Wychwood Warriors

Wychwood Warriors We are the Oxford University Historical Re-enactment Society, also known as the Wychwood Warriors. We welcome members of any gender, background or faith.

We re-enact Anglo-Saxon and Viking life and warfare around 900 - 1000 AD. Q) Who can join, and are there any restrictions on who can do what? A) Anybody can join who has an interest in recreating life in early mediaeval Britain. We are opposed to all forms of discrimination; everything is for everybody. Disability may limit the activities that are safe and enjoyable, but we will work with any member to try to maximise their involvement.

Michaelmas Feast 2025Much food was eaten, mead drank, and games and songs performed!We will be hosting another feast in ...
09/01/2026

Michaelmas Feast 2025

Much food was eaten, mead drank, and games and songs performed!

We will be hosting another feast in the upcoming Hilary term, so please come along if you're interested!

Michaelmas 2025 Market TripSadly no pictures were taken in the actual markets, ancient stones and magical rituals howeve...
27/12/2025

Michaelmas 2025 Market Trip

Sadly no pictures were taken in the actual markets, ancient stones and magical rituals however...

Michaelmas Fire 2025!Many songs were sung, much mead consumed, and great stories told! If you'd like to enjoy more of th...
16/12/2025

Michaelmas Fire 2025!

Many songs were sung, much mead consumed, and great stories told! If you'd like to enjoy more of this, join us at our next fire in Hilary.

The first few weeks of the term have sailed by, and as winter is approaching swiftly and the days are getting shorter, w...
30/10/2025

The first few weeks of the term have sailed by, and as winter is approaching swiftly and the days are getting shorter, we have been training and crafting relentlessly in preparation for the next year.

It has been wonderful seeing so many new people join our society this year. We hope you enjoyed your first couple of events with us, and we have much more planned for this term. In just two days, we hope you will join us for our termly fire at the Kidneys Nature Reserve, starting at 5 pm and going late into the night. We will also be hosting a feast, as well as organising a trip to reenactment markets later this term.

Hope to see you there!

Wassail!At last our warband has returned from the slaughter at Hastings. Oh, what a magnificent battle that was! The ear...
23/10/2025

Wassail!

At last our warband has returned from the slaughter at Hastings. Oh, what a magnificent battle that was! The earth was red with blood, and the shrieks of the dying filled the air from there to Wi******er.

For hours our line stood firm, and many a Norman met their end at the tips of our swords and spears. So vicious were our warriors that the Normans started to run, and our warband pursued them relentlesly, only for them to turn and surround us.

As we lay there dying we have heard that Harold Godwinson, our king, was struck by an arrow to the eye as he was fighting off the invaders, and only that, at last, managed to break our wall. Our dead were numerous and the Normans have defeated our army, but they have not broken our spirits.

We shall return to the woods of Oxford and muster a new, stronger army. We shall sharpen our sword and polish our helmets, and in a years time we shall give the Normans the end they should be expecting when they invade our land.

Our termcard!
14/10/2025

Our termcard!

Come and meet us now at jackdaw lane! Introductory battle practice, crafts, gamesUntil 3pm, then pub!
12/10/2025

Come and meet us now at jackdaw lane! Introductory battle practice, crafts, games
Until 3pm, then pub!

MEET THE COMMITTEE - MISTRESS OF REVELSI'm Sam, a relatively recent-ish ex-History Undergraduate and 4 (5?) time Mistres...
01/10/2025

MEET THE COMMITTEE - MISTRESS OF REVELS

I'm Sam, a relatively recent-ish ex-History Undergraduate and 4 (5?) time Mistress of Revels! Most famous for blood stew and most infamous for breaking my face on a daneaxe! I joined because I like swords, I'm a medievalist nerd, and I like throwing parties. You can find me dying on the field at battle practice, making protracted speeches during feasts, and frantically nålbinding a sock during kitmaking.

WHAT WE DO - CRAFTSReenactment isn't just about fighting - after all, even the most fierce of warriors need clothes, sho...
29/09/2025

WHAT WE DO - CRAFTS

Reenactment isn't just about fighting - after all, even the most fierce of warriors need clothes, shoes, food, and many other things. Since our aim is to recreate the life in Medieval England as accurately as possible, we pay a great deal of attention to our kit.

Throughout all three terms we host regular weekly kit making sessions on Thursday evenings, where you can create your own period-accurate clothing, accessories, armour, and more! There are always experienced members present, so even if you don't know how to do something you will always have somebody willing to help. Throughout Michaelmas we will be having a different workshop during every kit making session so you can try out different crafts and start putting together your own kit -- you will be able to learn more in our termcard, which will be published soon.

Occassionally we also host all-day crafts sessions outside of Oxford, where you can try out more complex crafts such as woodworking and wood carving. And as usual, there's no shortage of mead, games, songs, stories, and fires to keep you entertained.

MEET THE COMMITTEE - BATTLE CAPTAINHi! Im Barnaby, a 3rd year historian at Balliol. I love swords, fighting people with ...
22/09/2025

MEET THE COMMITTEE - BATTLE CAPTAIN

Hi! Im Barnaby, a 3rd year historian at Balliol. I love swords, fighting people with swords and hitting (willing) people with swords - which is fortunately all part of being battle captain!

MEET THE COMMITTEE - TREASURERI’m Vlad, a second year Maths & CS student. My reasons for joining the society were defini...
16/09/2025

MEET THE COMMITTEE - TREASURER

I’m Vlad, a second year Maths & CS student. My reasons for joining the society were definitely along the lines of "oh cool, I could hit people with metal swords", but I realised that Wychwood has so much more to offer. I definitely enjoy the crafts side of it as well now, and all the shows we've been to were nothing short of amazing!

WHAT WE DO - FIGHTINGAs Wychwood Warriors, one of our favourite activities is fighting! We host our regular battle pract...
12/09/2025

WHAT WE DO - FIGHTING

As Wychwood Warriors, one of our favourite activities is fighting! We host our regular battle practice sessions every Sunday throughout all three terms, where members can learn to (safely) fight with all sorts of period-accurate weapon - from swords and spears to axes and javelins. We start with simple moves and progress towards more involved topics such as fighting with shields and in shield walls.

After attending several battle practices you will have an opportunity to pass a competency test - a way for us to ensure that you will be safe on the battlefield, and all the dead and wounded will rise again after the battle ends! This also allows you to join us at various events held around the country, some of which host more than a hundred warriors on one battlefield!

If you're interested in this aspect in reenactment and would like to learn more or try it out yourself stay tuned for more information or join us at our first battle practice of the upcoming term on the 12th of September at 1 PM at the field near Jackdaw Lane.

We shall see you on the battlefield!

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Oxford

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