Haestingas

The Stingers took the long road to the Gower Peninsular in Wales to head to Oystermouth Castle. A legendary Regia national training event situated in the shattered ruins of a medieval castle. From its steep banks and high arched halls of 'The Pit', it marks as some of the toughest and most intense fighting the society gets to take part in.

Sage and Gayle locked horns with axemen while Mike took the Carls and the Fyrd for some drill and endurance training in the halls.

The place echoed with the clatter of steel on steel with splintering timber!
Fighting in a real castle really gave everyone an appreciation of what warfare would’ve been like in these buildings and why they were designed as they were. At one point 3 soldiers were easily holding 20 of them at bay on the stairs.

Stingers have been getting ready for festival on the 21st February! Whose coming? We can't wait to see all our pals from across 😊

A fantastic meet up thus Saturday in Robertsbridge. Much crafting and shield clattering was undertaken.
Kits getting made for upcoming events, a new group project underway; a Haestingas embroidery all to the background melody of our resident bard 😆

A busy weekend for the Stingers! Members were at Islip training weekend on the Saturday and we had an amazing time! Lots of new stamps gained, from archery, double handed spear and javelin, as well as music and crafting at the village hall. Sunday was a group kit and craft afternoon and around 18 of us descended upon our group leaders house! There was plenty of pewter casting for newer members looking to get little details for kit finalised. Shield making was on the agenda, and inside there were tunics being made, braiding and tapestry planning! A great weekend!

Happy New Year from the Haestingas!

2025 was a fantastic year for us! It started with a feast in our long hall to celebrate our 25th Birthday. We attended new events and made new partnerships, such as our event at Hastings Museum. We saw one of our members coronated in Kingston, then had the pleasure of rowing him down the Thames! Another of our members lead the left wing of the English Army at the Battle of Hastings, whilst 2 more performed in the Great Court of the British Museum!

Did you make it to see us in 2025? If so what was your favorite event. If not, come and find us in 2026!

Haestingas were asked to perform some Beowulf with the marvellous .uk at the late in mid October. As you can see from the photos our warriors were fully immersed in their roles as Beowulf and Grendel some audience members were completely taken in!

On this day 14th October 1066, warriors from Sussex, Kent and Essex marched to battle for King Harold. Chants of Vivat Rex and Holy Cross ring through the air, admist the clanging of shields, weapons and maille. Courage surges through their veins knowing they're fighting for the rightful king of England as they take their position on top of Senlac Ridge.
#1066

A birdseye view of King Athelstan being rowed up the Thames.

More King Athelstan* appreciation 🤴😍
*Forever known within Haestingas as Athelsam 😉

To mark the 1100th anniversary of the crowning of King Athelstan, the first King of a united England, right in the heart of Kingston in 925 AD, The Haestingas we're invited back to take part in the River Cultures Festival.
We boarded a half size replica Sutton Hoo ship, and with crew member down Lord Wulfnoth readily stepped in to row his King Athelstan along the Thames to the meeting point to meet the Mayor of Kingston. Athelstan arrived in style, flanked by militia and Father Peter. There on the bank King Athelstan addressed the Mayor and awaiting crowd...
"Eala Angelcynn, Brettas, ond cynna elþeod. Greetings Englishmen, Britons, and people of foreign lands. On the 4th of September 925. I Athelstan, was crowned Angelcyning, Rex Anglorum, King of all England, here in Kingston close to the banks of the River Thames.This moment fulfilled the dream long-held
by my grandfather King Alfred. This river, in this place, had long been a border between the great lands of Mercia and Wessex. With this crown these two mighty kingdoms were united under my authority and Kingston became not a border, but a place of a connection and unity for the future"
VIVAT REX, VIVAT ÆTHELSTAN REX ANGLORUM! We his entourage called out heartily as we then processed through Canbury Gardens to celebrate!