About Us

.Welcome to the Society for Creative Anachronism

The Society for Creative Anachronism, or SCA, is a non-profit educational organization dedicated to researching and recreateing the customs, combat and courtesy of the Middle Ages.

Society: Companionship, association with one's fellows

Creative: The ability or power to create or bring into being

Anachronism: A person or thing misplaced in time.

In simple language, we are here to preserve the best of medieval history, to promote and encourage historical study, and keep alive the skills, arts and crafts of an age past. Contact the group in your area. Enjoy creating another facet of your life, and enrich your knowledge of the events and people who helped create the world we live in today.

The Society for Creative Anachronism was founded in May 1966 in Berkeley California, and has grown to over 30,000 memberships worldwide. The SCA is divided into Kingdoms ruled by a King and a Queen; within some Kingdoms, there are Pricipalities ruled by a Prince and Princess.

Within each Kingdom, or Principality there are many branches know as Baronies, Shires, Colleges or Cantons. Each branch usually holds a monthly meeting where business is discussed and plans are made fore vents. Often, the branches will sponsor events ranging from one-day fighting tournaments to overnight camping weekends., At all events, those attending must wear medieval garb.

Summer is usually tourney season. Tourneys or tournaments are large outdoor events centered around SCA combat, with many other activities and contests taking place also. They are usually weekend events with overnight camping, where participants camp in period-style pavilions or tents, Courts are held, and warriors do battle.

Feasts and revels are usually held indoors, and may be potluck where we are encouraged to bring dishes as authentic as possible. There is usually dancing, music or medieval games to participate in after the feast.

Members are encouraged to create a persona, a person you would wish to have been, had you lived sometime between 600 AD and 1600 AD. Your personal can be a simple as your SCA name and the time and place you are from. At events there is usually a table or booth labeled Gold Key, which loans garb to those who do not yet have their own.

At an event you will see fighters in the middle of a field engaged in combat using various weapons. They are recreating the combat of the Middle Ages. With the fighters are Marshals. They are there to ensure the safety of both fighters and spectators. The fighters are highly trained and well practiced in their art. Fighting practices are generally held weekly for the training and instruction of new and experienced fighters. The weapons they use are made of rattan and designed to the same weight and balance as real weapons.

Other interests in the SCA include: calligraphy and illumination, medieval games, costuming, leather working, metal working, heraldry, dancing, music, embroidery, archery, cooking, armour making, jewelry, poetry, brewing, weaving, lace-making, fencing, and much more.

For many, the SCA can be a network of friends and acquaintances, a social gathering, a challenge to create the past, a continuation of historical studies, or a creative outlet. There are many reasons why people join the Society for Creative Anachronisim.

The Shire of Appledore was founded in September of A.S. XV, when the first Appledore Open Tourney was held. Its petition for recognition was received by Their Magesties Frederick and Nicorlyn at Twelfth Night of A.S.XV in Lions Gate, where the Shire's roots lie.

When the King and Queen make a state visit to Appledore, they are entitled to receive a tribute of a red apple and a golden one. This compact was entered into with the Monarchs of the West; Steingrim and Lenora, on their visit in A.S.XVI. Whether this levy now pertains to the throne of the West or of that of An Tir is uncertain, as it has fallen into abeyance with the long absence of royalty from the area.

The King also has rights in the forest of the Shire. He may take one stag a year, buy only if he captures it by putting salt on its tail and it must be dipped in a mixture of milk, eggs and flour and deep fried as a fritter. This is the famed "Right of Assault and Battery".

The laws of Appledore are few and far between. Not only are puns not proscribed, they are prescribed as a prerequsite for the prerequsites of high office in Appledore. There is, however, a mundanity tax, also known as the "none-such-name" tax, of one copper levied for each occasion on which someone is called by a mundane rather than a personna name at an event. And Appledore is a Dragon Preserve with hunting forbidden, in deference to a former resident, Zoran Dolmar of Dragonhead.

The Shire's most active Guild is the Confranternity of Saint Lawrence in Appledore, an offshoot of the original founded in Lions Gate. Monthly, it meets to discuss culinary matters and sample the concontions of its members.

The Shire of Appledore bestows various honours.

The Golden Apple is given for service to the Shire. It has been presented to Lady Genevive of Longlake, Baroness Amanda Kendal of Westmoreland, HL Rose Cam-eaul of Frozen Mountain, Lord Giovanni Francesco Lianti of Frozen Mountain, HL Olwen Pen Aur of Appledore, Lord George of Mangledwords of Appledore, Bruz of the Black Hand of Appledore, HL Malcolm of Lamont, Elizabeth of Haydenbridge, Kelinda Garrett, Wolfgang von Brandenburg, Brighid Vichary Gordon.

The Serpent's Tooth is given for authenticity above and beyond the call of sanity. As yet, the only recipient is Maetelhoofe the Perverse, now alas departed to Caid, who gained it for his reconstruction of the Sutton Hoo lyre.

The Golden Swan is given to those ladies who satisfy the judges in the annual Tournament of the Golden Swan, when the fair sex of the Known World are invited to display their ladylike talents. The roll includes Elspeth of Alnwich, Gyelle Spence, Kirsteen ap Sennan, Thyri Ericsdottir, Janet Marie nic Alastair McBain, Elaine Falconer, Madelene de Vos, Mother Abbess Megan Timebinder; Anthea Clarissa de Northeton, Ilana Cordonero of Florence; Helene von Gruner, Adriana Juliet Francesca Maria della Cassa della Sangomano, Meresigha Stonegatta, Aloise du Pont de Fosse, Vigdis Bjornsdottir, Osolbayajin; Nadjezhda Toranova, Walburga of Liege; Agnes Cresewyck; Meryell Kennet.

The Jawbone of the Ass is awarded to the most puissant punster at Appledore's Fall Tournet. Holders include Father Christopher, Bahran the Respendent, Steven of Westmarch, Jamie Macpherson, Gerhanr Kendal, who has won it twice, HL Evangelina du Lac (many time winner) of Frozen Mountain, HL Siobhan the Wanderer of Frozen Mountain, HL Kraig Landental formerly of Frozen Mountain, now of Montegarde. Most recently HL Malcolm of Lamont retained the title.

Newest of the Shire's awards, the Scarlet Shaft is granted to the person who has most embarrassed his or her self in public. The holder judges new candidates and passes the Shaft along. The first and current holder is Merrewyn de Courcy, for reasons which must be elicited from her in person.