Step back in time

to a tournament from the 14th Century, recreating the thrilling combat between knights and squires. Be entertained as the lords and ladies dance, see how the traditional English longbow dominated the Hundred Years War. All set to a medieval reenactment of living history.

What we do

Archery Display

Archers show how they they shot the English longbow in victories such as Crecy, Poitiers and Agincourt. See how accurate the yew longbow is and how quickly they can loose arrows at their enemies. A stunning display of archery to entertain all.

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A line of Archers of the Medieval Combat Society give a display of archery

Two knights in armour and bright heraldry battle each other in a knights tournament

Combat Tournament

In war these knights led the men at arms in battle, in peace they take part in tournaments to show their skills. Wearing armour and wielding a variety of weapons and shields. An amazing display of feats of arms of knights in battle.

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Dancing Display

The lords, ladies and good folk enjoy performing displays of medieval dance, showing the range of dances popular in the medieval period set to music used throughout medieval Europe.

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A medieval dance display to the public by the Medieval Combat Society

An archer from the Medieval combat society meets king Charles III

Who are the Medieval Combat Society

The society is run by the members for the members who have fun taking part in reenactment shows in the UK and further afield. Members come from all walks of life and enjoy different aspects from living history displays through to fighting with sword, axes and maces, or it may be the archery, dancing or banqueting.

Where to see us

We perform at a variety of venues, from castles, historic manor houses, battlefields to fetes, carnivals, schools, weddings, see below for events.

Events

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Book Us For

Displays

Archery, combat, dancing, Living history, have-a-go archery, set to a display of living history and medieval tents.

Entertaining

More than just a display, we engage with the crowd to have them cheer for their favourite knight or boo the bad.

Experience

We practice all the off season and have many years of experience in hundreds of bookings, and tailor each show to its setting.

Join the Medieval Combat Society

Join Us For

Medieval Archery

Beginner or experienced archer, you are welcome to shoot in the displays, plus our own fun events.

Fight as a Knight

Start the journey as a squire before working up to knighthood or as an experienced knight earn your spurs in the society.

Learn Medieval Dance

Members enjoy the medieval dancing and practice to ensure that they are ready for public displays. You can be a noble through to a peasant, the dances go through a variety of types, which everyone joins in the fun.

Living History

Have or want to learn a craft or simply want to enjoy the event, banquets and social company, then join us.

King Edward III escorts his wife Wueen Philippa of Hainault onto te tournament field

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Medieval Combat Society

The Medieval Combat Society (MCS) is a 14th Century Re-enactment Group, active since the 1970's. Welcome to the Medieval Combat Society Facebook page.

Medieval Combat Society

5 days ago

14 August 1369: Death of Queen Philippa. She died at Windsor Castle at the age of approximately 55. The historian Froissart wrote that "the most gentle Queen, most liberal, and most courteous that ever was Queen in her days" had passed. … See MoreSee Less

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Medieval Combat Society

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14 August 1347 – Sir Ralph, Lord Stafford (Order of the Garter Founder #5) is appointed as one of the chief marshals of the English army to oversee the evacuation of the French population from Calais. … See MoreSee Less

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Medieval Combat Society

5 days ago

14 August 1385 – Battle of Aljubarrota. While it was a Portuguese-Castilian battle, the English longbowmen helped crush a superior Castillian force and João I of Portugal secured independence from Castile saving Portugal from being annexed by Castille. Dom Nuno Álvares Pereira (known as the Holy Constable) was the brilliant military mastermind behind Portugal's legendary victory against the Crown of Castile. Rather than letting the capital city of Lisbon face another grueling Castilian siege, Nuno Álvares Pereira convinced the King to take the initiative and confront the invaders in the field. His tactical execution at Aljubarrota revolutionized medieval Iberian warfare. Nuno carefully selected a hilly, bottlenecked battlefield flanked by natural streams near Alcobaça. This compressed the geography, nullified Castile's massive numerical advantage, and forced their heavy cavalry to attack on a dangerously narrow front. Heavily influenced by successful English tactics from the Hundred Years' War, Nuno ordered his men to construct a complex network of hidden defensive ditches, pits, and caltrops (interlocking trenches) ahead of the vanguard. He ordered the Portuguese knights to dismount and fight on foot alongside common infantry. When the overconfident Castilian cavalry charged, they stumbled into the hidden trenches and were decimated by defensive infantry squares and enfilading missile fire from English archers on the flanks. It’s worth noting that this victory directly led to the Treaty of Windsor on 9 May 1386.www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-_PxYYfdK4www.youtube.com/watch?v=jowtiKZ2Qnw … See MoreSee Less

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Medieval Combat Society

5 days ago

14 August 1352: Battle of Mauron. The English, led by Sir Walter Bentley, formed up on a hilltop, protected by a ditch and a hedge, with the men-at-arms dismounted in the centre with archers on both flanks. The French commanded by Guy de Nesle, who was the the defeated commander at Taillebourg on 8 April 1351, and repeated his tactics from that battle having cavalry attempt to outflank the English archers and dismounting the main bulk of his forces.The French attack on foot on the left wing of the English army had been defeated, and the main French attack struggled up the steep hill, after which they were unable to dislodge the English line. The French attack on the English right was successful, and the English archers fled, but the French cavalry failed to attack the main English force. The English counter attacked and the French were thrown back. Once in retreat, the battle turned into a disaster for the French, with Guy de Nesle killed along with a large number of his knights.www.youtube.com/watch?v=NF5inu7a2Kc … See MoreSee Less

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Medieval Combat Society

6 days ago

13 August 1346: The Crossing of the Seine. Edward III’s engineers performed a brilliant feat of military engineering by repairing the broken bridge at Poissy under fire. This allowed the English army to cross the Seine and move toward the final confrontation at Crécy. … See MoreSee Less

Crécy 1346: The Battle That Proved Discipline Beats Nobility| Hundred Years War

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In August 1346, the Battle of Crecy changed military history foreve…

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