Vikings of Middle England

Vikings of Middle England (also known as Tÿrslið) is a Viking re-enactment and living history group based in Leicester, UK. They portray through historical costume and activities the people who lived, travelled to and invaded Britain in the Viking-Age. Tÿrslið's aim is to entertain and educate an audience using a mix of drama, pageant, special effects, historical context, demonstration and audience participation.[1] Tÿrslið are one of the few groups to display Icelandic Horses in a Viking-Age presentation, with horses and riders from Oakfield Icelandic Horses joining them at events.[2] As well as arena-displays, Vikings of Middle England erect a Living History encampment where members demonstrate Viking-age crafts such as blacksmithing[3] or where the audience can have a go at certain activities such as coin-striking. The organisation once owned a scale replica Longship called Ratatosk.[4]

Vikings of Middle England
Founded1991 (1991)
FocusHistorical reenactment, Viking reenactment, living history
Location
Area served
United Kingdom
Members
60-100
Websitevikingsof.me

Vikings of Middle England perform at events throughout the UK, including at places of historical interest such as Rockingham Castle,[5][6] carnivals,[7] festivals[8][9] and local events,[10] and also at other visitor attractions such as Conkers.[11] Vikings of Middle England also provide displays and resources for education, at schools and for seminars. The organisation has lent expertise and kit to researchers for books,[12][13][14] websites,[15] TV and film productions, and conferences while also publishing articles on their website suitable for UK Key Stage 2 pupils.

Vikings of Middle England's membership is mostly based in the city of Leicester. However, some members hail from the surrounding East Midlands[16] and further afield. A number of other Viking re-enactment groups have been started by former members.[17]


Notable Members, Achievements and Performances
  • Members performed in vignettes for the TV show Viking Warrior Women (Wild Blue Media for National Geographic, 2019)
  • Members appeared on the TV gameshow The Crystal Maze in 2018[18][19]
  • The group is featured heavily in 'Dkfindout! Vikings' Published in 2018,[20] showing a wide range of reproduction artefacts, costumes and tools.
  • Member and Blacksmith Jason Green, and member Alan Ball appeared in the BBC's 'From Ice to Fire: The Incredible Science of Temperature' Episode 3 'Playing with Fire' (2018). Jason explained the heating and cooling processes of historical ironworking while dressed in Viking Age clothing and using Viking-Age replica tool (the same set that appears in the aforementioned DKFindout! Vikings" book).
  • Members of the group appeared in the British Museum’s Vikings Live[21] cinema broadcast in 2014 to launch the Vikings: Life and Legend exhibition.
  • Member Peter Holyoake starred in the Kerry Food's 'Walls! Bring it On Britain!' advertising campaign in 2010.[22] Footage from the groups re-enactment at Hemsby Viking Festival 2010 is used in the ad.
  • Dr. Gareth Williams, Curator of Early Medieval Coins at the British Museum[23] is a former member, and notes his experience in online articles[24][25] and his published work.[26]
  • The author Tim Moore spent time with Vikings Of Middle England who were a subject for his book I Believe In Yesterday.[27]
  • Performed in BBC's 'Blood of the Vikings' mini series (2001).
  • Performed in 'Weapons that Made Britain' Episode 4 Shield (Lion TV for Channel 4, 2004).
  • Performed in 'Warrior Queen — Boudica' (Indigo Films for History Channel, 2005).
  • Performed in the music video for 'Assessment' by the Beta Band.
  • Performed in 'Faintheart' (Vertigo Films, 2008), a feature film about a Viking Re-enactor. The film was the result of a competition by MySpace (along with Film4 and Vertigo Films), where the director Vito Rocco won,[28] with the help of the group in his pitch video 'Votes for Vito'.[29]
  • Performed in 'Born of Hope' (Actors at Work Production, 2009).[30]
  • Vikings of Middle England are one of eight groups mentioned in Writing History 7-11: Historical writing in different genres for children to understand what is meant by reconstruction, an activity for the National Curriculum for History (DfE 2013).[31][32]

Reviews
  • Spectator Damien Brook described an event at Tutbury Castle in May 2004, saying 'Once again, Vikings of Middle England had demonstrated their professionalism and their ability to educate, entertain and thrill a crowd of two to three thousand people with yet another quality performance of frighteningly realistic combat and evocative drama. Their reputation can only be enhanced by this performance. This was staggeringly good entertainment.’[33]
  • Jonathon Davies summarising in Skirmish Magazine in 2010 said 'A number of points impressed me over the weekend. The first is how privileged we are to have and to work at such a beautiful site, and with a public that was both numerous and highly appreciative. Next is the variety of presentation styles represented by the different groups, which complemented each other over the weekend. There were the fighting groups that put on a tremendous show for the public in the arena, there were the re-enactors who acted with enthusiasm and wit and then there were the specialists; highly knowledge-able about the period and with the ability to communicate their passion and understanding.'[34]
  • The group was reviewed and included in the 'Top Ten Re-Enactments for Family' by BBC CountryFile Magazine.[35]

References
  1. "Official Website"
  2. Foot, Nick (31 May 2019). "INTRODUCING ICELANDIC HORSES". Oakfield Icelandic Horses. Retrieved 17 September 2020. This means that from time to time we are asked to allow our horses to be used in historical reenactments. We join the Vikings of Middle England as often as we can. We train and do displays at our spring show (1st Weekend in May) and usually visit Rockingham Castle on the August Bank Holiday.
  3. Green, Jason. "Wieland Forge - Historical ironwork, weapons, domestic wares". Retrieved 18 September 2020. When away with Vikings of Middle England I also do demonstrations on early medieval blacksmithing. Using a charcoal forge and bellow I create knife blades, arrowheads, fire strikers and other items.
  4. Yaqoob, Janine (14 August 2009). "Viking boat sets up home in garden of Hesketh Bank family". Southport Visiter. Archived from the original on 6 April 2012. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
  5. Scott, Lisa. "Vikings took to battle at Rockingham Castle". Northampton Life Magazine. Retrieved 17 September 2020. Castle owner, James Saunders-Watson said: "We've been welcoming the Vikings of Middle England at Rockingham for 24 years, and this year we had the biggest ever turnout – with over 60 warriors on our battlefields. Archery and popular storytellers also added to the excitement and atmosphere, and once again we're delighted to have put on such an entertaining and enjoyable event.
  6. Smith, Jonathan. "Things to do: The Vikings of Middle England take to the battlefields at Rockingham Castle". Rutland and Stamford Mercury. Retrieved 17 September 2020. The Vikings of Middle England will take to the battlefields at Rockingham Castle
  7. Fletcher, Tim (16 March 2011). "Viking invaders to swap longboats for narrowboats". Burton Mail. Archived from the original on 17 March 2011. The Vikings of Middle England are the star attraction at this year's Moira Canal Festival, which is expected once again to attract hundreds of visitors to the village.
  8. Bokros, Tom (19 September 2018). "Viking village to be created at Elvaston Castle". Derbyshire Live. Derby Telegraph. Retrieved 17 September 2020. It's all part of Derbyshire County Council's Woodland Festival
  9. "Viking skirmishes, owls and a giant puppet back at Derbyshire Woodland Festival". Derbyshire County Council. 9 September 2019. Archived from the original on 24 August 2020. The Vikings and Arbor were very popular last year so it's good to have them back again.
  10. "Vikings raid the Record Office!". Leicestershire Museums. 7 July 2011. Archived from the original on 22 April 2012. Vikings of Middle England re-enactment group will be helping to launch Vikings In Leicestershire, which features newly-recovered Viking artefacts from the local area, including sword pommels, brooches and treasure.
  11. "Viking England". Visit Conkers. Archived from the original on 5 May 2011.
  12. Annable, F.K.; Eagles, B.N. (19 April 2010). "The Grave Goods: Discussion of selected types". The Anglo-Saxon Cemetery at Blacknall Field, Pewsey, Wiltshire (Monograph). Wiltshire Archaeology & Natural History Society. p. 41. ISBN 978-0947723149. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
  13. Grant, Reg (1 June 2009). Soldier. London: Dorling Kindersley. p. 330. ISBN 978-1405344203.
  14. Grant, Reg (2 May 2011). History of Britain and Ireland. London: Dorling Kindersley. p. 398. ISBN 978-1405364287. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
  15. "In the Footsteps of Ivarr the Boneless" by Mick Baker, drawn from the Channel 4 series and a feature by Geoffrey van Leeuwen, 30 November 2003
  16. "Town couple are 'Vikings'". Loughborough Echo. 15 January 2009. Retrieved 17 September 2020. ...has spent 13 years working his way through the ranks of the Vikings Of Middle England to become the head of combat at the Leicester re-enactment group.
  17. "New warriors sought by Tintagel re-enactment group". The Holsworthy Post. Tindle Newspapers Ltd. 1 February 2017. Retrieved 17 September 2020. As Emma got older, she joined a local group in Leicester, where she formerly lived, called Vikings of Middle England. "When I moved to Cornwall, the only thing that I missed from Leicestershire was the re-enactment. What's a girl to do? I know — I shall build my own group"
  18. The Crystal Maze, Season 10, Episode 5, The Vikings, 2018, Channel 4, 17 August 2018
  19. "The Crystal Maze: The Vikings". IMDB. 17 August 2018. Retrieved 17 September 2020. Testosterone-fueled [sic] members of the "Vikings of Middle England" reenactment group take on the challenges of The Crystal Maze.
  20. Steele, Phillip (4 September 2018). Dkfindout! Vikings. London: DK Publishing (Dorling Kindersley). p. 64. ISBN 978-1465471208. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
  21. Vikings: Live at the British Museum (2014) directed by John Rooney, British Museum. Available online at https://www.britishmuseum.org/vikings-live Retrieved 18 September 2020
  22. "Bring it On Vikings", YouTube
  23. "Gareth Williams, British Museum Biography"
  24. Williams, Gareth; Webster, Leslie (17 February 2011). "The Cuerdale Hoard". BBC History. BBC. Retrieved 17 September 2020. He is also a member of the re-enactment/living history group Vikings of Middle England.
  25. Williams, Gareth (17 February 2011). "Eric Bloodaxe". BBC History. BBC. Retrieved 17 September 2020. He is also a member of the re-enactment/living history group Vikings of Middle England.
  26. Williams, Gareth; Cooke, Barrie J., eds. (23 December 2015). Coinage And History in the North Sea World, C. AD 500-1250: Essays in Honour of Marion Archibald (Hardback). Boston: Brill. p. 100. ISBN 978-90-04-14777-5. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
  27. Moore, Tim (26 December 2008). I Believe In Yesterday: My Adventures in Living History. London: Random House. ISBN 978-1407021034.
  28. Machel, Ben (24 January 2009). "Vito Rocco's Faintheart: the first people power film". The Times. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
  29. "Vitto Rocco's MySpace film pitch", Faintheart (2008) [DVD], Directed by Vito Rocco. UK: Vertigo Films
  30. Maddison, Kate. "March 2009". Born of Hope - Newsletter. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
  31. Cooper, Hilary, ed. (5 June 2014). Writing History 7-11: Historical writing in different genres. Routledge. p. 68. ISBN 9781317664512. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
  32. Department for Education (September 2013). "History programmes of study: key stages 1 and 2" (PDF). Gov.uk. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
  33. Brooke, Damien (1 July 2004). Evans, Rachel (ed.). "The Revenge of Ivar the Boneless: A review". Skirmish Living History Magazine. Congleton, UK: Dragoon Publishing (29).
  34. Davies, Jonathon (1 July 2010). Evans, Rachel (ed.). "Medieval Outlaws, Knights and Combat". Skirmish Living History Magazine. Congleton, UK: Dragoon Publishing (81): 25–28. At Rufford, the Vikings - or rather Saxons of Middle England established themselves as the Merrie [sic] Men, in a forest glade welcoming visitors rather than relieve them of their property.
  35. Gay, Charlotte (2 February 2011). "History re-enactments for the family". BBC CountryFile Magazine. Immediate Media Company Ltd. Archived from the original on 12 July 2015. The Vikings of Middle England are a group based in Leicester, and their main aim is to entertain audiences using as accurate representation of history as possible. All members are voluntary, and like most groups offer displays of 'combat' and 'living history'. During a typical fair, or similar event, the Vikings of Middle England set up a multitude of tents, with crafts and different small scenarios throughout the day. The group also has crowd participation activities such as archery stalls, so visitors can really feel a part of the history. During the full battle scenes, many different special effects are surged into action, such as the life size replica Longship, and the use of blood and corpses and sound effects – perhaps not for those who are squimish[sic].

See also
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