The Society
The Camp Followers
The Camp Followers
© 95th Rifles & Royal Horse Artillery ◊ Website by Crafty Fox Productions
The glue of any camp is the camp followers, the families who run the day to day activities of everyday life. In fact our living history camp is the centre of our weekend, providing the main attraction for the public throughout the day and of course the home for our Rifle Company and Artillery Troop when they are not otherwise engaged in battle or displays.
We live as authentically as possible whilst providing community catering for three meals a day as well as sustenance throughout the deployment, which although normally a weekend can be for as long as four days at special events. The troops are expected to do their share of the work but generally under the direction of our camp followers who have become masters at the art of field living.
The roles of Camp followers are numerous... from the wives, girlfriends and families of the soldiers to the Prince Regent himself. The activities are as varied as the roles. If any member has an interest in portraying a role such as surgeon, a tinker, a seamstress, local gentry, clergyman (etc) we are always happy to accommodate such aspirations.
The role need not be permanent or indeed preclusive as many members have a number of roles that they will play from time to time. Our Prince Regent, for example, also commands the Rocket Section and many of our ladies serve on the guns and rockets as well as the pyrotechnics display team.
These roles can be most challenging, requiring research and sourcing of clothing and accoutrements to support them and bring them to life. Even basic camp roles can be challenging as participants engross themselves in research leading to new methods of cooking or conducting the day to day activities of life in the early 19th century.
Apart from the great variety of normal camp duties we are often invited to provide promenades to enhance Regency events at stately homes and sites of historic significance. Each year we participate in Battle Proms as well as Regency Balls and dinners, all of which call for glorious regency gowns, tailcoats and top hats to set the scene. Demonstrations and talks on Regency life for schools, museums and other historic venues all provide their own challenges and enjoyment. We have even been invited to furnish a period house and populate it for the day as an historic attraction.
The possibilities are endless, limited only by our imaginations. Whatever your need or aspiration from maid to duchess, cobbler to prince we can probably accommodate or provide it. The only problem you may have is how to fit it all into the weekend. Be warned it is addictive!
We live as authentically as possible whilst providing community catering for three meals a day as well as sustenance throughout the deployment, which although normally a weekend can be for as long as four days at special events. The troops are expected to do their share of the work but generally under the direction of our camp followers who have become masters at the art of field living.
The roles of Camp followers are numerous... from the wives, girlfriends and families of the soldiers to the Prince Regent himself. The activities are as varied as the roles. If any member has an interest in portraying a role such as surgeon, a tinker, a seamstress, local gentry, clergyman (etc) we are always happy to accommodate such aspirations.
The role need not be permanent or indeed preclusive as many members have a number of roles that they will play from time to time. Our Prince Regent, for example, also commands the Rocket Section and many of our ladies serve on the guns and rockets as well as the pyrotechnics display team.
These roles can be most challenging, requiring research and sourcing of clothing and accoutrements to support them and bring them to life. Even basic camp roles can be challenging as participants engross themselves in research leading to new methods of cooking or conducting the day to day activities of life in the early 19th century.
Apart from the great variety of normal camp duties we are often invited to provide promenades to enhance Regency events at stately homes and sites of historic significance. Each year we participate in Battle Proms as well as Regency Balls and dinners, all of which call for glorious regency gowns, tailcoats and top hats to set the scene. Demonstrations and talks on Regency life for schools, museums and other historic venues all provide their own challenges and enjoyment. We have even been invited to furnish a period house and populate it for the day as an historic attraction.
The possibilities are endless, limited only by our imaginations. Whatever your need or aspiration from maid to duchess, cobbler to prince we can probably accommodate or provide it. The only problem you may have is how to fit it all into the weekend. Be warned it is addictive!