Regia Anglorum
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Regia Anglorum (Latin for Kingdoms of the English) was founded in 1986 and has a membership of around six hundred people. It is a medieval reenactment organisation dedicated to the re-creation of the life and times of the peoples who lived in and around the Islands of Britain from the time of Alfred the Great to Richard the Lionheart. They are seen by many as a market leader in re-enactment, maintaining a high profile in public events, film and television work. The group was formed in England but now has a significant presence in Canada and the United States.
Whilst Regia have long since grown away from the hack-and-bash image once associated with re-enactment, military portrayals are still an important facet of their re-creations.
They erect living history encampments at events both major and minor and these two common threads of activity - military and civilian - are the mainstay of their work. The Society funds all its activities from events fees and most weekends from April to October will find their membership re-creating history.
On three acres of their own land in Kent in the south east corner of England, Regia are building a permanent site. It is a full-scale replica of a defended manorial Burgh and the flooded ring ditch and bank surmounted by 220 metres of palisade encloses an acre. Gatehouses are under construction, two small cottages are already in use and the 60 foot long, 30 feet high and wide Longhall will be in use by the end of 2006. Whilst it will certainly be used for educational purposes and public visits, there is no financial imperative that the site should make money. This difference separates it from all other reconstructed sites as the primary purpose of the settlement is to enable Regia's members to experience life in the round in a more complete way than ever before. "The Wychurst Project" is about 60 miles from Central London near Canterbury in Kent.
Regia Anglorum has owned and operated period ship replicas since 1991 and currently have five vessels. The biggest are three similar hulls measuring 47' by 9' in the beam. Drawing about 3', they are suitable for use on inland waters and at sea in coastal waters. A 35' wooden replica is currently undergoing repairs in Scotland and a 20' replica of the Gokstad Faering is in constant use at events throughout the UK in the course of a year. These full scale ship replicas are used extensively at events and for media work.
Regia also has a self-funded husband-and-wife Riding Team trained in the use of horse at re-enactments that supports several public events in a year.
The membership is largely based in the UK where we have some forty active groups across the British Isles, but we also have a rapidly growing US membership.
Publications "Chronicle", the society's house journal. "Clamavi" an occasional newsletter.
Also, "Viking Weapons and Warfare" by J.K. Siddorn available separately from Tempus Publishing.
Regia Anglorum is an Associate Sponsor of the British Museum & are founder members of the National Association of Re-enactment Societies, The Battlefields Trust etc.
J. Kim Siddorn, SEO, Regia Anglorum
