Lanark Medieval Festival set to go with a bang

Aug 14 2008 by George Topp, Lanark & Carluke

THE Lanark Medieval Festival this weekend is already certain to go with a bang – quite literally.

One of the highlights of what is now Scotland's National Living History Festival is a cannon display by a 17th century group of mercenaries.

The festival, sponsored by the Advertiser and South Lanarkshire Council, is being held at Lanark Racecourse between 10am and 4.30pm on Saturday and Sunday.

Visitors will notice a distinct theme of armament through the ages – including a display of Roman artillery, followed by demonstrations of a working Perrier, a type of siege engine.

Normally the Perrier would have hurled substantial rocks at the enemy, but for health and safety reasons this weekend's display will be confined to using grapefruit! Equally, the display featuring a 1620 cannon uses no cannonballs, but is still a dramatic sight.

The festival has come a long way since its first year as a small medieval market in Lanark's Delves Park.

Its popularity with the re-enactment industry as a fun, yet authentic, event means that it is now one of the major events in Britain, this year attracting an expected 500 re-enactors from 10 countries. As soon as the visitor enters the show site, they step back into a historical timewarp.

The Romans, who settled in the Lanark area, are represented by a small street where you can learn about the scholarly Roman, with a number of living history displays. At various times during the day there will also be demonstrations of Roman military might.

The Vikings also settled in Clydesdale and they are represented by a huge encampment of more than 50 tents, and a Viking longship. A replica of the real thing, visitors will be able to learn how it was built and crewed, as well as see examples of the various pieces of equipment which would have been carried in the longship.

Their encampments include warriors and traders from many parts of the Viking nation, including the colourful Russ Vikings, with their distinctive clothing.

The tented medieval village features knights from both sides of the Border, some from the Welsh Marches and Ireland, as well as a lone French nobleman. Each of these encampments gives the visitor an authentic insight into life up to 1800 years ago. Just as they were long ago, the encampments will feature people of all ages, from the very young to over 60s; men and women; and people of all ranks, from high-born knights down to their servants.

In those days trading was important, and so there is also a large medieval trading encampment, featuring traders from across Britain and from as far away as the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

Napoleonic rifleman, straight from the pages of TV's Sharpe’s War, will also be found at Lanark, along with Hortus Bellicus – Stuart Age Gunners – Mercenaries of the 30 Years’ War and the War of the Three Kingdoms, who will give their own cannon displays.

Falconry was an important pastime in the medieval era, so at Lanark there will be a number of flying displays and talks on that very subject.

Equally important in those days was archery; England's longbow archers were feared in Europe. At Lanark the best traditional longbow archers from more than four countries will be fighting it out for the Lanark Silver Arrow, a valuable solid silver arrow which has been won by Northern Ireland for the past two years.

Youngsters, and their parents, will also have a number of opportunities to try their own hand at the longbow, or crossbow, ranging from shooting at an armoured knight to professional tuition.

There is a range of hands-on activities and entertainment for all ages throughout the weekend.

Try your at hand making tiles, just as they did several hundred years ago, or possibly join the soldiers for a lesson in spear fighting, Wallace's famous defensive schiltron formation; or join in the fun with some of the medieval musicians and dancers.

In fact, there is so much going on at the Lanark Medieval Festival that going back into the outside world comes as rather a shock.

A free shuttle bus will operate between Lanark High Street, the bus/rail station and the festival site both days.

There is also free car parking at the site.

Admission is £6 adults, £5 pensioners, £1 children and £14 for a family ticket of two adults and up to 4 children. No unaccompanied children under 16 will be allowed, and although dogs are allowed on site, their owners should be aware that there will be loud bangs during the day.

Further information about the festival is available from the website www.lanarkmedievalfestival.co.uk or from 07963 128365