Bannockburn

In October 2008 lads & lassies of Historic Saltire completed filming a dramatic re-enactment of the Battle of Bannockburn for the new Bannockburn Visitor Centre. The centre will open in 2009.

Culloden

Members of Historic Saltire took part in the reconstruction of the Battle of Culloden, a film made by the National Trust for Scotland for their new visitor centre which opened in April 2008.

View Film
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Armour

• Chainmail


This chain mail provides good protecion from cutting blades and would be worn over the gambeson. Although it is very heavy it is also very flexible. However, in the late thirteenth centuary, the costs involved in producing so much metal, and then assembling it into armour made it fairly rare, normally only worn by those who could afford it or soldiers in the Kings army.
 


• Gambeson


These padded jackets provided fighters with protection from bone shattering blows, such as those delivered from heavy axes or warhammers or maces or even the flat of a sword blade. They are also very warm and could cause fighters dehydration on a sunny day. Fortunatley sunny days are rare in Scotland. The material they are made from does not stand up so well to sharp weapons or arrows. In order to prevent themselves from being cut to shreads the better equiped Man-at-arms or Knights would wear Chain mail.
 


• Helmets


Kettle Helmet : These were the standard helmets worn by troops in the thirteenth centuary. The broad rim design protected the wearers head and deflected blows away from th shoulders as well. This design was so successful it as still being used as late as the second world war.
GreatHelm : This huge helmet was worn by Knights and afforded the best protection for the head. Although it is the best kind of protection it does have its limitations. The narrow eyeslots provided poor visibility and Knights could only see what was directly in front of them above waist height. Also, many soldiers carried daggers which could be used to dispatch a fallen knight as he lay prone by stabbing him through the eyeslot.
 


• Coif


Chainmail was also worn by some as head protection.