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Greetings Insulae Draconis!
The two of us had a fairly quiet September, as we were unable to cross the sea to Glen Rathlin for CoLD (Champions of Lough Devnaree) or Dun in Mara for Pen and Sword. However we heard both events went swimmingly and were filled with good cheer. Huzzah!.
This week we will travel just a bit north from our manor in Flintheath for Michaelmas in Pont Alarch, an event we have always enjoyed. We look forward to greeting Their Majesties Sven and Siobhán. And to all the activities - and pie!
Sadly, Our Reign is drawing to a close. In November, we shall travel to Eplaheimr to seek our heirs. Ilchomórtas Coróineád Insulae Draconis, our Coronet tourney is 17-19 November. If you are interested in competing, be sure to submit your Letter of Intent by the 15 October deadline. For more information, check out the Principality calendar.
Finally, We offer many thanks to the team on the SCA UK CIC who have worked so hard to secure our new insurance coverage, which is vital to the operations of our events and practices. The new policy requires additional administrative overhead, and We appreciate your patience and cooperation as we transition to this new policy. Please review forthcoming guidance on the changes we will need to implement.
Eularia and Alexandre, Princess and Prince
Greetings all!
<insert cliché about Autumn evenings drawing in here>
No, seriously, time is doing what time does and runs away from us as usual. In this instance, my time in office has reached the halfway point. I am still looking for a deputy or two, this will be an ideal time to join me as you will be up and running in time for handover this time next year.
It has certainly been a lively year looking back. Watching the Principality reach full throttle for events and practices and looking to support that success. This time has definitely been dominated by the Great Insurance Gallop of recent times as we wrestle with the whims of the markets.
I came into this office determined to make the lives of our volunteers easier and safer. With the CIC, we have achieved a lot for the latter, though I can only apologise for not achieving the former as much as we would like.
That said, now that the broad outline of the new insurance regime is to hand, I am planning to return to the updating of the Event Steward guidebook, last published in 2007 by the end of the year. This joins the raft of new and updated materials readily available on the Principality website to help you and your event teams in planning the events at the heart of our community.
Please do get your dates into the calendar, 2024 is not that far off now and I am aware that one or two event planners have not managed to get their preferred dates due to other groups and weddings booking as far in advance as two years. I would prefer to see people booking 2025 dates pretty soon as well. We have members whose work holidays need booking a year in advance, sites book out quickly, and your planning teams will appreciate the extended planning time.
A couple of things to note from the insurance: our volunteers are now covered by the insurance under Employer Liability. This was previously not the case, so marshals, event staff, cooks and volunteers will generally now be covered for mishaps. It will be a while before things are fully settled, for instance, we will be looking very carefully at documentation and risk assessments, including in event kitchens as they have been the source of a few too many disturbing anecdotes over the years.
The second change that I would like our branches to be aware of is that I understand that branch-owned items are now covered for insurance against such things as accidental damage, theft, etc. So, please document and hold a record of branch equipment.
Ysabella-Maria did a sterling job presenting and fielding questions at the ID Parliament for over an hour and without notes – this was a thorough and clearly-mastered brief.
The new regime makes life very complicated for participating in our game if you are not a paid-up member of the SCA UK CIC. Suffice to say, to make things smoother and less of a headache for your branch, fighter practice and event organisers, please join as an official member. I also note London Longsword Academy asks for people to contact them in advance of their lessons, so we are not unique in these changes.
The SCA’s optionality to membership in participation is an exception rather than the norm – my archery club and the local HEMA groups insist on membership after a taster session. We still offer a good value for money (My archery club is £150 a year for instance).
What this does mean though, is that we are going to need a push on bringing in new people. Several branches are having a success of it, for instance, Klakavirki had a huge number of sign ups at their recent display stand at Iceland’s Midgard 2023 convention this summer. However, we are seeing events only just making (or missing) their breakeven targets with sites that have more capacity. This can be addressed in three ways: prices go up, numbers through the door go up, and/or the event ambitions are scaled down.
Well-planned and executed activities are the backbone of what we do. It is what we offer to potential and new members as an experience. We need to expand further, look at our attractiveness form a newcomer’s point of view. So, please, have a look at your websites, have a look at your social media and your physical leaflets and ask yourself – does this answer the questions from a first-time encounter. Better yet, ask one of your newer members, or an unconnected friend for their first impressions.
The 2024 demo season is looming. Done well, these are effective recruitment tools. If you have spotted a potential demo opportunity, please let us know at ID level so we can help support you. The big one for us next year will be Glasgow’s Worldcon in August. We are planning a stall and other activities to promote the SCA at a ready-made audience, and I will be in touch with branches to discuss how to receive potential new contacts as a result.
I am also looking ahead to expanding the ID capabilities in recruiting and retention, so will be looking for volunteers to help out with that.
Well, this has gone on long enough, catch you anon!
Best
Guy
Greetings from Drachenwald’s Posthorn Herald!
I hope that you have all seen the good work that the kingdom web team has done to give the Order of Precedence (OP) website a facelift: https://op.drachenwald.sca.org/
You may also have noticed if you use the “Advanced search” that there are very few modern names listed? This is not a mistake but rather a strategy to move from an “opt-out” position regarding publishing everyone’s modern names, to an “opt-in” so that people can have more control over what information regarding themselves is made public.
Currently, the only way to get your modern name listed in the OP again, is to fill out an online form at an event with one of Posthorn’s representatives. This “consent form” also allows people to preemptively give or deny permission for both their modern name and their SCA name to be listed on the same page, as well as an option to provide their pronouns and title(s) if they want to.
I expect to be able to offer this service of collecting answers to the “consent form” more widely in the future. Until then, please feel free to send in your heraldry to be added to your OP page. Instructions can be found on the Correction link of either the main OP webpage or your persona’s OP webpage.
Yours In Service,
Countess Jacquelyna de Bellmont
Drachenwald Posthorn Herald
Greetings, noble cousins,
Once again I have the honour of writing to you as chair of the SCA ID CIC. I am delighted to say that we have now sorted out the insurance for Ireland as well as that for the UK. This does, however, require us to increase our paperwork burden in order to maintain full public liability and employers’ insurance in both countries.
In summary we now have a new process for all practices and events. All of our group seneschals have been informed of the details of these, and we’re compiling an FAQ based upon our discussions about how to implement certain things, but here is a summary of the new process:
We are in the process of building online tools within the Drachenwald computing domain both to make the process of capturing this data easier and to ensure that we are complying with the appropriate national data protection requirements.
Thank you for bearing with us over the last couple of months. There’s still some work that we need to do on processes behind the scenes and on the risk assessment and other policies, so I’ll keep you updated on those as we get things in place.
In service to Insulae Draconis,
Baronesa Ysabella-Maria de San Lazaro, O.P. (Nik Whitehead)
This month I’ve decided to return to the Cely Letters, for the first of a closely related set of three, and is itself a sequel to the last one that appeared in the Baelfyr.
The letter begins by reciting back the details of a sale of wool to Johnde Selermer of Gent. The price of 13 marks per sack was fairly typical for Cotswold wool. A srapler is about 1,00lb or 450kg, a poke about half that and a sack betweena half and a third. The quantities weren’t standardized. There isn’t much more to be said about this transaction right now, but remember it, for it will not be the last the Celys hear of it.
The next section says that Rychard had shipped 16 sarplers of Cotswold wool from London to Calais. These days, you would go to Dover for such a cargo, but at the time, itb would have been preferable to minimize land transport ion favour of the sea. It would however, have required the winds to be in the right direction, which is why most carho shipping was seasonal. Wool being shipped would need to be inspected and certified for customs purposes, which would have involved a certain amount of unpacking and repacking. It seems that 6 sarplers of this cargo had only been through the process the same day as the ships left, which have meant a fair bit of work, and probably a premium cost for the labour and skilled assayer. Rychard would have little choice as the cargo vessels would have travelled in convoy to minimise the risk of piracy or privateering, although 1480 was relatively peaceful, Given tides and winds, would not have been willing to wait. It is quite likely that to spread the risk that the cargo would have been shipped across several of the vessels. With no idea of the weather to come, it would still have been something to pray over.
George’s brother Rychard the younger, was in the Cotswolds buying and packing the next consignment for the family business. The details in this letter detail the purchase of a total of 3,000 fells from Wylliam Medwynter (the initial reason I started looking at these letters), Fells are the complete skin of a sheep, with the fleece still attached. They would be processed in Flanders to remove the wool from the skin (involving the medieval staple of urine), the wool used and the skins turned into parchment, Sheep parchment was preferred for important legal documents as it was thinner than that from cattle, and as a result it was harder to erase without noticeable damage, and hence change contracts, deeds, etc. by stealth. The availability and prices for fells tended to coincide with the diseases and consequent mortality of the flocks.
George was asked to purcgase canvas for wrapping wool into bales. This canvas needed to be robust enough to survive the stresses of shipping, but otherwise wasn’t anything special. It was cheaper to buy it on the continent and ship it back to England. The description of the required width is alittle muddled, but it seems to boil down to not to wide, and not to narrow. An ell is a unit of length for cloth, but the widths varied enormously. An ell in England would be about 45” wide in England, but only 27” wide in Flanders, and thinner that that elsewhere in Europe. It’s unclear whether a half quarter means ‘a half to a quarter’ or ‘half of a quarter’, in effect one eighth. Given that George was located at Calais, and was soon to head to the market at Antwerp, it seems likely that the request was for Flemish canvas at the width they produced it. The final part of the letter is, I suspect, something common from the dawn of writing up until the present day, namely a parent demanding that their child writes more. It seems that George is considered both negligent in keeping his father in touch with both business and current affairs, at least in the opinion of that father. And if George can’t write for his father’s sake, then he should at least write for the sake of their lord, who is most courteous to them. However, it probably didn’t escape George’s notice that that same lord, Sir John Weston, Prior of the Knights of Saint John, was on his way to Calais with the wool fleet.
M l iiij c iiij xx
I grete you wyll and I have resayvyd a lecter from you wryt at Celays the xxix day of May the weche I have wyll understand and that ze have solde vj sarplerys & pok of my medell cottyswolde to John de Solermer of Gante pryse the sacke xiij marke for the weche I am wyll plesyd were for I have schepyd at London the laste day of May xvij sarplerys of my cottyswolde woll were of be vj clotys medell woll in grete haste for the cokyys were made the same day and the schepys depertyd ij day of Jun and my lorde levetenant he depertyd the same day and I pray God send my lorde and the woll schepys wyll to Caleys Rychard Cely hath be in Cottyswolde and hath bogwyt xv c fellys for you and him seve and xv c for me of Wylliam Medewynter the weche cam to London thys same day I wyll ye bye for me v or vj c of canvase at the marte for to packe wo[ll] wyt of a good brede not elle brode halfe quarter lese and not ot of the smaleste but pra thy rond canvase for to packyng in woll I pray you send me wrytyng of all sych maters as schall long to me for [I] thynke ye mythe wryt myche more nor ye doe for my lorde Send Johnys send to me for tyyngs every weke for the weche my lorde takyt a….plear for to have syche tyyng as ye here in thys partys for the weche ye may no lese doe but wryt moche the more of tyyngs for my lordys sake for in good faythe he is a curtes lorde to me and to you and Rychard Cely I wryt no more but Jhesu kepe you. Wryt at London the ij day of June in gret haste.
per Rychard Cely.
Addressed: To Jorge Cely at Caleys or the mart thys lecter delyverd.
1480
I greet you well and I have received a letter from you, written at Calais on the 29 th day of May, the which I have well understood, and that you have sold 6 sarplers and a poke of my middle Cotswold [wool] to John de Solermer of Gent, priced at 13 marks per sack, for the which I am well pleased. Wherefore I have shipped from London, on the last day of May, 17 sarplers of my Cotswold wool, of which 6 balse of middle wool [were] in great haste, for the certifications [in the customs register] were made the same day, and the ships departed on the 2 nd day of June, and my Lord Lieutenant departed the same day, and I pray God send my lord and the wool ships safe to Calais. Richard Cely has been in the Cotswolds and has bought 1,500 fells for you and himself, 1,500 for me from Wylliam Medwynter, the which came to London today. I want you to buy for me 500 or 600 of canvas at the mart, for packing wool, of a good breadth, not as broad as an ell, a half quarter less, and not of the thinnest, but well finished canvas, for packing wool. I pray you send me writing of all such matters as shall affect me, for I think you might write much more than you do, for my lord Saint John sends to me for tidings every week, for the which my lord takes a […] pleasure in having such tidings as you hear in those parts, for the which you may do no less than write much more tidings for my lord’s sake, for in good faith he is a courteous lord to me and to you and Rychard Cely. I write no more, but Jesus keep you. Written at London the 2 nd day of June in great haste.
By Rychard Cely.
Addressed: To Jorge Cely at Calais or the mart this letter [be] delivered.
Originally posted 7th September 2023
Classically, burials with grave goods have been interpreted as pre-Christian while graves without grave goods have been interpreted as Christian. However, the reality is more complicated, especially since there appear to be distinctions even within graves with grave goods. Some of these are clearly gendered: at Holywell Row in Suffolk, men and women had different grave goods - amethyst, cowries, and keys for women; weapons for men - but some women were found lying flat (otherwise a position associated with men in this cemetary) with no bracelets and ornaments on the left shoulder, while women with their legs bent (the majority) tended to have bracelets and ornaments on both shoulders. This may reflect a social difference. In some older graves, animal bones were found and here again the differences are gendered: dogs and horses with men (there has only been one woman found in England from this period with a dog skeleton in her grave); pendants made from boars’ teeth and tusks with women; and beaver teeth with women and children. In accordance with the connection between grave goods and pre-Christian beliefs, these pendants appear in greater numbers after missionaries began to appear, possibly as a reaction to the presence of Christian missionaries
The most spectacular grave goods are those belonging to the noble and warrior classes. Since there are generally more distinctive items in these graves, we can see a lot more of the complexity around grave goods and religious beliefs around the time Christianity was spreading in England and among the related cultures in what is now France and Scandinavia. A famous example is the Sutton Hoo burial, which combined a classic pagan burial - a king in his ship, surrounded by his treasure, in the grand tradition of Beowulf - with some Christian artefacts: two silver spoons marked “Saulos” and “Paulos”, which may have been gifts on conversion to Christianity, the inscriptions being a reference to St Paul’s conversion on the Road to Damascus. The person buried at Sutton Hoo has been identified as King Raedwald of East Anglia, who was baptised but appears to have mingled Christianity with pre-Christian beliefs in life as well as in death; according to Bede he “had in the same shrine an altar for the holy Sacrifice of Christ side by side with a small altar on which victims were offered to devils”. However, the appearance of Christian votive objects among grave goods was widespread in Europe and neither Bede nor any other Christian writer appears to have objected to it. Indeed, some such burials are found inside churches; it appears that the presence or absence of grave goods can in itself tell archaeologists very little about the beliefs of the deceased or their family.
The main effect Christianity seems to have had on the tradition of grave goods is to redirect expenditure from furnishing a grave to paying for prayers for the deceased person’s soul. In Carolingian Europe in the mid 700s there is increasing evidence of gifts and endowments to religious institutions in exchange for prayers and by the ninth century many monasteries had “books of commemoration” for the names of the thousands of people for whose souls the monks prayed. In this new culture, it made much more sense to spend money on prayers rather than on lavish grave goods.
Originally posted 14th September 2023
Ednyfed Fychan ap Cynwrig was a Welsh nobleman of the late 1100s and early 1200s who served as seneschal in the household of Llywelyn the Great and his son Dafydd. This was an extremely prestigious and responsible position - arguably equivalent to Prime Minister - and Ednyfed was trusted to represent his prince in discussions with the kings of England and he was considered so indispensable that he was rewarded for his service with freedom from royal dues for himself and all other descendents of his grandfather. Ednyfed also becomes important to English history because he is considered the patriarch of the Tudor dynasty; Henry VII was his descendant through his eldest son Goronwy.
Ednyfed came from a line of relatively minor landholders in Conwy. His father, Cynwrig, was the first member of the family to join the royal household and he and his sons formed the largest single family group in the direct service of a prince at the time. Ednyfed was Llywelyn’s steward by about 1216, when he may have been about 45, and before this legend has it that he was a noted fighter; in the 1500s there was a tradition that in about 1210 he had led Llywelyn’s forces against the Earl of Chester and had presented the severed heads of three English lords to the prince after the battle; this was recorded by the inclusion of three heads in the family heraldry.
After Llywelyn’s death in 1240, Ednyfed played a key role in the succession of Dafydd and became one of his key advisers. Ednyfed himself died in 1246, but his sons went on to also hold prominent positions at court. He was buried in his personal chapel in Llandrillo-yn-Rhos (Rhos on Sea in English). The modern church was built in the 1400s on the same site and Ednyfed’s tombstone has been incorporated into the structure. During his life, Ednyfed had also built a motte-and-bailey castle on Bryn Euryn, the hill fort overlooking the town - nothing survives today - and a manor house which was rebuilt in the 1400s as Llys Euryn, the ruins of which can still be seen.
Originally posted 21st September 2023
Richard Plantagenet, the third Duke of York, was born on 21st September 1411 and would go on to become one of the most important players in the Wars of the Roses and the father of two Yorkist kings: Edward IV and Richard III. He was descended from Edward III through both his parents, since his father was the son of Edward’s fifth son - the first Duke of York - and his mother was the the great-granddaughter of Edward’s third son. However, he had a difficult start to any kind of political career as his father was executed when he was four years old, having been involved in a plot to assassinate king Henry V. Fortunately, Henry did not extend the attainder against Richard’s father to Richard, possibly helped by the fact that his uncle Edward, Duke of York, fell heroically at Agincourt and redeemed the family name. Richard was therefore able to inherit the dukedom of York as well as the earldom of March when he came of age and become an extremely powerful landholder and potential political leader.
Richard was made Lieutenant of France in 1440, becoming the main commander of the war and the defence of Normandy from the French crown. He moved to Rouen with his wife and three of his children were born there, including the future Edward IV. It was not the first time Richard had been sent to France; his first posting was in 1436, as a replacement for the recently-deceased duke of Bedford. Then he was too inexperienced to truly take on the role - though he did a great deal to restore English authority in Normandy - but now he became a powerful local landholder and reorganised local government, reducing French representation but making an effort to identify Norman grievances and address their complaints. However, he suffered frequent military opposition that he was able to do very little about especially when the duke of Somerset was sent to France on an independent mission and received most of the funds that had been earmarked for York’s efforts.
Some historians argue that this insult was one of the things that set York on a path towards claiming the throne himself, which he did in 1460. However, at the time there was no sign Richard was estranged from the court or that he intended to assert his right to the throne; he appeared to be happy to support Henry VI. It was only later, after Henry’s authority had largely collapsed, that he would claim the crown himself.
Originally posted 28th September 2023
This Friday is Michaelmas, the feast day of Michael and All Angels, which was also the first day of the mediaeval fiscal year, the end of harvest time and the beginning of winter. It was one of the four “quarter days” on which servants were hired and rent was due and still begins one of the four terms of the courts of England and Wales. The association with court terms is also mediaeval: during the reign of Edward III in the 1300s, the duties of local justices of the peace were regularised to include holding judicial sessions during four seasons of the year, beginning at Michaelmas, Epiphany, Easter, and the Translation of St Thomas. These were known as quarter sessions and continued until they were abolished in 1971.
Since Michaelmas was the beginning of the fiscal year, lords’ household accounts were kept from Michaelmas to Michaelmas. These included the amount of grain, wine and beer, and other staple foodstuffs that were supplied to the household - and which of the lord’s manors they came from - as well as stable supplies and the number of horses, and the guests that the lord had hosted. They also listed other outgoings such as alms for the poor. The steward of the household, who kept these accounts, was a trained professional; beginning in the reign of Henry III in the 1200s, courses in household management were available in Oxford.
Michaelmas also has special food-related traditions. The Michaelmas Goose is traditionally eaten on Michaelmas after being fattened on the stubble left from the harvest and it is a traditional time for goose fairs; the Nottingham Goose Fair is still held over a week around Michaelmas, though geese are no longer available there for purchase. Legend has it that the association between Michaelmas and geese began with Elizabeth I, who is said to have been eating goose when she got the news of the defeat of the Spanish Armada and to have resolved to always eat it on Michaelmas day. It is also traditionally the end of the blackberry season; it’s said that on this day the Devil was thrown out of heaven and landed in a blackberry bush. In his rage, he stamped and spat on the blackberries (and in some versions urinated on them), making them inedible.
These are the upcoming events in Insulae Draconis.
To submit an event for inclusion, use the form on the Drachenwald website, https://drachenwald.sca.org/events/calendar-add/. You don't need to provide all information right away; a minimal entry is enough at first.
The day after you submit an event, you'll receive an email with a link to edit your entry. Changes will be reflected on the Principality website within a few minutes, and in editions of the Baelfyr that are published before the event takes place. (If you're unable to find that link, contact webminister@drachenwald.sca.org for help.)
To keep entries consistent between the calendars, The Baelfyr no longer accepts event submissions by email.
Hosted by Pontalarch
Begins: Friday, 6 October 2023
Ends: Sunday, 8 October 2023
The Prince and Princess will be present.
Join us on the feast of St Michael this Autumn!
The event will include:
Armoured Collegium,
Sciptorum.
Needlecraft,
Archery,
Rapier
Site address: Linnet Clough Scout camp, Gibb Lane, Mellor. Stockport, SK6 5NB
Event steward: Yannick of Normandy (yann@netwars.co.uk)
Reservation: https://sites.google.com/drachenwald.sca.org/michaelmas-2023/registration
Cost: Full Ticket £75, Day Trip £65.00, Concessions available for OAP, Unwaged, Student, Registered Disabled.
Payment: Payments can be made on site, Payment information will be provided after registration, Foreign guests can pay at the door
Site information: https://sites.google.com/drachenwald.sca.org/michaelmas-2023/site-information
Website: https://sites.google.com/drachenwald.sca.org/michaelmas-2023/home
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/156387813627218
Hosted by Eplaheimr
Takes place: Saturday, 28 October 2023
Activities: Heavy Fighting, Fencing, Dancing, A&S, Feast or Potluck, Sewing, Baroness of Eplaheimr
The nights are drawing in and Samhain approaches. It is the dark time of the year. The harvest is in and it is time for feasting, fighting and merriment. Join the Barony of Eplaheimr for Medieval dead. It is a one day event with fencing, heavy, and A&S classes. There will be competitions for scariest additions to garb and the best Samhain food.
⚠️ Important information: ONLY USE IN CASE OF EMERGENCY please test for covid 24 hours before arriving at the venue.
Site address: Carmolite hall (Athlone Pastoral Centre), Moate, Co westmeath
Event steward: viscountess susannah of york (callaghan.sue@gmail.com)
Reservation: https://fienta.com/medieval-dead-2
Cost:
€10 per person, Children over 6 yrs €5 , under 6yrs- free
Payment: Payments can be made on site
Book online. Email the event steward to Pay at the door
Site information:
Carmelite Hall (Athlone Pastoral Centre), Newtown, Legan, moate, co westmeath
Website: https://eplaheimr.org/medieval-dead/
Facebook: https://fb.me/e/3XxbyPhjy
Hosted by Eplaheimr
Begins: Friday, 17 November 2023
Ends: Sunday, 19 November 2023
The Prince and Princess will be present.
The Barony of Eplaheimr is honoured to be hosting the Tournament to discover the heirs of the Principality of Insulae Draconis. The rugged grandeur of the wild Atlantic west of the Barony will bear witness to this feat of arms and which will be furthermore celebrated with the customary exuberance and in the hearty fashion of these lands.
Site address: Petersburg Outdoor Education Centre, Clonbur, County Galway, Ireland
Event steward: Melisende Fitzwalter (melisende1380@yahoo.co.uk)
Reservation: Booking is Open: https://fienta.com/ilchomortas-coroinead-insulae-draconis
Cost: Adult Full event - €E70
Adult Full event (Membership Discount) - €E65
Adult Concession Full event (student/unwaged) - €E45
Adult Daytrip/offsite with food - €E30
Children Aged 6 - 12 full event - €E45
Children Aged 6 - 12 daytrip/offsite with food - €E10
Children 5 or under full event in own cot - €E Free
Children 5 or under occupying site bunk - €E15
Children 5 or under daytrip/offsite with food - €E Free
Children aged 13+ - See Adult prices
Payment: Payment will be taken online at time of registration.
Eplaheimr's Cancellation Policy applies. Cancellations made up to 3 weeks before the event, will be refunded in full. Any cancellations closer to the event date may not be refunded in full, depending on how much of the budget has already been used. Cancellations due to Covid will be refunded in full, LFT/antigen test results will be required to confirm this. Simple no-shows will not be refunded.
Site information:
The site has bunk beds in dorms ranging from 3-bunk rooms to 14-bunk rooms. People will have to bring their own bedding/blankets.
Website: https://eplaheimr.org/id-coronet-tourney/
Facebook: https://fb.me/e/WjeRMjDA
Hosted by Flintheath
Begins: Friday, 1 December 2023
Ends: Sunday, 3 December 2023
Join us in Flintheath at Buckden Towers for our annual Yule Ball
1-3 December 2022
This year’s Holly Monarch will be chosen by a rattan tournament. Along with the tournament will be a gaming tavern, rapier, feasting, court, dancing and bardic.
Please see below for pricing and off-site accommodations information.
Registration will open on 11 September. Visit https://www.flintheath.org.uk/yule-ball-23 for more information.
Site address: Buckden Towers, High St, Buckden, St Neots, CAMBS, PE19 5TA
Event steward: Lady Bella Donna and Lord Nero Lupo
Reservation: Visit https://www.flintheath.org.uk/yule-ball-23 to register.
Cost: EVENT FEES
Are you a member?
Discounts are available for SCA members. Join now and save £££ on event fees for this and more events. One year of SCA membership is only £15 individual / £29 family. Please visit the SCA UK CIC Membership Portal at https://membermojo.co.uk/scauk
Full Event
*with feast includes site fee, Friday night Traveler's Fare, Saturday breakfast, Saturday midday feast, Saturday evening refreshments during the Ball, and Sunday breakfast
**without feast includes site fee, Friday night Traveler's Fare, Saturday breakfast, Saturday evening refreshments during the Ball, and Sunday breakfast
ADULT 18+ years
£50 - MEMBER (with feast*)
£40 - MEMBER (no feast**)
£60 - non-member (with feast*)
£50 - non-member (no feast**)
CONCESSION* 18+ years
£40 - MEMBER (with feast*)
£30 - MEMBER (no feast**)
£50 - non-member (with feast*)
£40 - non-member (no feast**)
*Concession (student, senior, unwaged, hardship, disabled)
CHILD under 18 years
£15 - MEMBER (with feast*)
£10 - MEMBER (no feast**, includes kids menu during feast on Saturday)
£20 - non-member (with feast*)
£15 - non-member (no feast**, includes kids menu during feast on Saturday)
£0 - under 8 years (no feast**, includes kids menu during feast on Saturday)
Day Trip (Saturday only)
***with feast includes site fee, Saturday midday feast, and Saturday evening refreshments during the Ball
****without feast includes site fee and Saturday evening refreshments during the Ball
ADULT 18+ years
£30 - MEMBER (with feast***)
£20 - MEMBER (no feast****)
£35 - non-member (with feast***)
£25 - non-member (no feast****)
CONCESSION* 18+ years
£25 - MEMBER (with feast***)
£15 - MEMBER (no feast****)
£30 - non-member (with feast***)
£20 - non-member (no feast****)
*Concession (student, senior, unwaged, hardship, disabled)
CHILD under 18 years
£10 - MEMBER (with feast***)
£5 - MEMBER(no feast****, includes kids menu during feast on Saturday)
£15 - non-member (with feast***)
£10 - non-member (no feast**, includes kids menu during feast on Saturday)
£0 - Child under 8 years (no feast****, includes kids menu during feast on Saturday)
ON-SITE ACCOMMODATIONS per person for two nights
B&B Main House £50
Tower Bunk £20
OFF-SITE ACCOMMODATIONS
The site offers a limited amount of accommodations, which sell out quickly. If it is convenient, we recommend making arrangements for lodging off-site. Below is a list of area hotels within a very short distance of the site:
The George Hotel, Buckden (https://www.thegeorgebuckden.com)
The Lion Hotel, Buckden (https://thelionbuckden.com/home)
Delta Hotels Huntingdon (https://www.marriott.com/en-gb/hotels/lonhd-delta-hotels-huntingdon/overview/)
Holiday Inn : Huntingdon Racecourse, Huntingdon (https://www.ihg.com/holidayinn/hotels/gb/en/huntingdon/xhuhr/hoteldetail)
Premier Inn (A1/A14), Huntingdon (https://www.premierinn.com/gb/en/hotels/england/cambridgeshire/huntingdon/huntingdon-a1a14.html)
Premier Inn, St. Neots (Colmworth Park) (https://www.premierinn.com/gb/en/hotels/england/cambridgeshire/st-neots/st-neots-colmworth-park.html)
Premier Inn, St. Neots (A1/Wyboston) (https://www.premierinn.com/gb/en/hotels/england/cambridgeshire/st-neots/st-neots-a1wyboston.html)
Travelodge, Bedford Wyboston (https://www.travelodge.co.uk/hotels/10/Bedford-Wyboston-hotel)
Site information: The site, known as Buckden Towers has a rich history spanning over 900 years (https://www.buckden-towers.org.uk/history)
Hosted by Mynydd Gwyn
Takes place: Saturday, 9 March 2024
Activities: Dancing, A&S, Music making, poetry recital, classes on bardic matters. Other activities may be accommodated after consultation with the event steward, but are not the primary focus of the event.
On 9th March 2024 the third Mynydd Gwyn Eisteddfod will be held, at Burgage Hall in Ledbury. Come along to enjoy performances of the Bardic arts, learn new skills, share your talents and compete for the Myydd Gwyn Silver Chair. Tickets in the region of £20, (£15 unwaged) to include buffet feast. Fuller details to follow soon at Shire Mynydd Gwyn Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/groups/113000884332) or website SCA Shire of Mynydd Gwyn – Home (mynydd-gwyn.org.uk).
Site address: Burgage Hall Church Lane Ledbury Herefordshire HR8 1DW
Event steward: Richard of Salesberie (richard844williams@btinternet.com)
Reservation: Please use Eventbrite https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/mynydd-gwyn-eisteddfod-iii-tickets-691584496847
Cost: £20 adult, £15 unwaged, £5 child.
Payment: By Eventbrite https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/mynydd-gwyn-eisteddfod-iii-tickets-691584496847
Eventbrite has 25 tickets available (because that is its limit for a free event!) If these sell out, contact richardwilliams844@btinternet.com) and I will arrange another way for you to pay.
Site information: Burgage Hall is in Church Lane, behind the attractive Butcher Row House Museum. It is 12 minutes walk from Ledbury Station, right in the town centre.
Website: http://mynydd-gwyn.org.uk/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/1695387897596524?active_tab=about
Hosted by Dun in Mara
Begins: Friday, 5 April 2024
Ends: Sunday, 7 April 2024
Save the date - more information to come shortly
Event steward: Sela de la Rosa and Katie of Dun in Mara (springcrown@duninmara.org)
Website: https://duninmara.org/events/2024/crown/
Facebook: https://fb.me/e/3LEFwaWuF
Hosted by Glen Rathlin
Begins: Friday, 3 May 2024
Ends: Sunday, 5 May 2024
Another weekend of archery, good food and good company
Event steward: Caitriona of the Ravens
Hosted by Dun in Mara
Begins: Thursday, 30 May 2024
Ends: Monday, 3 June 2024
Camping event on the grounds of Sigginstown Castle, Co Wexford, Ireland
Event steward: Agnes Boncuer (agneslaverte@gmail.com)
Hosted by Pontalarch
Begins: Friday, 20 September 2024
Ends: Sunday, 22 September 2024
A weekend of bardic focused delights in the wilds of North Yorkshire. Singing, music, dancing, acting.
Event steward: Amy of Osgoldcross
These are the branches that make up Insulae Draconis, and contact details for their officers.
To update the information here, use the form for the Drachenwald regnum: https://forms.drachenwald-sca.org/forms/regnum-officers/
Northern England
Richard Rampant
He/Him
Email seneschal@depedene.org
Valda ingen Chaemgin
(Michelle Parker )
She/Her
Email exchequer@depedene.org
Joel ben Stuart
He/Him
Email marshal@depedene.org
East coast of Ireland
Alays de Lunel
She/Her
Email seneschal@duninmara.org
Etienne the Younger
Email exchequer@duninmara.org
Sarah of Dun in Mara
(Sarah MacQueen)
She/Her
Email artsandsciences@duninmara.org
Aoífe ní Aodhagáin
(Eva Mühlhause)
She/Her
Email herald@duninmara.org
Agnes Boncuer
They/Them
Email armouredcombat@duninmara.org
Aodh Ó Siadhail
(Drew Shiel)
He/Him
Email chronicler@duninmara.org
Central, west and south Ireland
Eplaheimr-Jin Unegen
(Yann Coussot)
He/Him
Email seneschal.eplaheimr@gmail.com
Robert of Eplaheimr
(Robert O' Rourke)
He/Him
Email exchequer.eplaheimr@gmail.com
Kytte of the lake
(Catherine Terrett )
She/Her
Email eplaheimr.moas@gmail.com
Fianna Rua Nic Mhathúna
(Davina Mc Mahon)
She/Her
Email fiannaruasca@gmail.com
Melisende Fitzwalter
She/Her
Email chronicler.eplaheimr@gmail.com
Melisende Fitzwalter
She/Her
Email chronicler.eplaheimr@gmail.com
East Anglia
Rebecca of Flintheath
She/Her
Email seneschal@flintheath.org.uk
Nicholas de Estleche dictus le Tardif
(Nicholas Adams)
Email exchequer@flintheath.org.uk
Shannon of Oak of Honor Hill
(Shannon Webster)
Email chatelain@flintheath.org.uk
Bronwen Selwyn
(Susan Stallman)
Email moas@flintheath.org.uk
Rebecca of Flintheath
She/Her
Email chronicler@flintheath.org.uk
Adisla Arnulfsdottir
(Cecilia Engdahl)
Email webminister@flintheath.org.uk
Belfast, Northern Ireland, and the historical Province of Ulster
Caitriona of the Ravens
She/Her
Email seneschal@glenrathlin.org
Natacha of Glen Rathlin
Email exchequer@glenrathlin.org
Sadh inghean Aodhan
Email knight.marshall@glenrathlin.org
Scotland
Elen Benet
(Helen Lever)
Email seneschal@harpelstane.org
Esbiorn Jensson
Maria Harsick
Email webminister@harpelstane.org
Athlone Institute of Technology
Kier of Kingeslake
Email seneschal.kingeslake@gmail.com
Iceland
Pól óBriain
(Paul O'Brien)
He/Him
Email Klakavirki@gmail.com
Arnór
Padraig of Klakavirki He/Him
Rúnar of Klakavirki
(Rúnar Páll Benediktsson )
He/Him
Email runzerinn@gmail.com
Alexandria of Klakavirki
(Anna Reneau)
She/Her
Email evil.barbarian@gmail.com
Rúnar of Klakavirki
(Rúnar Páll Benediktsson )
He/Him
Email runzerinn@gmail.com
Wales and west of England
Maredudd ap Gwylim
(Ed Boreham)
He/Him
Email maredudd1066@yahoo.co.uk
Richard of Salesberie
(Rick Williams)
He/Him
Email richard844williams@btinternet.com
Central England
Alex of Long Riston
(Alex Crompton)
Email sen.pontalarch@gmail.com
Yannick of Normandy
Email exch.pontalarch@gmail.com
Hildr of pont Alarch
She/Her
Email chat.pontalarch@gmail.com
Greater London, England
Isabel Peregrinus
She/Her
Email thamesreach.seneschal@gmail.com
Marcella di Cavallino
She/Her
Email thamesreach.web@gmail.com
Southern England
Duncan Forbes
(Charles Puffer)
He, Him, them
Email seneschal@westdragonshire.org
Alex of Long Riston
(Alex Crompton)
He/Him
Email a.crompton1992@gmail.com
Thomas Flamanc
(John Sawyer)
He/Him
Email jpgsawyer@gmail.com
(Ballykinshannon - Village at the Head of the Shannon)
A tuatha in Eplaheimr, covering Limerick City.
Seneschal: Eplaheimr-Jin Unegen
(seneschal.eplaheimr@gmail.com)
Sheriff: Lord Ünegen of Eplaheimr
(coussotyann@gmail.com)
(Village of the Water Horse)
A tuatha in Eplaheimr, covering Dromineer - North Co. Tipperary.
Seneschal: Eplaheimr-Jin Unegen
(seneschal.eplaheimr@gmail.com)
Sheriff: Lady Marina Claudia Alessandra de Grado
(Village of the Golden Meadow)
A tuatha in Eplaheimr, covering East Galway (Loughrea/Ballinasloe/Aughrim).
Seneschal: Eplaheimr-Jin Unegen
(seneschal.eplaheimr@gmail.com)
Sheriff: Baron Etienne Fevre
(baron.eplaheimr@gmail.com)
(Valley of the Mists)
A tuatha in Eplaheimr, covering Longford town and outlying areas.
Seneschal: Eplaheimr-Jin Unegen
(seneschal.eplaheimr@gmail.com)
Sheriff: Lord Aodhán de Pairc
A hamlet in Thamesreach, covering Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire.
Seneschal: Isabel Peregrinus (thamesreach.seneschal@gmail.com)
Website: https://shuelsmann.wixsite.com/hartsholt
(Village of the Silver Octopus)
A tuatha in Eplaheimr.
Seneschal: Eplaheimr-Jin Unegen
(seneschal.eplaheimr@gmail.com)
Sheriff: Lady Edel de Chadewykke
A hamlet in Pontalarch, covering English Midlands.
Seneschal: Alex of Long Riston
(sen.pontalarch@gmail.com)
Sheriff: Amphelise de Wodeham
(chriswoodhams@gmail.com)
Website: https://www.facebook.com/groups/okynfirth/
(Village of the Wildcat)
A tuatha in Eplaheimr, covering Shinrone, Birr.
Seneschal: Eplaheimr-Jin Unegen
(seneschal.eplaheimr@gmail.com)
Sheriff: Viscountess Sagadis
(Village of the Heartland)
A tuatha in Eplaheimr, covering Athlone, Moate, Clara.
Seneschal: Eplaheimr-Jin Unegen
(seneschal.eplaheimr@gmail.com)
Sheriff: Lord Robaird
Michaelmas
6 October 2023-8 October 2023
The Prince and Princess will be present.
Ilchomórtas Coróineád Insulae Draconis (Coronet Tourney)
17 November 2023-19 November 2023
The Prince and Princess will be present.
Guy de Dinan
(Adam Edwards)
He/Him
Contact: seneschal@insulaedraconis.org
Mary Verch Thomas
(Mary Frost)
She/Her
Contact: exchequer@insulaedraconis.org
Bella Donna
(Michelle King)
She/Her
Contact: chatelaine@insulaedraconis.org
Áfríðr Eiríksdóttir
Contact: moas@insulaedraconis.org
Shirin Perot-duxt
(Sarah Brider)
Any
Contact: herald@insulaedraconis.org
Siridean MacLachlan
Contact: marshal@insulaedraconis.org
Kier of Eplaheimr
(Kieran Veale)
He/Him
Contact: archerymarshal@insulaedraconis.org
Esbiorn Jensson
(David Cordes)
He/his
Contact: rapiermarshal@insulaedraconis.org
Sela de la Rosa
She/Her
Contact: chronicler@insulaedraconis.org
Deputy Chronicler
meldun
Contact: deputy-chronicler@insulaedraconis.org
Arianhwy Wen/Aria Gemina Mala/Ari Mala
She/Her
Contact: signet@insulaedraconis.org
Eadbald æt Underbrycge
(Adrian Wright)
He/Him
Contact: webminister@insulaedraconis.org