Jump to: Facebook, Places to Visit, Resources for Children, Military, Living History
Useful Facebook pages
Norfolke Trayned Bandes – For members past present and future. A fairly active, friendly group, where people post photographs chat about musters and generally socialise.
ECWS – not a very busy group, but you get some good photos and videos posted there.
Transport Sharing Group ECWS – Very useful group for finding other people who want to travel to the same event as you do.
Places to Visit
National Civil War Centre – in Newark. Family friendly museum, with features to assist children with ASD.
Little Woodham – 1642 Village – A re-enactment village near Gosport, in Hampshire, in which it is always 1642. Great reconstructions of buildings from the civil war era, including an inn, an apothecary, a blacksmith, the woodworker, a pottery kiln, a weaver, etc. The inhabitants are very knowledgeable, and can demonstrate how to dip candles, how to do your laundry, and all sorts of other things. Recommended for children as well as adults. Check opening dates on their website. Facebook
Bullace Farm – The farm used for filming Tales From the Green Valley. It is open to the public and schools on a limited basis. You may need to book beforehand.
Of course, if you are a member of the Norfolk Trained Bands, then you may be able to visit the farm for a week as one of the re-enactors for when schools are visiting. ☺ We have a long association with the farm.
Resources for Children
Tales From the Green Valley – Filmed in 2005, this 12 part BBC series follows a group of people working on a farm using only 1620s tools and methods. It interesting, informal, educational, and occasionally hilarious. Young children would probably find it dull, but even they will fall about laughing at the scene where they’re trying to ground up some piglets. I’ve got a ten year old who was a bit bored at the start, then really got into it and ended up demanding to see all the remaining episodes.
The Complete English Civil War in Ten Minutes – A rapid cartoon romp through the entire Civil War. The placards held by some of the characters provide excellent entertainment for adults and children alike. It really does cover all the key points.
The Recruiter”s Guide to the English Civil War – Pike – This video will probably appeal to both adults and children. It’s informative about the clothes and armour worn by a pikeman and demonstrates the moves that he would need to be able to make with his pike. It also has a tongue in cheek sense of humour that hits the spot perfectly.
English Civil War Soldiers Facts & Worksheets – Facts for 11-14 and 14-16 year olds, for GCSE and A level practice.
Military
Norfolk Trained Bands – A straightforward Wikipedia history of the Norfolk Trained Bands from their origin in 1558 through to 1715. They didn’t have much actual involvement in English Civil War, but what there was is listed here.
Useful Resources for Living History
What to wear in the English Civil War – 1642 Tailor – A good guide to type of clothing worn by women and soldiers during the English Civil War.
The nature of tent use in the English Civil Wars – a well-researched, and well illustrated, article by Tim Edwards. The article makes it clear that soldiers would normally have slept in billets (ie. Requisitioned civilian buildings), but it also notes that officers may have had tents, and that there were a few situations where soldiers would have been issued with tents. The design of tents, fabrics, and the techniques for making them are also discussed. For further reading, he recommends A.J.Rowland’s “Military Encampments of the English Civil Wars”, published by Stuart Press.
Popular ballads of 17th century – A fantastically well researched site which will appeal to anyone with an interest in songs of the period. For each ballad, you get a photograph of the original broadsheet, the lyrics typed out for you, a recording of someone singing the song, and a mass of historical information comparing it to other songs with the same tune or with the same theme.
How to make a woman’s shift from the 1600s – a useful video by Elin Abrahamsson.
If you want to make your own costume from scratch, then the re-enactors markets are good places to buy clothing, or fabric to make your own.
If you have a copy of ‘Clothes of the Common People’ by Stuart Peachy (available from Stuart Press), then this is a very similar pattern, but the video is useful in understanding how to assemble it. It’s particularly useful when working out how wide to cut your fabric, and how to make the neck.