Pike and Shot Events Ltd

06/08/2024

And some more coverage from the BBC

06/08/2024

A little bit of background to Simon de Montford

On a Day Like Today ~ August 4, 1265. Simon de Montfort, 6th Earl of Leicester, a 2x great grandson of King Henry I, died.

Simon was born circa 1208 in Montfort-l'Amaury, France as the second child and eldest son of Simon de Montfort, 5th Earl of Leicester and his wife Alix de Montmorency. With the irrevocable loss of Normandy, King John refused to allow Simon's father to succeed to the earldom of Leicester and instead placed the estates and title into the hands of Montfort senior's cousin Ranulf, the Earl of Chester.

Simon arrived in England in 1229, with some education but no knowledge of English, and received a sympathetic hearing from King Henry III. However, Henry III was in no position to confront the powerful Earl of Chester, so Simon approached the older, childless man himself and convinced him to cede him the earldom. It would take another nine years before Henry III formally invested Simon with the title Earl of Leicester.

In early January 1238 Simon married Eleanor of England, daughter of King John. Eleanor had been previously married and widowed in 1231. It is said that Simon was attracted to Eleanor's beauty and elegance as well as her wealth and high birth. They fell in love and married secretly at the King's chapel in Westminster Palace. The marriage was controversial because of Eleanor had sworn an oath several years before in the presence of the Archbishop of Canterbury to remain chaste in her widowhood. The marriage produced 7 children, 6 of which survived into adulthood.

Shortly after the birth of the future King Edward I, there was a falling out between Simon and King Henry III. Simon owed a great sum of money to Thomas II of Savoy, uncle of the Queen Consort and named Henry III as security for his repayment. Henry III evidently had not approved this and was enraged when he discovered that Simon had used his name.

In early August 1239 Henry III is reported to have confronted Simon and threatened to imprison him in the Tower of London. "You seduced my sister", Henry III said, "and when I discovered this, I gave her to you, against my will, to avoid scandal." Simon and Eleanor fled to France to escape Henry's wrath.

Simon then led the baronial opposition to the rule of King Henry III of England, which culminated in the Second Barons' War. Following his initial victories over royal forces, he became de facto ruler of the country, and played a major role in the constitutional development of England. During his rule, Simon called two famous parliaments. The first stripped the King of unlimited authority, while the second included ordinary citizens from the towns. For this reason, Simon is regarded today as one of the progenitors of modern parliamentary democracy.

As Earl of Leicester Simon expelled Jews and as he became de facto ruler of England he also cancelled debts owed to Jews through violent seizures of records. Simon's party massacred the Jews of London, Worcester and Derby, killing scores of Jews from Wi******er to Lincoln.

The reaction against Simon's government was not entirely popular. The Welsh Marcher Lords were friends and allies of the future Edward I and they rallied around his opposition. The final nail was the defection of Gilbert de Clare, the Earl of Gloucester, the most powerful baron and Simon's ally at Lewes. Clare had grown resentful of Simon's fame and growing power. When he and his brother Thomas fell out with Simon's sons Henry, Simon the Younger, and Guy, they deserted the reforming cause and joined Edward.

Though boosted by Welsh infantry sent by Montfort's ally Llywelyn ap Gruffudd, Simon's forces were severely depleted. On this day in 1265 an ominous black cloud hung over the field during the Battle of Evesham as Simon led his army in a desperate uphill charge against superior forces. Before the battle, the future Edward I had appointed a twelve-man death squad to stalk the battlefield, their sole aim being to find Simon and cut him down. Simon was hemmed in; Roger Mortimer killed Simon by stabbing him in the neck with a lance. His last words were said to have been "Thank God".

Simon's body as mutilated in a frenzy by the royalists. News reached the mayor and sheriffs of London that "the head of the earl of Leicester ... was severed from his body, and his testicles cut off and hung on either side of his nose". In such guise the head was sent to Wigmore Castle by Roger Mortimer, 1st Baron Mortimer, as a gift to his wife. His hands and feet were also cut off and sent to diverse places to enemies of his as a great mark of dishonor to the deceased.

Whatever remains could be found were buried before the altar of Evesham Abbey church by the canons. The grave was visited as holy ground by many commoners until Henry III caught wind of it. He declared that Simon deserved no spot-on holy ground and had his remains reburied in another "secret" location, probably in the crypt.

Groom's Family sequence:
#1
HM King Henry I (2x Great Grandfather)
Alice FitzRoy (Great Grandmother)
Bouchard V de Montmorency (Grandfather)
Alix de Montmorency (Mother)

Shared from History & Lives of the British Royals
https://www.facebook.com/History-Lives-of-the-British-Royals-122845112442353/

02/08/2024

For all those coming to Evesham this weekend.

30/07/2024

We are helping to manage the event, so please come and support this special 13th Century event on the first weekend in August!

01/07/2024

Great to catch up with these guys last weekend!

14/06/2024

Come and spend a day out in History this August...

17/04/2024

Hop on a free Heritage Bus from Bromsgrove Train Station up to the International Living History Festival this weekend 20 & 21 April at Avoncroft Museum.

Transport Museum Wythall will be kindly running the return service, see the timetable here or on our website where you can also pre book your tickets

https://avoncroft.org.uk/product/international-living-history-festival-2024

You can also take a free return bus ride from the museum.

17/04/2024

Don’t forget we are a site. Well behaved dogs on leads are welcome to visit the site whenever we are open. If they’re lucky they may even get offered a dog biscuit in the visitor welcome centre!

Image: The Warwicks14-18 at ILHF 2023

17/04/2024

Lots going on at Avoncroft this weekend

The Exiles will be displaying Fiores martial art in full period kit (including armour) this weekend at of historical buildings.

If you're in the area Come to see us and all the other wonderful groups and traders that will be there too.

17/04/2024

Let the train & bus take the strain to get to Avoncroft this weekend

Hop on a free Heritage Bus from Bromsgrove Train Station up to the International Living History Festival this weekend 20 & 21 April at Avoncroft Museum.

Transport Museum Wythall will be kindly running the return service, see the timetable here or on our website where you can also pre book your tickets

https://avoncroft.org.uk/product/international-living-history-festival-2024

You can also take a free return bus ride from the museum.

17/04/2024

Check out the Social side of history too this coming weekend at Avoncroft

15/04/2024

Just about in bowshot of Bromsgrove for the International Living History Festival this coming weekend. Hope to see you there...

15/04/2024

Hi Everyone, Just a quick message to let both participants and visitors know we had a special meeting today about the condition of the Avoncroft site – WE HAVE A “GREEN LIGHT” for…

15/04/2024

See it all this coming weekend at Avoncroft International Living History Festival

15/04/2024

Public transport of a historical kind ready to shuttle between the site & the railway station at Avoncroft International Living History Festival

For those travelling to the International Living History Festival this weekend, thanks to a partnership with Transport Museum Wythall and Worcester Community Rail Partnership we are delighted to be providing a FREE Heritage shuttle bus between Bromsgrove train station and Avoncroft Museum

15/03/2024

A great result - award winning Battle of Evesham! Proud to be part of the delivery team!

We won - thanks to all who voted 🛡️⚔️👍

15/03/2024

Another busy Friday at this Spring Artisan and Reenactors Artisans and Reenactors Market
All done for today, back open again on Saturday 16th at 10am to 5pm!

21/02/2024

Advanced tickets now available

10/01/2024

Well, that's the Festive break over and finished for another 349 days!
Time to sort out the 2024 season (O.M.G.), and look to getting my VaT report sorted for Quarter 3......

22/11/2023

This short promotional video was filmed at the 2022 and 2023 Chalke Valley History Festival. Please check it out, and let us know if this interests you.
https://vimeo.com/872259820

Send a message to learn more

21/11/2023

A great opportunity to do some Christmas shopping and enjoy historic Evesham this coming weekend. Details below

EVESHAM CHRISTMAS ARTISAN FAYRE
Evesham Market Square & Evesham Church Grounds
Sat 25th 10am-9pm
Sun 26th 10am-4pm

FREE ENTRY – ALL WELCOME

Live music including: Phil Capaldi, St Egwins School Choir, The Rock Orchestra, EODS, The Star Band, Evesham Community Choir, Music Anon, Merrie Morgana Dance, solo performances from Clive Millward, and instrumentalists Georgina, and Duncan.

The Ragged Victorians - "The great unwashed" street performers and The House of the Twin Tailed Lion re-eanctment group will be at the market throughout to educate and entertain you.

Come and browse the 70+ unusual arts and crafts stalls, sample mulled mead and cider or try alcoholic hot chocolate.

There will be plenty of gift for all ages, from all ages on show in the heart of historic Evesham.

This is a fundraising event to help finance the self-funded Battle of Evesham festival. Come and have a great weekend, so you can have another one in August. ⚔🛡🎅
Evesham Christmas Artisan Fayre
Visit Worcestershire Worcestershire's Vale & Spa Visit Worcestershire Business Community Worcester News Worcestershire County Council Worcestershire Noticeboard Visit Evesham Evesham The Almonry Evesham The House of the Twin Tailed Lion Evesham UK National Events Calendar

18/11/2023

This is a great bit of history filmed during the Chalke Valley History Festival , which we manage the Living History for the sponsors. If you're interested in hosting a 1940's or Multiperiod History Festival, please check out our website at www.pikeandshot.com

17/06/2023

Chalke Valley History Festival 2023 - the set up begins! First tent - HQ, aka "Mash 4077th Swamp"

12/04/2023

Our next event is happening in 2 days at Avoncroft Museum. Check out this short video impression from last year.

It’s time…..to Time Travel! as Avoncroft Museum will come to life as over 40 of the best in Living History re-enactment groups set up over 40 camps in and ar...

10/04/2023

Meet our wedding group. From left to right (as you view) we have Georgina (aka "Bob"), my best man, me, and my beautiful wife, and George (Ruth's youngest son, who gave his Mum away) then my 2 daughters, Immy & Lucy in the front. Great piccy, thanks Pat.

18/03/2023

Day 2 of the Artisans and Reenactors Market. Lots of networking for our 2023 Events program. Please drop by our stand between 10am and 5pm today to find out more about our plans for this year, and beyond.

17/03/2023

An update on international participation for the 2023 Festival

Battle of Evesham – The Italians are Coming.

As the Battle of Evesham festival grows year on year, we are getting interest in our medieval events from overseas. We already have traders travelling from Germany, Ireland and Scotland and visitors from Australia and the USA – now a group of Italian reenactors are making the long road-trip from Pisa in Italy.

Thirteenth Century Italian re-enactors, Pisa Ghibellina (pictured) are sending some of their group to take part in the re-enactment in the Royal Army. Hopefully they will enjoy participating in England’s second largest medieval battle re-enactment and bring more along next year.

They are being sponsored by Battle of Evesham Artisan Gelato trader and Italian restaurant, Flavours Evesham – located on High Street opposite the main Evesham Post Office.

Let’s welcome the Italians – unless you’re on the Rebel Army side of course ⚔️🛡👍

Come and say hello at Artisans and Reenactors Market where we have a Battle of Evesham stand, near the cafe. Find out about the Medieval Market in May and the Festival in August.

Battle of Evesham Worcestershire's Vale & Spa Artisans and Reenactors Market

16/03/2023

If you are visiting the Artisans and Reenactors Market this weekend, drop by and find out our plans for 2023 and beyond