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Direlton Castle
Fire and Sword Living History Group
Very definately the new boys on the block, entertaining but a little rough at the edges.( I am a stickler for factual information actually being factual)
More can be found on "The Black Douglas" in the history section of this web site | |
| Stinky was the peasant, and was treated as such, everything he wore he claimed he took from a body on the battle field. Indeed after every scirmish, there was Stinky doing the rounds stealing from the dead bodies. He stole swords too, now he wouldn't normally be allowed to keep these as these were the weapons of gentleman, not peasants, but this is The Black Douglas' group we are talking about, he I doubt would have had such scrupples! | Stinky, the group clown
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an army on the move
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| The basic marching forward stace of an army going into battle, however note the swords here, they are just not long enough, all the other groups would use pikes here. As they marched the Douglas shouted 1, 2,3, and on the fourth beat the rest banged their targes and shouted 'huhh'. This was very effective. Although when one attends one of these re enactments, you know you are safe, it does induce a certain quiver of fear. This is immediately dismissed, of course you are safe but its there, its not a far leap from there to understand how men must have felt going into battle. |
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This was the first time I had seen this demonstrated. the welsh bowmen were of course the bain of the Scottish ( and French and anyone else Edward happened to be fighting with) army's life. They were lethal and this turtle of targes was the only response the foot soldier could make. |
response to archer attack
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Mobile schiltron invented by the Douglas and used to great effect at Bannockburn
King Robert saves the day | | There seems to be a fashion now for young boys to turn up to these re enactments in a plastic helmet and a homespun surcoat. This boy was made a great deal of because he wears the livery of The Bruce ( note no double treasury florrete, which is perfectly correct, that did not happen till the Stuarts, but so many get it wrong, ever the statue at Bannockburn is wrong) He was at one piont asked to carry The Saltire and then placed on a stool out of harms way while battle commenced. He promptly fell of the stool... I suspect you had to be there.!! |
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While I don't approve, as a rule of children's photies on the web, I thought this one sufficiantly protected his ID enough to show you. His face was covered in rust when he took the chain mail off. These were the armour of nobles, he would have had a " man" to clean his armour with sand. |
My Son | |
doocot | | This is the inside of a doocot, there is a picture of the outside of one on the Aberdour page. Its an amazing palce to be in, very sixties and impossible to photograph in any way that makes sense. This was the best I could doooo (-; It was used for keeping pigeons ( or doos as they are called here) providing eggs and pigeon for the table. |
| This was a very pretty castle, I particularly loved the little secret passage ways you suddenely happen upon, as the one at the top pf the page demonstrates. However this castle was owned by the Ruthven family of Huntingtower, and I have a page dedicated to that family and their history already, if you care to check out the history section of this site |
Dirleton Castle
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My old guest buik
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