Have-a-go archery – Cardiff Castle Garrison

Show report: Grand Medieval Melee at Cardiff Castle – 13th & 14th August

Another old favourite this weekend at Cardiff Castle’s Grand Medieval Melee: a show Garrison have been attending for many years. As usual, we had a wonderful time demonstrating crafts, clothing, arms and armour, and even had authentic music provided by one of our members. Have-A-Go archery was also a great hit with the public. Thanks so much to everyone who came along and made it such a special show for us.

NB: Garrison are going to be super-busy over the next couple of weeks. Please drop in and see us at the Newport Ship Open Day on 20th August, or at Caerphilly Castle on 28th and 29th August. See our event page for more detail.

Garrison Have-A-Go archery for members of the public

Garrison encampment with craft and armour and weapons displays

Mark Vance’s medieval combat group in a display fight

Members of the public try on armour

Two group members demonstrating fingerloop braiding while another member plays music on a symphonie, an authentic instrument

Medieval craft displays: spinning and derssmaking

Authentic cooking underway

Various medieval encampments, including Garrison’s to the right

Weapons and armour display

Vegetables about to be cooked

Group members around the camp fire

Members of the public try have-a-go archery

Group members practicing combat

Cardiff Castle Normal Keep at night

Craft and armour and weapons displays

Show report: Big Cheese at Caerphilly Castle – 30th & 31st July

It was another amazing year greeting the thousands of visitors who came to Caerphilly’s Big Cheese at the end of July.

The event is a long-running cultural celebration set in and around Caerphilly Castle, and featuring large numbers of traders, street entertainers, falconry and a traditional fun fair.

We provided have-a-go archery for members of the public, and craft, arms and armour and cooking displays.

See our pictures below:

Caerphilly Castle viewed from across the moat

Weapons and armour display

Group member demonstrating armour to the public

Mixed shellfish with asparagus, samphire, spinach, and honeyed pork, cooked by group member Sarah

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View from outside castle walls

Armour display

North-west Tower

Garrison encampment plus various traders in castle Inner Ward

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Former apartments in castle Inner Ward

Show report: Caerphilly Christmas Market 12th-13th December

Cardiff Castle Garrison had a terrific time at Caerphilly Christmas Market, despite some pretty intense weather conditions! Wales experienced gusts of up to 60mph on Saturday, and a good deal of the day was spent fighting to keep the tents up. Luckily there was plenty of space in Caerphilly Castle’s great hall, and everyone spent the day nice and snug inside, including two rather cute reindeer.

The market featured a wide variety of guests, including Father Christmas himself, some wonderful cake and baked goods sellers, a great selection of meads and wines, and various displays from fellow local re-enactment group, the Freemen of Gwent. Our craft display was extremely popular and pretty busy throughout the day.

On Sunday, as the weather was much improved, we were able to run a have-a-go archery range, which also proved very successful with the public.

After a thoroughly wonderful time at Caerphilly, the Garrison would like to wish everyone a very merry Christmas and Happy New Year! See you all in 2016!

Public tour the market in Caerphilly Castle’s great hall

Conditions were pretty intense outside, and it was a struggle to keep out tent up on Saturday because of high winds

Craft display demonstrating 14th-century crafts

Our craft display with the public in the background

Show report: Beaumaris Medieval Festival – 29th-31st August 2015

Cardiff Castle Garrison were thrilled to be invited up to Anglesey this August Bank Holiday to be part of Beaumaris Castle’s Medieval Festival. We showcased a full living history camp, with weapons and armour, cooking and crafts, along with providing have-a-go archery for the public. We had an amazing time, and it was wonderful being able to meet so many other medieval re-enactment groups who were part of this event.

Gorgeous view driving up through Wales to Anglesey

Panoramic view of Garrison’s camp with have-a-go archery range set up on the right

Embroidery produced during the show; copy of fourteenth-century manuscript image “Pontifical de Guillaume Durand”

Original image (Pontifical of Guillaume Durand, Avignon, before 1390. Paris, Bibliothèque Sainte-Geneviève, ms. 143, fol. 165r)

Group member shooting with an authentic bow

Group member looking out over the inner ward of the castle; other re-enactment groups can be seen

Various other attending medieval re-enactment groups

Garrison members on the seafront, looking towards North Wales

Show report: Grand Medieval Melee at Cardiff Castle – 16th & 17th August

We have had a very enjoyable weekend at Cardiff Castle taking part in the Grand Medieval Melee; it’s one of the biggest shows of the year for us and we had a great turn out. We were lucky that the Welsh weather, which had been pretty miserable all week, smiled on us and we had lots of sunshine.

Garrison gave several public demonstrations, including cookery, arms and armour, fourteenth-century crafts and clothing, and archery open to the public.

We all had a really great time, and thank you to all of the public who came and had a chat with us and to our lovely members who put on a brilliant encampment and manned the have-a-go archery.

Period clothes available for the public to try on

Have-a-go archery open to the public, run by the Garrison

Upcoming show: Melee at Cardiff Castle: 16th and 17th August

A Cardiff Castle Garrison living history encampment

Cardiff Castle Garrison are exited to be involved in Cardiff Castle’s Grand Medieval Melee event this weekend (16th and 17th August). We will be showcasing a large living history camp with craft, blacksmith, weaponry, armour and clothing displays as well as have-a-go archery for members of the public to test their archery skills. We will also be providing a number of talks over the weekend on various aspects of medieval life.

There will also be various other displays taking place, from period combat for children to take part in, falconry, and thrilling story telling as well. If you’re free this weekend head along to Cardiff Castle between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m; we’d love to see you!