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Sealed Knot Website

Where and Who We Recruit

Who can take part?

Anyone can join the regiment, but you have to be over 16 years of age to go onto the battlefield.  However if you are under 16 there is still plenty to do.  Amongst our members are families and individuals, young and the not quite as young.  All arms are open to both sexes to try.  With dozens of different roles to choose, there is something for everyone.

If you like competition and physical exertion, try fighting with the pike block. If you are more gregarious then have a go at living history. You don't have to be into history to join, but you will find that as you become involved you will want to know more about the period and the characters who fought for their lives 360 years ago.

Above all you need a sense of open minded fun.  This is a hobby and we enjoy ourselves both on and off the field of battle.

Where do we recruit?

Our main concentration of members are in Hampshire, Berkshire, Dorset and Cheshire but we have members all over England.  As well as the areas mentioned below, we also have members in Sheffield, Peterborough, Plymouth, London, Reading, Portsmouth and Chichester.

When and Where We Meet

The Battles

Battles, skirmishes and living histories (commonly known as musters) take place throughout the year all over the UK and also sometimes on the continent and in the USA.  They can vary in size from 20 to 2,000 combatants. The regiment goes to most events and also puts on local regimental events but it is up to you which you attend.

Below is a map showing some of the musters over the past few years:

The Training

Training in the use of pike, musket, sword and pole arms is carried out at musters and before the monthly pub meetings.

In Hampshire we have the use of the Bloody Barn at Basing House on alternate Fridays (7:30pm) throughout the winter, spring and autumn.

When and Where we Meet - The Social Side

Apart from the battles and the training there is also a very active social life within the Knot.

Musters

At most musters the Sealed Knot site includes an SK only beer tent and a traders row.  Beer tents often have extended hours and a good range of beers and larger.  Sometimes sponsors will put on a beer festival or a live band in conjunction with the muster.

If you go off-site at a major muster you will find that the pubs locally are teeming with Sealed Knot members giving the area a flavour all of its own.  On sites where fires are allowed they will burn on into the night for those who still have not had enough partying!

The Meetings

Local meetings are held monthly to help people stay in touch with what is going on and to socialise with one another.  These are particularly useful over the winter months when events are less common. (Opposite) members of the regiment donate £1,000 to St Michael's Hospice from a sponsored march from Aldermaston to Basing House.

Monthly pub meetings are held in Old Basing, (Hampshire) and Warrington (Cheshire) throughout the winter when there are no Musters on.

Old Basing - First Friday of the month from 9pm at the Millstone, Bartons Lane, Old Basing, Nr Basingstoke, (and from 7:30pm in the "Bloody Barn" for training).

Warrington - First Friday of the month at the Penketh and Sanky Club, Warrington Road, Penketh.

Bournemouth/Wimbourne - To be arranged.

Banquets

When the muster season ends (typically around the beginning of October), the banquet season begins!  A growing number of regiments put on banquets over the winter and they are usually open to anyone with the price of a ticket!

Traders Fairs

Traders fairs are usually held in the spring and autumn and the number of stalls can run into three figures.   They are multi-period events and so give an opportunity to see what other period groups are producing.

Would you like to know more? You can contact Keith Allmark for more information.