There are 8 fragments of cloth with identified dyestuffs 'lichen purple' found in Viking-Age contexts in Britain. To quote the text from 16-22 Coppergate excavation reports: Perhaps the most significant of the dyes encountered is the one identified as lichen purple. There are a wide range of lichens...

And remember, if your society charges fees to clients for events, you're liable to pay Corporation Tax, even if you are unincorporated. (Pre 2011, there was a £10k allowance before you had to, but not any more...). Becoming a ltd company takes away tax liabilities from individuals in the society for...

I'm not familiar with the literary evidence/lack of evidence mentioned above, but there are several extant Morris boards from the Viking Age: Gokstad (Norway) Bergen (Norway) Arby (Sweden) Toftanes (Faroe Islands - Viking are believed to have introduced the game here EDIT - actually here is a thread...

Bump.

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Ooo interesting. What's the source for a period leather sleeved waistcoat? Sounds like a project.

I've not come across a leather waistcoat, but there are examples of leather aprons that attach to the top button of a waistcoat and tie at the back, and full length leather aprons that have an integral shoulder/neck strap worn over a shirt and waistcoat.

We've grown a bit! Now have 2 decent sections for the 17th and Lexington Militia, and are looking to grow! We have established relationships with kit suppliers and can get a full kit out pretty quickly now, email alan@redsandrevs.co.uk for more info, or take a look at our website: http://www.redsand...

Is this purely for battle re-enactment, or a replica? I ask because the construction will be very different from the fragments of originals that exist. Generally, re-enactment shields are plywood (3-ply tends to work best for durability), with an oversized steel boss pinned with domed-rivets, or squ...

I'd be really interested in finding any manuscripts with head wear - apart from helmets and the occasional hood, I've never seen an identifiable hat on a contemporary viking age illumination (but let's face it, I haven't seen them all - yet!). When it was mentioned above that there might be a brimme...

Wieland Forge (facebook) (Website) - Jason makes good swords, fast turnaround, hard wearing.

Biggest problem though I think is that hardly any medieval reenactors actually consider how religious they should be. or have some idea that paganism was allowed. It's interesting you should say that - it's my experience that some people are uncomfortable with the whole idea, or simply press their ...

I guess in re-enactment we try and present drama as much as just showing a particular facet of religious ceremony. A full Catholic mass is pretty dull for the general punter and re-enactor alike which is why it's seldom done. We have tried other set-pieces though. For example, a public excommunicati...

We've been displaying an Anglo-Saxon ecclesia for years, but sadly our Abbot is retiring, so I expect it to fall by the wayside :( He portrayed a Benedictine Abbot, and there are several monks and nuns who do things like candle making, leechdoms and calligraphy, but don't really look after the churc...

It's out of 'From Viking to Crusader'

Photo on 09-10-2014 at 19.52.jpg Interestingly, my missus has just said that the possible hnefatafl board is actually on the back, and the front is a morris board. The original is also missing the detailing which designated the starting positions of the pieces which is a common motif that the recon...

I expect that's based ont he Toftanes Eysturoy excavation (10thC) - a board appears to have been carved into a platter or serving bowl, though it's criss-crossed pattern could be a board, it's very irregular. I don't believe any pieces were found with it. Here's some (terrible webcam) photos: (attac...

My advice would be to avoid anything that looks like a chopping board attacked by a dremel, sets with elaborate pyrography, or anything too fancy really (eg, all glass sets, pewter or brass pieces, resin cast replicas almost always have mould lines and aren't to scale, or are based on 200 years too ...

Are you sorted now mate?

Hi ryan, have sent you a PM.

Vikings of Middle England (Viking age Saxon contingent) and Wulfingas (Migration period Saxon) are up in Leicester.

Speaking of the Lexington, there's a training weekend on 12th/13th October at Avoncroft Open Air Museum (Bromsgrove). There's a bunch of Rev War groups going and it's open to the public during the day if you want to pop over and say hello.

Bump - new website! http://www.vikingsofmiddleengland.co.uk

Hi, i have been for quite many reenacting with jomsviking group, and personally i think a good balenced longseax with type C pommel is the fastest striking weapon. Type C pommel helps your wrist bounce bach longseax to position ready to strike or defend again. A normal or unbalanced sword helps in ...

Glad it's coming along!

find a good kenning?

Awesome, thanks!

If you're interested in joining a new group (leicester, american war of independance), check out Redcoats and Revolutionaries

Photos:

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.473042779375165.115102.382448765101234&type=1

Properly taking off now!

What book is this from?