Newcomers

If you're new to the Society of Creative Anachronism, this page is for you!  We're delighted you've found us and we want to make your first interactions with us as positive as possible.  If you have questions that aren't answered on this page, drop us an email and our friendly team will get back to you as soon as possible.

What is the SCA?

The Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA) is a practical history society. Our members are interested in all aspects of recreating the arts and skills of pre-17th century life, be it combat skills, astronomy, brewing, dancing, costuming feasting, calligraphy or one of many, many more skills.

We are family friendly: kids of all ages take part with their parents, and notably some adults join because their kids are keen. We hold practices in armoured combat, rapier combat, and archery. We meet up to work on various arts and crafts, like armouring, metal casting, calligraphy and more.

We cover many cultures and time periods, and don’t restrict our members to any one area: Vikings mingle freely with 16th Venetian ladies, and swap skills and stories. Many of us have a ‘persona’ - a person from a specific time, place - to research. Some aim for a general “medieval” look and feel, and don’t get too worried about the details while others lovingly craft an entire identity with time appropriate clothes, accessories, weapons, household goods and skill sets.

For more information about what we do, see the website for Insulae Draconis where this text was originally published.  Insulae Draconis is our name for the UK and Iceland.

Frequently Asked Questions

I'm new to the Society and this is my first event.  Do I have to take out membership to attend?

If you'd like to attend the full event, it is cheaper to take out membership than to pay a non-member rate.  Annual membership of the SCA in the UK is only £15, and you can sign up here. 
However, if you'd like to come along for one day only, you don't have to take out membership.  Send us an email and we'll get you sorted!

I'm new to the Society and don't have anything to wear.  Help!

The SCA only requires an "attempt" at pre-1600 clothing.  For newcomers particularly, we're very flexible about what constitutes and attempt!  If you'd like help, or to borrow a simple tunic (or similar) for the event, send us an email and we'll work something out.  It is much more important to us that you can join us and have a good time, than that you are dressed truly authentically!

I'd really like to come to the event but I'm worried about keeping myself well fed.  Help!

New for LXI, we present The Three Barons tavern who are offering meal plans for breakfast and evening meals to make your life easier.  If you need further assistance, send us an email!

I use disability aids - can I still come to the event?

Of course!  We encourage everyone who benefits from disability aids to use them even if they weren't used during our period.  You can't enjoy the event if you can't see it without your modern glasses and you can't enjoy the music of our fabulous bards if you can't hear them without your hearing aids.  If mobility aids help you get around the event, we want to see you using them to make your life easier.  If you have specific access requirements or further questions about accessibility, send us an email and we'll put you in touch with our accessibility lead!

You do fighting and other cool things - can I join in?

We love having newcomers come and learn about our activities.  Where possible, we can give you a taste of what those activities are like.  Most Art & Science activities are newcomer-friendly and our class teachers are happy to have new people!  

With prior notice, we can arrange for you to loose a few arrows with an archery marshal to guide you, or give you a basic unarmoured and non-competitive introduction to fencing or armour combat.  However, it takes a lot of training and an official authorisation process to be able to fight in a tournament.  If you like what you see, find your local practice and we'll help you prepare to fight at future events!