There is a reason why my husband’s nickname is Tigger. He quite literally cannot sit still for twenty seconds at a time, but must always be off on some adventure or another.
After my full and wonderful visit with my university friends the weekend before, I had been looking forward to a leisurely bank holiday reading in the garden and stirring myself only to remove the odd annoying weed from the flower beds. Alas, like all best plans, this was set to go ‘agley.’
News of a Medieval fair in Battle came through on my husband’s Facebook feed and, of course, we had to go. That same week, we’d had rather distressing news from Ukraine, so we thought we better take Mariia with us to give her a distraction and cheer her up. I think it worked.
The quaint town was filled with folks in realistic costumes (except perhaps for the trainers peeking out under dresses). The canopied stalls also added authenticity to the Medieval market feel and the surrounding buildings played their part. With the exception of the Abbey, few were eleventh century, but most were certainly old.
Living history
We’d allowed two days to fully explore the fair and I’m glad we gave ourselves that luxury. If we missed an entertainment one day, we caught it the next and there was no urgency when talking to the incredibly well-informed historians displaying their crafts.
We learned about how peasants made candles to light their homes (poorly) and Mariia made a beeswax candle. Though beeswax was, of course, the preserve of the rich. The poor made do with reed dipped in tallow or rushlights made from dried rushes soaked in oil.
We saw how nets were made and how different strengths of rope were required to capture different animals. I was fascinated to discover how often nets, rather than weapons, were used to catch everything from rabbits to wild boar.
And no Medieval fair would be complete without knights. Here there were many of them, walking about in their rather sweltering battle gear.
Since it was a very ‘hands on’ event, we got to see and even try on some of their armour. I lifted some chainmail and could barely raise it from the ground. (Mariia tried it on for size) Yet, this was only one layer. First was a heavy, padded cotton jacket, then the chainmail, and then the armour plate. In the summer heat it must have been unbearable and I cannot imagine what it felt like under the scorching sun of the Holy Land. Of course, once you got it on, you needed assistance to get it off again, so knights in battle were unable to change or go to the bathroom. Figures of romance? I think not.
Our knights were rather more 21st century, with male and female combatants. To overcome the barriers of armour, fighting was very close combat. Seeing them wield their huge swords, axes and hammers gave a chilling view of just how brutal Medieval warfare was.
Maypoles and mayhem
As the fair occurred over the Whitsun holiday, it included some lovely May traditions. The Maypole took centre stage in the bull ring. (The ring was used in the past for animal baiting.) We enjoyed the ‘experts’ doing some classic dances before the audience was invited to have a go. Both were joyful.
Image: Mariia Matrunich
We were also treated to the antics of some very professional jesters. True to character, they added a little mayhem to the dancing and teased the crowds.
The juggling and fire-eating at the end was truly spectacular. I suspect that one trained at circus school.
And what would a May fair be without a May Queen? Rather charmingly the May Queen and her court were composed of preteen girls who had all practised the royal wave.
And a little more history
The second day, Mariia charmed her way into Battle Abbey and Jeff and I decided to revisit the beautiful church. It was every bit as glorious as I remembered it, with the surrounding church yard now being cultivated to meadow.
Battle Abbey looks on impassively at human high jinks
Inside, all was cool and still. The ancient door gave way to a place of peace and prayer, which has been used for more than a millennium. More than all the crazy activities of the fair, the brilliant costumes and jolly jesters, this gave me a very real sense of my place in the great expanse of time.
How many people had stepped through this ancient arch before me?
And how many had looked to this now faded fresco for instruction?
The church is still very much in use, though I suspect the sermons are somewhat gentler.
I like to think that I found the column where William’s men dulled the blades of their swords in a symbolic show of peace after victory. Sadly, William’s future actions would suggest that they sharpened them soon after.
Be more Tigger
The weekend was over all too soon and I am very glad that I embraced my husband’s enthusiasm for life. A quiet afternoon in the garden may have been restful, but this was much more fun.