Researching times gone by – Elizabeth Kay
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You can look at any number of books, watch any number of films, but if you want a real taste of what mediaeval England was like there’s nothing better than a re-enactment. I have been to a reconstruction of the Battle of Hastings, which was really educational. I always assumed that, as in films such as Henry V, the opposing sides just went at one another until one side had killed all the rest, or the opposition had surrendered. Not so – both sides had rest periods, and then they’d start fighting again. War was a far more gentlemanly pursuit in those days, although the slaughter and the life-changing injuries were real enough, and no antibiotics or pain relief. I have been to the Loxwood Joust twice now, and I can’t recommend it highly enough. Each time it was absolutely terrific. The food was pretty authentic the first time I went, too – I remember the venison stew. These days they still have the hog roast, but there was also Vietnamese food, fish and chips, hot dogs and burgers...
