THE COMPANIONS OF THE FOREST

Who are we and what do we do?

A group of re-enactors based nominally in the Forest of Dean Gloucestershire, although our membership is drawn from all over the west, west midlands and Cheshire, and also from Wales.

Representing a Company of Archers and hand - gunners when performing Mediaeval, and a company of Musketeers and Cannoneers when in the 17th Century, we always include living history as well.

As from early 2010 we have added Roman and early Britsh depictions so you can now visit and experience from C5th through to C17th in one visit with us at events where we do multi period-check the 'Events' page.

We are about equal numbers of male and female, and the youngest member (Emily ) is 4, and the oldest, well, a lot older than that and I'm not saying who that is!

We are committed to an accurate and authentic re-creation of the Mediaeval period and also, the fascinating and troubled years of the English Civil War. We do this through activities and story telling in the living history camp, and involving children (the grown-up ones as well!) in practicing pike and sword drill and the marching disciplines of the time. We demonstrate firearms and edged weapons of the period and people who want to play can try on helmets, maille (chain-mail) and items of armour.

Demonstrations of archery, and the chance to be coached and have a go (where time and conditions permit) are also part of our standard routine where the Mediaeval period is portrayed.

At some events we represent one period only- either Civil War or Mediaeval- but at others we will represent both and will then show the evolution of methods and weapons over the hundreds of years separating them by means of archery then hand cannon (early handguns) through to muskets and Cannon on wheels.

This gets noisy and smoky but is huge fun!

We have worked for CADW, museums, National Trust and various other organisations, and appear at local fetes, in schools and charity events, check out our Events List for where we are and what period we are recreating, perhaps we can do an event for you?.

Please send a message if you'd like to join up and we can have a chat, you can be free to be whatever you want to be, pick a role and research it, make that character your own, for instance we have female members as soldiers so the scope is huge.

See you in the past!

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