Armoury for Sale

The Living History Fair was packed. I didn't expect it to be so busy, but the crowds were heaving.

The fields surrounding the fair were wet, muddy, and not exactly what you'd want to walk around in all day. Mercifully, the market was held inside rather than outside and was heated. Space between some of the stalls was so limited that you really had to had to squeeze through and keep an eye out for an axe slung over someone's shoulder so it didn't hit you in the face.

I got some shoes and leg wrappings from a guy called Luke Holbrook who runs Wight Leather Craft. All of the merchants were, of course, more than happy to talk, advise, and assist. We were all bound by a common passion for re-enactment.

There were several periods represented. While Nick and I were looking for Saxon and Viking gear, there were medieval dresses and hats, plate armour, weapons for everything up to the very early renaissance, pirates, LARPers, a guy wearing steam-punk goggles, a Sharpe-lookalike, and even someone walking around in a WWI officer's uniform.

I also found a good belt, some leather off-cuts, and a wooden eating bowl. Nick got himself a leather pouch and an axe, which he got very excited about (understandably).

While we caught the train to London, it was a fairly long drive from there to Coventry where the fair was being held. Apparently this is held every year, and I heard that there is another one closer to Birmingham in March. I'll see what my fiscal situation is like and perhaps journey another market to get myself an axe or seax and helmet.