Currently in: Hilary 2026
Contact us
Please email ku.ca.xo.sbulctneduts|yteicos.doowhcyw#ku.ca.xo.sbulctneduts|yteicos.doowhcyw if you have any questions, enquiries or if you wish to be signed up to the mailing list!
You can also contact us and catch up with what we're doing on Facebook or Instagram:
What's happening?
Every week we will have Sunday afternoon battle practice and Thursday evening kit making meetings. We also have several big events within Oxford University's term including an evening fire, a feast and other social events.
You don’t need any previous experience or materials/equipment of your own - everything will be provided and explained. You also don’t need to attend every session nor attend both kitmaking and battle practice sessions - focus on what interests you!
Battle Practice Sunday afternoons 1-3 PM
Learn display and competitive fighting with steel swords and spears. We meet at the bottom of Jackdaw Lane, just outside the entrance to the University Sports Grounds.
what3words location: duty.aware.dragon
You'll progress over the term from simple moves to free fighting. Once ready, you can take our competency test, indicating that you're qualified to perform public displays.
Kit Making and Crafts on Thursday evenings 7:30 - 10:30 PM
You can make your own set of kit using historical techniques! You also have the opportunity to learn authentic crafts including drop spinning, tablet weaving, chainmail construction, woodwork and leatherwork. We meet outside of the main entrance to Merton College at 7:30 PM every Thursday for three hours of crafts. You can arrive later than this, contact us using the above contacts, emails or the Society Discord if you need any help finding us.
Please note, we are not in our usual room this term as Merton College is currently experiencing extensive building works!
This list is not exclusive and will change over the course of the term. We will update the termcard when more events are added so remember to check again for changes.
Event details
1ST WEEK
Sunday 18th January: 1-3 PM. Battle Practice
- Location: Jackdaw Lane
- You will learn to fight with a variety of weapons including swords, spears and axes.
- We will begin with safety rules and basic hits, then move onto the more challenging aspects of reenactment fighting.
- This will culminate into a competency test where you can show what you learnt.
Thursday 22nd January: 7:30 PM. Kit Making and Crafts
- Location: Merton College, meet at the Porter’s Lodge at 7:30 PM.
- If you need help finding the room please contact us. More information will be in the email.
Saturday 24th January: Craft Day at Rumwoldstow
- Location: Kings Sutton, Rumwoldstow
- Timings: tbc poll will come out soon!
- Ever considered making a spoon? Want to spend a day out of Oxford making an undergarment or tablet weaving? Now is your chance! Only a train ride away, we will be chilling at Rumwoldstow (an imaginary monastery). More information to follow soon!
2ND WEEK
Sunday 25th January: 1-3 PM. Battle Practice
- Location: Jackdaw Lane
- You will learn to fight with a variety of weapons including swords, spears and axes.
- We will begin with safety rules and basic hits, then move onto the more challenging aspects of reenactment fighting.
- This will culminate into a competency test where you can show what you learnt.
Thursday 29th January: 7:30 PM. Wimple Workshop
- Location: Merton College, meet at the gates at 7:30 PM.
- We will be looking at wimples, how they were worn and trying to replicate based on manuscripts
- If you want to come but are less interested in wimples you are welcome to continue making your Dark Age garment or other period specific crafts
Saturday 31st January: 5:30 PM. Fire
- Location: Kidney Nature Reserve (what3words location: hood.enable.wizard)
- You can meet at Jackdaw Lane at 5:30 PM and one of us will take you to the site. You can also find your own way there.
- At 4:30 PM we will be wrangling wood, meet in the same locations as at 5:30 PM if you would like to help with that.
- Our fire celebrates the Anglo Saxon festival of Imbolc and is an opportunity to be merry, drink mead, sing and just have a good time!
- More information to be sent out via email.
3RD WEEK
Sunday 1st February: 1-3 PM. Battle Practice
- Location: Jackdaw Lane
- You will learn to fight with a variety of weapons including swords, spears and axes.
- We will begin with safety rules and basic hits, then move onto the more challenging aspects of reenactment fighting.
- This will culminate into a competency test where you can show what you learnt.
Thursday 5th February: 7:30 PM. Kit Making and Crafts
- Location: Merton College, meet at the gates at 7:30 PM.
- A chance to continue with creating an undergarment, tunic, dress trousers and many more, or maybe have a go at an authentic craft, say tablet weaving or nalbinding.
4TH WEEK
Sunday 8th February: 1-3 PM. Battle Practice
- Location: Jackdaw Lane
- You will learn to fight with a variety of weapons including swords, spears and axes.
- We will begin with safety rules and basic hits, then move onto the more challenging aspects of reenactment fighting.
- This will culminate into a competency test where you can show what you learnt.
Thursday 12th of February: 7:30 PM. Kit Making and Crafts, Hood Workshop
- Location: Merton College, meet at the gates at 7:30 PM.
- As we're getting close to Hauksby (see "other events") creating warm things is important. This an opportunity to learn about all things hood!
- You are also welcome to continue with any other Anglo-Saxon/Norse related crafts/garments
5TH WEEK
Sunday 15th February: 1-3 PM. Battle Practice
- Location: Jackdaw Lane
- You will learn to fight with a variety of weapons including swords, spears and axes.
- We will begin with safety rules and basic hits, then move onto the more challenging aspects of reenactment fighting.
- This will culminate into a competency test where you can show what you learnt.
Thursday 19th February: 7:30 PM. Kit Making and Crafts
- Location: Merton College, meet at the gates at 7:30 PM.
- A chance to continue with creating an undergarment, tunic, dress trousers and many more, or maybe have a go at an authentic craft, say tablet weaving or nalbinding.
6TH WEEK
Sunday 22nd February: 1-3 PM. Battle Practice
- Location: Jackdaw Lane
- You will learn to fight with a variety of weapons including swords, spears and axes.
- We will begin with safety rules and basic hits, then move onto the more challenging aspects of reenactment fighting.
- This will culminate into a competency test where you can show what you learnt.
Thursday 26th February: 7:30 PM. Kit Making, Crafts and AGM
- Location: Merton College, meet at the gates at 7:30 PM.
- An opportunity to continue with crafts and making kit in a relaxed and supportive environment
- Our Annual General Meeting will take place during this Kit Making. It gives you a chance to shape the society through elections, changes to the constitution and the yearly review of everything from finances to the most injured man…
Saturday 28th February - Sunday 1st March: Fire and Crafts at Rumwoldstow
- Location: Rumwoldstow
- Join us for a weekend of crafts, board games, fire and fun!
- more information via email but expect to be able to arrive at any point on Saturday and leave either Saturday evening or Sunday morning
7TH WEEK
Sunday 1st March: 1-3 PM. Battle Practice
- Location: Jackdaw Lane
- You will learn to fight with a variety of weapons including swords, spears and axes.
- We will begin with safety rules and basic hits, then move onto the more challenging aspects of reenactment fighting.
- This will culminate into a competency test where you can show what you learnt.
Thursday 5th March: 7:30 PM. Kit Making and Extra Kit Workshop
- Location: Merton College, meet at the gates at 7:30 PM.
- We will go through the extra kit that you may need including leg wraps and how to wear them alongside creating a cape to wrap up warm in. More information to follow!
- You are also welcome to continue with any other Anglo-Saxon/Norse related crafts/garments
Saturday 7th March: 6-10PM. Feast
- Location: tbc
- More information to follow but it will involve lots of mead drinking, entertainment and authentic food!
8TH WEEK
Sunday 8th March: 1-3 PM. Battle Practice and Possible Tournament
- Location: Jackdaw Lane
- You will learn to fight with a variety of weapons including swords, spears and axes.
- We will begin with safety rules and basic hits, then move onto the more challenging aspects of reenactment fighting.
- This week we will likely do competency tests and possibly also a tournament. More information to follow!
Thursday 12th March: 7:30 PM. Kit Making and Crafts
- Location: Merton College, meet at the gates at 7:30 PM.
- Continue working on your Dark Age clothing, undergarments and crafts.
- Beads! As a congratulations for all those who've made any bits of kit, passed combat competency tests or for other good deeds we'll be handing out beads during our last Kit Making of the term.
Friday 13th March: ALL DAY. Market Trip
- Location: We will travel to the TORM and ARM reenactment markets by minibus
- This is an opportunity to get fabric, things needed for kit, games, food, weapons and more
- More information to follow via email including a sign up sheet!
OTHER EVENTS
Hauksby 2026
Sunday 29th March - afternoon of Thursday 2 April
Our annual pilgrimage to live in the Danelaw village at Murton Park, the Yorkshire Museum of Farming.
Old termcards from Trinity 2008 onwards can be viewed by clicking on 'History' below. Termcards from Michaelmas 1999 to Trinity 2007 are archived here.
