Enlarged site for Barnet Medieval Festival delights hundreds of Wars of the Roses re-enactors and their supporters

Despite an ominous weather forecast, Barnet’s sixth annual medieval festival attracted a record number of military re-enactors and medieval traders to its new site on farmland in Galley Lane.

“It’s astonishing,” said festival director Dr Susan Skedd when she saw the masses of Wars of the Roses enthusiasts lining up for the official opening of the two-day event (June 7-8).

“We seem to have twice as many as last time. It’s amazing to see how popular the festival has become.”

Councillor Alpha Bird Collins, Mayor of Elstree and Borehamwood, led the procession to the battlefield where there were re-enactments of the Battle of St Albans (1461) and the Battle of Barnet (1471).

He was accompanied – see above — by Dr Skedd and Dan Tomlinson (left). MP for Chipping Barnet.

The new festival site is at Fold Farm, home of Lewis of London Ice Cream, which is just outside the Barnet borough boundary.

Councillor Collins said he was proud to welcome the festival to Hertsmere, and he thanked farmers Daniel and Fiona Lewis for agreeing to host the event.

He was sure his borough council would be keen to see what it could do in the future to support the festival and help celebrate the historic significance of the Battle of Barnet which was fought around what is now the Barnet/Hertsmere boundary.

For the first time, the festival was held in partnership with the Wars of the Roses Federation which is the main umbrella group for 15^th century re-enactments.

Their organiser Mike Powley (above) was delighted with the support shown by a 400-plus strong contingent for what is fast becoming one of the most anticipated gatherings in the Wars of the Roses calendar of events.

It offered the chance to engage with a wider audience to showcase the impact of the Wars of the Roses on British history.

A re-enactment of the Battle of St Albans was the first event in the festival’s new battlefield area – larger than the previous event space at the previous site in Byng Road playing fields.

Howard Simmons, trustee of the Battlefields Trust, praised the organisers for finding such a suitable site for military re-enactments right in the middle of the Green Belt.

Although there were threatening clouds, the crowd was ten deep to see how the re-enactors recreated the fury of the Battle of St Albans.

Matt White (above), captain of the English Free Companie of mercenaries, said all the re-enactors were determined to do all they could to support the Barnet festival because it was such a friendly event.

“We’ve been coming since it started. It’s always been a great event, and we can see how much our re-enactments are appreciated.”

First timers at Barnet were the Company of Blood and Gold, a group of Burgundian mercenaries.

Stonemason Tony Robson (above), who was carving a grotesque figure, said they were called Blood and Gold because in their day they were travelling around the battlefields in the hope of earning money — “hoping to make our fortune”.

“A stonemason was a very useful member of the company. He could help build or breach castle walls and prepare defences.”

In between the sound and fury of the re-enactments there were some lighter moments including a well-attended medieval fashion show given by members of the Beaufort Companye.

Compere for the show was Nicola Rietika (left) who was dressed in a Burgundian gown with a silk brocade. The wool gown of her companion Verena Thistlethwayte had been dyed pink – a colour which was available in the 15^th century and was made from a dye obtained from Braziel wood.