BPAS Living History Camp Guidelines

Version History

Introduction

Our Living History camp has come on a long way in the last few years with a large number of tents and equipment now being regularly brought along. However having the kit is only the 1^st step, the way members act and they things they do in the camp will make or break the display.

These guidelines have been written to explain the dos and don’ts when within the living history camp during the times the public has access. I.e. the opening times of the event. They also cover ideas and suggestions on equipment to use within the camp, and how to “hide” modern stuff.

The Golden Rule

The golden rule when with-in the LH camp is:

“No modern stuff (clothing, equipment, food etc) of any sort should be visible at any time in the Living History Camp while it is open to the public”.

This doesn’t preclude modern stuff being in the camp, as long is it is hidden away, and if used it is done so out of sight. I.e. within a closed tent.

Obviously outside the official Camp opening times then modern equipment and kit can be used at will. The senior society member present, or whoever is in charge of the society on the day will let everyone know the opening times and indicate when it is OK to use modern stuff.

We are not asking for the 100%, correctly hand-stitched underwear, type authenticity and are happy for things to be done out of sight or used if they don’t look out of place.

Exceptions

There are obviously times that exceptions have to be made to the rules , such as :

• If for medical reasons modern equipment is needed.

• After we get back from a battle and people desperately need water and de-kitting we can relax the rules for a while so modern water bottles and tools can be used. Once everyone is sorted the camp should be tidied up and modern stuff removed. If you have authentic water containers, chairs, tools available then there is no need to make this exception.

• If someone arrives after the show opens and tents need setting up then modern equipment that is necessary can be used while this is done. Note that in this situation other members should help to ensure tents are up and modern kit hidden away as soon as possible.

There may well be other situations where modern kit has to be used, and common sense will normally prevail when these occur.

Things not to do

This is a list of common modern things that have been seen or used in the camp over the years and shouldn’t be, along with suggestions of how to avoid these. There are many other things that shouldn’t be done, and ways round things, treat these as examples and just remember that if it looks medieval its probably Ok, if its modern it probably isn’t. Obviously this dosn't apply outside the show opening times, when moden kit is allowed in the camp.

1. Sunglasses – no way out of this, don’t wear them, get a wide brimmed hat to help shade your face from the sun.

2. Normal Glasses – We are reasonable on this as for some people there is no choice. But if possible try and do without, get a authentic pair or use contact lenses. The one-day disposable lenses are great for this if you don’t wear lenses normally. You can get months supply that will last all year if you just use them at shows and then you don’t have to worry about all the cleaning and storage kit. Authentic glasses can easily be made from an old pair of prescription lenses put into the simple medieval leather tie on frame.

3. Armour tools – It looks great when people start repairing or cleaning armour in the camp and this is to be encouraged, however if your tools are obviously modern (plastic handles etc) this is not so good!. Instead get a simple toolkit that doesn’t look out of place. E.g remove plastic covers from handles, use wooden shafted hammers etc. If you haven’t got suitable tools then you can either borrow them or do your work out of sight or in a tent. If you have rivets and washers in plastic bags or containers then just get the few you need out while hidden in the tent, or get/make some small leather bags to hold them. Also use a wooden box or authentic looking bag to carry your tools so it doesn’t have to be hidden away.

4. Cans of spray oil (WD40 etc) – If you want to spray down armour then do it in your own tent, or out of site somewhere away from the camp, or hidden behind it. Alternatively just use a oily rag you can soak out of sight then rub over your armour.

5. Food - Modern food (burgers, modern sandwiches, crisps etc) shouldn’t be eaten in view of the public in the camp (note that sandwichs made from a folded slice of unsliced bread with meat, cheese etc where known in the medival period and would be OK). If you need to buy food from the traders or otherwise eat obvious modern food, then do it outside the camp, or sneak it in covered up and eat inside a tent, ask first if its not your tent. If you are bringing your own food then I suggest avoiding modern food like sandwiches altogether, instead just have the contents/ingredients (un-sliced bread, meat, veg, eggs etc), you can then prepare these loose on an authentic plate/bowl and eat in view with no problems. Things like pies, pasties etc are also ok as they don’t look out of place.

6. Drinks (cans, bottles etc) – This is easy, just get a authentic cup or tankard, pour the drink into that while out of the camp, or in a tent and no problems.

7. Cookers – These (Gas, meths etc) mustn’t be used in the camp. If safe you can to so out of sight in your medieval tent, or somewhere else hidden from view. If you want to cook in view then it has to be fires or authentic stoves. We do have fires and some people do bring stoves so you can always ask to borrow for a while to cook up a pot of something or boil some water etc.

8. Smoking – No smoking in the camp. If you must then do so out of sight in your own tent, or outside the camp only.

9. Clothing – Obvious one, but everyone should be in authentic clothes and boots in the camp. If you use a hidden (e.g. under sabatons ) or wrapped modern boot for combat, then you should change into medieval boots or shoes once you are back in the camp.

10. Water bottles – The water bottles we use on the battle field are normally in hessian or fabric covers/sacks with the modern necks exposed. This is fine on the field, but once in the camp and everyone has been watered enough they should be put away or stored such that the plastic necks are hidden. Normal camping water containers should also be covered of hidden away, water can be poured from them into smaller authentic containers out of sight when required.

11. Rubbish bags – Obviously we need rubbish bags in the camp, however plastic bin liners hanging outside your tent don't look very medieval. So as with everything else these must be hidden away during opening times. Another option would be to have a hesian sack with a bin liner inside, as long as the top is kept closed to the plastic bag is not visible.

Hints for making life easy

One of the best ways to make life easy for yourself in the LH camp is to make sure you bring and need as little modern stuff as possible, then you don’t need to worry about hiding things, or deciding if something can or can’t be used.

Examples of this are:

1. Authentic containers – Try and bring as much of your kit, both modern and authentic, in authentic containers such as chests, leather/hessian sacks/bags etc. rather than modern backpacks, suitcases, plastic storage tubs etc. This way you can leave the containers in view anywhere you like during the opening times, and just get the modern stuff out when you need it. Dave woodward has a pattern for a combined chest/seat which he uses and is great for hidding away modern camping kit etc.

2. Clothing – Stay in medieval clothing all day, don’t put on bits of modern clothing. Get suitable outerwear like hats, cloaks and robes so you can stay warm and dry in bad weather.

3. Tent partitions – If you have your own tent then set up an internal partition, using hangings so you can store modern stuff out of sight and still have your tent open. If you’d rather keep your tent interior modern then just make sure its always closed up so the public can’t look in and see your sleeping bag etc.

4. Camping kit – get and bring authentic camping kit such as table, chairs, plates, mugs, cutlery etc instead of modern stuff. These add greatly to the camp during the opening times and then you don’t need to bring modern equivalents at all and have to hide then away. Even if you are not camping in the LH camp, but want to spend time there during the day and evening its worth having a authentic stool/chair, plate, cutlery, mug etc you can use rather than trying to hide/cover modern ones. If you have a cold box/bag then make a canvass, cloth or hessian cover for it so it can be stored in your tent without having to worry about hiding it, the same applies for water containers. Hessian sacks can easily be used for these.

5. External storage – if you have modern camping kit you want to use and don’t want to clutter up your tent, then make an external storage area, using cloth, hessian or canvas etc that you can peg/stake out and hide everything in/under.

6. Food - If you are bringing your own food then I suggest trying to avoid modern food like crisps, burgers, modern sandwiches (see previous section for idea on authentic sandwiches) etc. altogether. Use things that don't look out of place such as un-sliced bread, meat, veg, eggs , pies, pasties etc. loose on a plate which you can eat in view with no problems.