also been promised a behind the scenes look about.

Doen't life just stink sometimes?

So far the tour's looking like this:

London - 4 days
Leeds/Manchester - 2 days
York - 1 day
Southampton / Mary Rose - 1 day
Warwick castle - 1 day

The rest of time is intentionally been left open so that when someone says "you must see this" we don't have to say "oh sorry, but we need to move along to be somewhere else." We really *want* to see all the little off-the-beaten-path sights our friends will show us!

Unless you're either (a) on a really focused mission to see medieval to the exclusion of all else or (b) have seen it on a previous visit, I'd make time to visit stonehenge & avebury. You could probably get salisbury cathedral the same day.

What do you want to see in London? I'd strongly recommend Hampton Court, as something that might not have occurred, a day general sightseeing including the Globe and westminster abbey, The MoL, and the BM. You won't get chance to see either completely, but you could spend all your time at the BM alone.

You're still missing the tower, but those are the breaks, with only 4 days.

Are you hiring a car to get around outside London?

--AM

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To answer a previous question, this will be our first trip outside the US.

Realistically, the list of "must sees" far exceeds the available time. Rather than get completely burned out rushing from place to place we've prioritized the list and have decided to pass on seeing some things this time. There's always next time, and the time after that, and the time after that.

We know we could spend 2 months in London and not see everything. Remember things that you take for granted will be absolutely fascinating to us. We fully expect that much of the stuff that will enchant us isn't even in the tour books. That's why we're underbooking the trip, so that we'll really enjoy ourselves.

Transportation: The plan at this point is to take night trains from place to place whenever possible, which will leave us the maximum amount of touring time. We will hire a car as necessary, but we'd rather use public transportation whenever possible. Navigating a foreign road system on the "wrong" side of the road sounds like a nightmare to me. I'd much rather watch the world go by while comfortably ensconced in a bus or train!

We're keen on March because it is the lowest point of the tourist season and rates are cheap. We love the idea of few tourists, and the prospect of cold wet weather doesn't scare us. We can always time our visit to cooincide with the fairs next trip. As a matter of fact, we'd like to participate in a reenactment next trip.

As you are planning to be in the UK in March, try to check the opening times of some of the smaller places you intend to visit. Alot are open from Easter to October for visitors, and you wouldn't want to travel from your base to find somewhere closed. Obviously, this doesn't apply to the museums and a good deal of the larger places, but it might be worth checking!At the same time though, Soper Lane will be at the MoL at Easter,('scuse the advert!) so perhaps I'll see you!

For Danielle, August is usually when the Kirby Hall multi-period event is held by English Heritage, (in Northamptonshire) which normally has a market (although last year's wasn't as good as previous year's) Also in August is the main battle re-enactment at Bosworth Battlefield (17th & 18th this year) which also usually has a market with some good traders in the smaller items you might want (candles, buckles, cloth, that sort of thing - I usually spend far too much there....).

Gina

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there is also another more medieval market (Blackbird lees has lots of different periods) in a place called cressing temple Near london i think, i'm going this year for the first time but from what i hear it is supposed to be excellent!

Anyone who does come near southampton please email me cos i'd love to meet up and chat over a pint or 7!

ps

Oh and public transport in the UK is an absolute NIGHTMARE!
it will take 5 hours to get to manchester by train and nearer 9 by bus, plus costing almost £50!
Trust me I'm a student and use the damn things all the time!!
check out www.thetrainline.com for some fare and time info, then hire a car.

[ 01-12-2002: Message edited by: Caliburnus ]

[ 01-12-2002: Message edited by: Caliburnus ]

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Thanks SO MUCH for all the insights- this is great, and I can't wait to meet you all!!

Mark M-

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PS the reason this posting is spelt correctly is cos my girlfriend typed/is typing it... whatever. Thanks Meg...

- Makes a nice change from the usual gibberish - Meg

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Looking forward to meeting some real live Lancastrians!

Gwen

And how do we brits dress????

(BTW one of megs charecters is Elisabeth of Lancaster, So she's about as real as they get these days!)

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More seriously, Gwen, you shouldn't have any problems - the places you want to go are well away from any "dodgy" areas, most of which aren't especially dangerous anyway.

Caliburnus is spot on about public transport, though - it isn't cheap or convenient, and plain doesn't go to some places at all.

Best I can suggest is that if we hook up in London, and you don't have too much luggage, I can give you a lift either to Southampton or Leeds - I try to get up to the armouries three or four times a year, and haven't been to the Mary Rose for too long.

Will depend on exact timings, but it might be a plan....

As it happens I've got a whole new harness, it's just in bits in a box at the moment....

Just like you will be after thursday!

And thats just what Megs going to do to you...

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Seriously, no real insult intended, it was just too good a line to pass up.

I'm not sure what grounds Meg has to be upset with me, though, since it wasn't her dress sense I insulted. It would have been ungentlemanly, and besides, I'd never dare!

Neil

Nice try...

But you're right it was a good line!

I've got a new brig/Coat of Plates i've yet to use in anger and my helm is new, other than that its just arms and legs!

All nice and shiny!

and a prime target for you b******* if i ever do lugg it all down to practice!!

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I've just got the dates of the Blackbird leys market through - 15-17th march, so it's slap in the middle of your slot over here.

If you want to go (and if you want to meet UK re-enactors, you DO want to go!), we can arrange that I'll give you a lift up - you won't get there by public transport.

Where is Blackbird Leys so I can mark it on the map, please? Also, should we plan to bring our period kit to attend?

As far as transportation, we may have to hire a car after all, although I don't relish the thought! *sigh*