Who we are and what we do
Our public historical reenactment events offer a fun, different, enlightening and interactive day out for all the family.
We portray an early/mid seventeenth century wealthy household, consisting of a gentry family and their staff. From time to time, we may also host various visitors and tradesmen. As a group, we have specialist knowledge of all manner of historical crafts, ranging from refined gentry skills like lute playing and embroidery, to essential trades and skills like wool-dying, carpentry, and cooking. We invite the public to interact with us as we go about our day, and showcase our fascinating materials and skills.
We do not adopt ‘first person’ roles with fake 17th century dialects, or perform amateur dramatics, but instead use modern speech to offer a comprehensible interpretation to visitors of what domestic life would have been like for a well-to-do family, their friends, servants and visiting tradesmen. This means that we interact easily with visitors, which we feel enriches their experience. Each member wears a carefully researched and authentically reconstructed outfit, appropriate to their social standing, and uses museum-quality reproduction artifacts and instruments to enhance the experience for visitors, who are encouraged to handle the items and to ask questions - our group's combined knowledge, skillful accomplishments, and collection of artifacts is considerable!
We portray an early/mid seventeenth century wealthy household, consisting of a gentry family and their staff. From time to time, we may also host various visitors and tradesmen. As a group, we have specialist knowledge of all manner of historical crafts, ranging from refined gentry skills like lute playing and embroidery, to essential trades and skills like wool-dying, carpentry, and cooking. We invite the public to interact with us as we go about our day, and showcase our fascinating materials and skills.
We do not adopt ‘first person’ roles with fake 17th century dialects, or perform amateur dramatics, but instead use modern speech to offer a comprehensible interpretation to visitors of what domestic life would have been like for a well-to-do family, their friends, servants and visiting tradesmen. This means that we interact easily with visitors, which we feel enriches their experience. Each member wears a carefully researched and authentically reconstructed outfit, appropriate to their social standing, and uses museum-quality reproduction artifacts and instruments to enhance the experience for visitors, who are encouraged to handle the items and to ask questions - our group's combined knowledge, skillful accomplishments, and collection of artifacts is considerable!
Our History
As a group, we trace our existence back to the English Civil War 350th anniversary commemorative events that took place between 1992 and 1995, though a number of us trace our first events back to 1989. As members of The English Civil War Society (ECWS) we were tasked with staging interior displays of domestic life for several of these events. Among these were a 1992 display in the 17th century rooms at what is now Wilberforce House in Hull, and a 1995 event within Stanley Palace at Chester. From these beginnings the group took on a life of its own, working first for English Heritage and then at National Trust properties. We initially operated as The Guild of Gentry & Allied Skills (or The GAS Company) but a change of name to something more self-explanatory was thought wise. Today the group works entirely independently of the ECWS, although many of us remain members of both organisations.
For Potential Sponsors
Our well-established method entails our experienced members setting up ‘stations’ at suitable locations inside the available working areas of appropriate heritage properties, each station having one or more members demonstrating some speciality or knowledge that would have been commonplace in the early part of the 17th century. Even historic houses that have been modernised can have small areas effectively ‘returned to the 17th century’ by the careful use of our extensive experience and resources.
To discuss a possible event please contact us here.
One of our more popular specialities is the FOOD preparation and presentation, both in the kitchen and at table. We strive to use only period recipes (or receipts) as they were known. You will find a list of our sources HERE.
Our well-established method entails our experienced members setting up ‘stations’ at suitable locations inside the available working areas of appropriate heritage properties, each station having one or more members demonstrating some speciality or knowledge that would have been commonplace in the early part of the 17th century. Even historic houses that have been modernised can have small areas effectively ‘returned to the 17th century’ by the careful use of our extensive experience and resources.
To discuss a possible event please contact us here.
One of our more popular specialities is the FOOD preparation and presentation, both in the kitchen and at table. We strive to use only period recipes (or receipts) as they were known. You will find a list of our sources HERE.
Would you like to join us?
We always interested to talk to people who would like to join us. Please contact us here.
We always interested to talk to people who would like to join us. Please contact us here.
Please note that all material on this Website (text and photographs) is Copyright © Guild of Gentry and Allied Skills
Photos marked 'FA' are copyright to Fred Archer.