Welcome to Keele University's Re-enactment and Living History Society!

We are a society for students interested in medieval history, historical crafts and reenactment. We work closely with the local Stoke group of Historia Normannis, which is a separate organisation from the university society. The two groups work alongside each other, with members of HN Stoke supporting some of our society activities and our student members having the opportunity to take part in HN Stoke's reenactment activities. This means our members can get involved in both the student society's activities and wider reenactment activities if they want to.

A large part of our society is historical craft, mainly focusing on the 11th to 12th centuries. Our craft sessions let members try sewing, leatherworking, and working with chainmaille. To make their own history-inspired clothing or other items.  You don't need any previous experience, and members are welcome whether they're interested in making historical kit, learning traditional crafts, getting involved with reenactment, or simply coming along for the social side. Our scheduled sessions normally run on Wednesdays from 7-10 pm in meeting rooms 1 & 2 in the SU. Members of the local reenactment group also attend to share their experience and teach members new skills. We also run a craft session each Tuesday at Staffordshire University in the Mellor Building, which you can reach on the 25 bus (https://maps.apreach7ov9yHCePWxQpHNi9).

For those interested in the reenactment side, the Historia Normannis Stoke group runs reenactment combat training separately from the university society, and our student members are welcome to take part. Training usually runs every Sunday from 11 am to 4 pm, weather permitting. New members are welcome year-round.

Training takes place down at the field near the Sneyd Arms in Keele Village (https://goo.gl/maps/MYUM526FeYx). Facing towards the road down Lindsay, just turn right, walk past Holly Cross and the Oaks, and within 10 minutes you'll see the field and the village beyond it.

In preparation for the summer show season, Historia normannis also has 2 regional training sessions, where all reenactment groups from North Mercia (our group region) come together at Markeeten Park (Derby) for one massive training session. There is also a group-wide trip to the TORM and ARM reenactment markets (also 2 times per year), where you can purchase new materials for any medieval craft you might wish to pursue, gather new supplies or materials for combat, or buy items for the summer shows.

All of this builds up to the summer show season, where people come together from across the country for living history shows and mock battles that can be thousands strong. During select weekends, this includes combat displays and tournaments for the public, as well as displays of different crafts and projects you can look at and maybe even try from different groups. Our members can take part in these summer shows through Historia Normannis. You do not have to join us in these summer shows, but it is encouraged, as it is a lot of fun and is a great way to meet lots of new people and learn the history and, all in all, to have a bit of fun.

For more information and to stay up to date with events and sessions, please join our Discord at:https://discord.com/invite/YEZgx4bZzE