A family battle; ALISON YOUNG sets up camp with members of a re-enactment group.Byline: ALISON YOUNG CAMPING in castles and travelling back in time has become a family affair for the Townsend family Townsend family U.S. cabinetmakers in Newport, R.I., of the 17th–18th century. The brothers Job (1699–1765) and Christopher (1701–1773) were the first generation involved in furniture making. . For Dave, 38, his wife Keren, 36, and their three children Ethan, eight, Caitlin, five, and Alyssa, four, are all members of the medieval re-enactment group the Company of Chivalry chivalry (shĭv`əlrē), system of ethical ideals that arose from feudalism and had its highest development in the 12th and 13th cent. . And this bank holiday weekend the Townsends will be taking part in the Castle under Siege event at Caerphilly Castle Caerphilly Castle (Welsh: Castell Caerfili) is a Norman castle that dominates the centre of the town of Caerphilly in south Wales. Largest Castle in Wales and playing different characters in the living history camp set up inside the castle walls. Other members of their group will be taking part in various military displays including firing rocks from the mighty siege engines into the castle moat. Keren, who is a legal secretary and Dave who was a health and safety officer before being medically retired, got hooked on re-enactment not long after marrying 10 years ago. "We went to a couple of re-enactment events at different castles and it looked such fun that we decided to join. It's something the children have been brought up with and we all travel together to about a dozen events around the country every year. "We love meeting and chatting to the public but the best bit is at night when we get to camp inside these fantastic places like Caerphilly Castle - something we would never otherwise be able to do." Dave will be demonstrating smelting smelting, in metallurgy, any process of melting or fusion, especially to extract a metal from its ore. Smelting processes vary in detail depending on the nature of the ore and the metal involved, but they are typified in the use of the blast furnace. pewter during the camp and Keren will be giving medieval cookery demonstrations. Their son will be assisting one of the knights as his page while their daughters will be showing other children how to mill flour and churn butter. "The children love it and it's a great way to be able to spend time together as a family. It's gets the children outside, away from computers and they are also learning. I believe there has been occasion when they have corrected their teachers in school on historical points! "We all love taking part as it's a great way to bring history alive and a great way to bring these old buildings alive," added Dave, who lives with his family in WestonSuper-Mare. During the season the Company of Chivalry appear at around 15 events and out of season meet every three or four weeks to do battle training or craft training. During the Castle under Siege event they will be joined by the Bowmen of the Rose who will be doing archery archery, sport of shooting with bow and arrow, an important military and hunting skill before the introduction of gunpowder. England's Charles II fostered archery as sport, establishing in 1673 the world's oldest continuous archery tournament, the Ancient Scorton displays. The event runs between 11am and 4pm tomorrow and Monday. Admission is pounds 3.60 adults, pounds 3.20 children CAPTION(S): The Townsend family take part in the Castle under Siege event at Caerphilly Castle this weekend |
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