WARMINSTER was taken back in time at the weekend as members of the town’s newly medieval society put on an historic display in Portway Field.

Kings, knights and sword fights were all on display as young and old were able to get a taste of life in the Middle Ages.

The festival, which was a first for Warminster, included archery lessons, fire making skills and battle reenactments as young Ipad enthusiasts learned about life in the 1300s.

Abigail and Johnathan Morley, two of the leading lights behind the new festival, were also celebrating their ten-year wedding anniversary at the event.

Abigail said: “The last time we did a reenactment was at our wedding. We seemed to lose touch with all this for a while, but last year we decided to give it a go. This event has been in the planning for a year and we are already organising the next one.

“The combat was a fan favourite as lots of children were keen to try their hand at breaking the bottles with the swords. We also played a game called Hoodsman’s blind. The day was a success.”

The festival began with longbow lessons, instructing newcomers on how to craft their own bow and arrow, before birds of prey took to the sky.

Chris Fox, a member of the Swindon College of Chivalry, said: “ When John Tranader asked us to come down we were thrilled.

“We were teaching the black caste bow course, taught by the legendary Andrew Mill. This involved understanding the medieval plates of fury, a legendary sword fighting routine, between 1301 and 1340.

“The archery tent also received over 200 visitors, learning the difference between how to use a short bow and long bow.”

Elsewhere falconer Michael Davie put on a fluttering display of the 2,000-year-old tradition with both falcons and hawks.

He said: “I started with an educational talk that gave a range of history of the sport. Today, it is important to talk about conservation and the environment.

“Afterwards, we brought out the more modern Harris hawk, which delighted the young children with his intelligence and antics.”