• Safety Rails on Fort: Stage one of the
fort was completed a few months ago with outer walls reaching
over 8ft high and internal parapets 1.3m wide and about
1.5m off the ground. After reviewing how far it was to fall
from the parapets, we decided to add safety barriers along
the inside edge of the parapets. These will allow everyone
to focus on the combat at hand and not worry so much about
taking a tumble. We’ll keep you posted about further developments
on the fort but bear in mind we won’t give away all the
forts’ secrets.
• Campsites identified: We have been exploring
many of the areas within easy distance to the access roads
in all kinds of weather to identify the best camping spots
and to rule out any areas that are too wet for camping.
There are extensive camping areas suitable for all kinds
of encampment types but space will still be at a premium.
This is mainly because groups have been contacting us to
inform us that they need up to 50m x 30m for their encampments.
(How do you transport such large tents?) We will be relocating
the archery range, (near the Sydney Ancients encampment)
to the far side of the creek to free up a large open and
cleared section that is centrally located to the entire
site. Danelaw had intended to annex this area for our own
encampment but we will now surrender it for what will most
likely be Dark Age Period encampments.
We will accommodate large encampments in order of Registration
(First Come Best Dressed) and the latecomers will be in
the less convenient spots further from Access roads. So
don’t let the big boys push you to the side, get in early
an pick a spot now!
.
• Work on Encampments: Some groups have
begun clearing and setting up their encampments with fire
pits and other period conveniences. We encourage everyone
for whom it is convenient to do so.
• Permanent encampments:
We’re glad that some groups have decided to take advantage
of our offer to accommodate permanent encampments and make
use of site access over the next 18 months leading up to
Easter 2007. While some groups have only recently chosen
a site for their permanent encampment, others, such as Uppsala,
are in the “Town planning” stages and have commenced construction
of well researched period huts and communal buildings. At
this rate, there should be an impressive number of period
features being showcased by a number of groups. We wish
them luck with their efforts. It’s a hard slog and their
hard efforts will add the ambiance and enjoyment of everyone.They
deserve praise for taking it on.
• Major earthworks on access road:
Pipes, Drains, Culverts and many tonnes of fill have been
used to divert water, raise and level the road, and to provide
easy access for all vehicle types in all kinds of weather.
Those of you that have been to the site before know that
the section of road between Dunghaven and Beorgwic has been
a bug bear for sometime. This has been particularly evident
during times of heavy rain. The upgrading of the road will
allow better access and enable the numerous water courses
to flow under the road and follow their natural course without
cheese grating the road. There's still lots more to do though.
• Site Access: Combination
locks have been fitted to the gates to give access to groups
wanting to visit the site or to work on their encampments
without the need for keys.
• Kitchen Equipment: We
have recently bought 4 gas stove/oven combinations and have
had them converted to LPG for use in the Kitchen. These
will serve to cook many of the culinary delights on offer.
We hope to add some traditional beehive and sod ovens over
the next year.
• Hot Water: We’ve moved
ahead in leaps and bounds in hot water provision. The shower
block will be served with Hot Water via some recently purchased
Instantaneous Gas hot water systems that we have also had
converted to LPG for the convenience of all participants.
