Archive for August, 2014
The Siege of Dover Castle – Event Timings
Posted by harringtoncompanye in Events on August 19, 2014
This bank holiday weekend see’s the Companye besieging the mighty Dover Castle – the Guardian of England – with the Medieval Siege Society. If you’d like to know what’s going on then the timings are below (MSS Activities in bold):
ARENA DISPLAYS
(All activities to take place on the green in front of the Great Tower unless otherwise stated)
10.30am Medieval merriment with musicians with Blast from the Past
11.00am The Siege is Set – Gunners and archers shoot from the battlement
11:30am Kiddies Bil Drill – Recruit the locals
11:30am Join Zooted for danger, skill and laughs a plenty in their Jester Show (located at Peverell’s Lawn)
12:00pm Skirmish – A messenger is captured! Gunners shoot from the battlements, work on the sap
12.30pm More musical delight with medieval minstrels, Blast from the Past
1:00pm Archery duel at the Butts / Champions on the Green
1.30pm Join Zooted for danger, skill and laughs a plenty in their Jester Show (located at Peverell’s Lawn, no.X on map)
2.00pm Sappers in Action
2:30pm Muster for main Battle
3:00 Main battle – gunners, archery, MAA, a battering ram and the burning of the treb
4.30pm Your last chance to listen to the sweet sounds of Blast from the Past
5:00pm Event Ends
The Verdun Chapel at Brixworth Church
Posted by harringtoncompanye in Harrington Family History on August 5, 2014
All Saints, Brixworth is a building of truly international importance. It has been described as the ‘finest seventh century building north of the alps’ – and its construction remains an enigma.
All Saints features a medieval annex to the 7th Century main fabric, known as the Lady Chapel – it is still used for early morning Sunday services. Sir John de Verdun (d1274) is thought to have been responsible for the building of the Verdun Chapel, and his tomb survives.
When in the fifteenth century the Harrington’s came into possession of the Manor of Brixworth, the church came under their control – and features in the lives of the Harringtons born in the village.
Sir Richard Harrington (born c.1399 – died 17 Aug 1462) marries the Verdun heiress to the Wolfage Manor estates, and adopts the White Lion Rampant from the Verdun line onto his livery, though he is buried up north in the Friary Church in Lancaster.
His son, Sir William (Born c. 1425 at Wolfage Manor – died 14 Aug 1488 aged ~63) is not recorded as buried in the Friary at Lancaster, and is suspected as being buried in All Saints, Brixworth. His son and heir Sir James Harrington was definitely entombed at All Saints, his will states this, and his tomb was recorded by Thomas of Guilsborough in the following century – though it does not seem to have survived the reformation.
Whilst the tomb of Sir James has not survived, the stained glass window does carry a connection to the Harringtons – the White Lion Rampant of the Verdun line is displayed on the east window above the Chapel Altar.
Some recent research supplied by Philip Beddows suggests a different theory for the adoption of the Chess Rook Gules on the Harrington Livery. Philip theorises that the silver lion rampant with the chess rook is from the arms of his wife’s ancestor, Sir Thomas de Verdon, who appeared with his brother Sir John de Verdon at the great Tournament gatherings at Stepney in 1308 and Dunstable in 1313. See from a transcription from the Battle Abbey Roll that appears on this webpage:
20th August – Northampton Social Meeting
Posted by harringtoncompanye in Social on August 1, 2014
What’s that you say? A social meet up of the Sir William Harrington’s most splendid Companye in a friendly pub environment? Good Lord, we can’t repel excitement of that magnitude!
If you are interested in getting involved in Medieval Re-enactment and fancy learning more about the Society then join us on Wednesday 20th August at the Olde England in Northampton from 19:30 onwards. Or maybe you’re a re-enactment veteran and just fancy a few jars and some good company.
We’ll have a table reserved and should be easily recognised by Harrington Companye badges (ask at the bar if you can’t find us, they know and love us) and you can find out everything you need to know. There’s no such as a daft question* so ask away and we’ll do our best to ease you into the hobby and brief you on the upcoming events.
See you there!
*Note: We are however still working on answering “If you are travelling in a Ford Cortina at the Speed of Light and you turn the headlights on – what happens?”