A COLLEGE teaching medieval warfare skills to would-be knights and archers is enjoying an unprecedented surge of interest.

The College of Chivalry is bringing ‘historically accurate’ skills, including sword fighting and longbow shooting, into the present day.

Interest in the battlefield arts has been fuelled by dramas such as Game of Thrones and The Last Kingdom as well as renewed interest in British history through films, books and re-enactments.

According to new research by English Heritage published this week, modern-day jousters are as fit and strong as professional footballers.

While the college doesn’t offer jousting its members can learn the skill through the Early Mediaeval Alliance, to which it is affiliated.

A host of other formerly deadly arts can also be learnt at the college, which has more members than at any other time in its history, and displayed at school demonstrations, re-enactments and at the Old Town Festival.

Chris Fox, who is the college’s Hand of the King, said “We have had a massive increase in archery, including quite a few members who became interested through Game of Thrones and The Hunger Games.

“At the Old Town Festival the archery captain will be male and the rest of the team are female.

“The archery is attracting quite a few young people too, the youngest being Jack who is 14.

“He wears the same armour and fights the same as everyone else.”

Students can become an archer, knight or squire through instructor-led classes at Roves Farm in Sevenhampton, Swindon.

“A lot of people are engaging in British history through a massive push by English Heritage,” Chris said. “We have 22 active members, more than ever before, ranging from people who take part in calligraphy, embroidery and handweaving right down to young Jack.

“People are getting back in touch with history through events such as the Tewksbury Medieval Festival, which is the largest medieval combat show in Europe. We face off in that on the Saturday and then we will be at the Old Town Festival on the Sunday.”

The Old Town Festival will mark the first time the college has displayed at the event with sharp swords.

“The full-length sharp sword, known as a hand-and-a-half, can slice through milk bottles and the short sword is no less devastating. It gives you a good idea of the damage they would once have caused on the battlefield,” Chris said.

While it may sound confrontational, the college have been in high demand among schools and academies wanting to bring history alive for their students.

As well as re-enactment events across the UK and France, the college’s members can go on to take part in tournaments, with a league table of wins and defeats.

The group began after the founders met on a longbow course at New College in Swindon.

When the course ended the enthusiasts formed another longbow club, which included re-enactment and ‘have-a-go’ archery courses. Black Cat Archery was then launched and its members went on to set up the college five years ago.

Members of the college study characters from the past and take on their personas, with knights who take part in competitions being included in league and medal tables.

The instructors were taught by master swordsman Alan Knowles, benefiting from his 20 years’ experience before developing their own styles and teaching methods.

“The skills we teach may have been a lost art but there is a renewed interest in all things medieval these days,” archery captain Jenni Gerrard said.

“There are films and television dramas like Game of Thrones that have really captured people’s imagination.

“These skills are fun to learn, but also demand fitness, discipline and concentration.”

* The College of Chivalry will be at the Old Town Festival on Sunday, July 9. For more information visit: www.collegeofchivalry.com