Sir William Gascoigne's Fellowship is a small re-enactment 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. Importantly, and uniquely 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).

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. We are a member group of both the umbrella organisations of Livery and Maintenance and The Federation of the Wars of the Roses. Life for the common person in the late 15th C wasn't just confined to fighting the battles of the Wars of the Roses. However, as the majority of events we are involved in are military, we have developed a living history appropriate to a military scenario: recreating aspects of camp life and using authentic skills of the period. 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). We do not portray the upper classes - everyone should portray a common farmer-turned-soldier, or an appropriate low born ‘camp follower’. We occasionally do more ‘domestic’ events, and are developing skills to fit in with these scenarios – again though, only for the lower social classes. 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 and honestly as knowledge allows. We are interested in how these people lived: not just how they died.

What happens at events?

Events, both large and small are held most weekends during the Spring and Summer, with members camping over each weekend. It is normal to arrive on the Friday night, the event being on the Saturday and Sunday, leaving on the Sunday evening. We use authentic tentage and cooking equipment, with everyone expected to work together setting up camp and preparing the meals. 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.

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