Thank-you for your interest in our group!

Buckingham’s retinue is made up of families and individuals with a keen interest in the Medieval and early Tudor era. We form one of the more historically accurate re-enactment societies, with authenticity at the heart of all we portray. All levels of society are represented, from Royalty through to commoners.

Our members try to bring history to life through a variety of means. We concentrate on the volatile times of the Wars of the Roses and the intrigue of the Early Tudor period. We have a wide range of skills available to enhance the public’s experience, which are covered in more detail in the following subsections. Audience participation is encouraged where possible, be it in the form of show and tell sessions, court room scenes or children’s activities.  Visitors are welcome at all times to ask any questions they may have of any member of the group.

We have experience of presenting several different formats, in the past this has included the following types.

If you would like a particular style of event that is not listed please contact us to discuss how this can be provided. The range of historical periods we cover includes the following:

• Wars of the Roses
• Plantagenet – Edward IV and Richard III
• Tudor – Henry VII and Henry VIII

Again the scale of events can be tailored to the site and the requirements of each client. Styles of events can be blended, for example to provide a Tudor murder mystery or a castle garrison with living history. We have sufficient tentage to depict the way a company might encamp en route to a battle. We have provided displays for major heritage organisations including:

• English Heritage
• The BBC
• Madame Taussauds
• Tamworth Borough Council
• Lincoln City and Cathedral
• Staffordshire County Council

Firstly, thank you for your interest in Buckingham's Retinue. Buckingham's Retinue is a collection of individuals in one of the more authentic re-enactment groups for the period 1450-1530. The society exists to reconstruct and re-enact late medieval and early Tudor life; concentrating on the period known as 'The Wars of the Roses'. It is able to populate a hall or castle, whether as minor gentry, merchants, servants and tenants; or as soldiers, recreating sieges and battles.

Our Approach to Re-enactment

• Through show and tell, where visitors are invited to handle clothing, weapons, armour etc. to give them a flavour of late medieval life.
• Using role play, portraying the effects of civil war and strife on the everyday lives of common people and a selection of important historical figures.
  
• In larger scale events, such as battles and sieges, we illustrate the spectacle of medieval warfare using archers, soldiers, artillery and much more to bring these conflicts to life.
  
• Finally, by authentic portrayal of daily life during the Wars of the Roses and the early Tudor period.
  

It is our intention to provide a total event that will appeal to visitors of all ages and ensure they will be provided with activities that will entertain them throughout the entire day. Because of our enthusiasm for this important period of English history, we aim to bring it to life and allow visitors to take something away with them that will be outside their normal day-to-day experience.

The scale of events can be tailored to the site and the requirements of each client. Styles of events can be fused, for example to provide a Tudor murder mystery or a battle with living history.