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| Selling wares © Margaret Clark |
The Hidden Gem of Tatton becomes very popular this time of year with a great many re-enactors and traders arriving from Thursday evening onwards...amazing how on Saturday morning they all seem to have been there forever! Not only in the grounds of the Old Hall but also outside in a Living History camp where they’ll chat and show you just what they do...no sleeping on the ground for them but cosy looking wooden, tester beds with curtains and luxurious blankets to keep them warm.
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| Mick firing the cannon ©Margaret Clark |
After the midday gun, a show from Gauntlet Birds of Prey started the day off well and followed closely by the Company of Ordnance...gunners to you, fascinating! and noisy with some very loud bangs and sound shock waves...everyone enjoying themselves despite the damp start.
Skies cleared and we saw the Old Hall getting crowded, the Education tent very popular and then the Muster with the men at arms and knights. At that point it started to pour down so there was a slight delay but nothing could stop the Battle. The Tatton Company of Archers joined the Lancastrians, that’s Mick Ricketts, Sheila Cartwright, Bob Douglas and myself, to find us facing fire arrows, gunfire and explosions...we came through safely after scoring some hits on the opposition....great fun! And, we didn’t get too wet.
Sunday’s weather was much better with blue skies and some warm sunshine, and the crowds kept coming ...as well as the demonstrations in the Old Hall Arena there were musicians, singers and gentry...including King Edward IV on his horse, wandering through the Old Hall grounds.
This time the Company of Ordnance had a celebratory to help fire the breech loading cannon...Mick, he almost vanished in a cloud of smoke!
Once again into battle but this time in the sun, thank goodness. We had a head wind so the arrows took a bit more effort to hit their mark, the other side had a following wind and their arrows fell behind us...but a couple of loud ‘thunks’ on shields when flat shooting at a company of soldiers, told us we’d made a hit...who won? Well, we did of course!
A brilliant and busy weekend, roll on next year...we need more arrows!
Margaret Clark
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