Englands Medieval Festival, Herstmonceux

I have been going to this event every year since 1999 and this was the 22nd year that it has taken place. I have had a lifelong interest in the Middle Ages and I belonged to a Re-enactment group for nearly 10 years. This wasn't a group who did public events - a rather difficult group of families and individuals who mainly did it for fun I suppose and I found very difficult to get on with. To make matters worses, none lived locally to me and as I had no skills at anything my role was pretty next to useless. What did come out of it was an greatly enhamced knowledge and interest in costume and a large collection of them! I portrayed two different people when I did it, one male, the other female. To chill in the late evening I regularly wear a robe or a gown which is something I love to do. I have quite a collection which I still add to each year! I recently obtained a long tunic/gown for under £30 and it is great! For a male to get out of something that's divided into 2 legs is both liberating and a real change! It's something I look forward to doing every day.

These re-enactors I think were French and the lady in the middle is wearing a red short sleeved kirtle with a chemise under. Her skirts are nice and full, so for me this is a very good kirtle and looks very graceful. The left hand lady is wearing what I'd call a generic gown with wide sleeves which is equally good. It's generic in my knowledge as it could span anywhere from the 12th to the 15th Century, whereas the kirtle is 15th Century. The man on the right has hose that is not joined at the top but will be separate and usually joined by leather thongs to the doublet. These will usually be made of wool as these look. Underneath is worn a linen shirt and braies - effectively underpants which are visible at the front. This is likely to be 15th Century civillian wear but not quite peasant class! I have to admit that what he wears has never appealed to me, which is why my male character always wore a robe and it looks incedibly uncomfortable. I wanted to wear something that was completely different and help me to portray someone different and I felt different.

Overall the event was good, but it wasn't as good as it has been in the past. There were far fewer re-enactors this year and it showed which was a shame. There were several other events taking place at the same time. Nevertheless, this is still one of the best events of it's type that you can see.