Visitors to Castle Fraser experience day of knights

VISITORS to a north-east castle were treated to a feast of mediaeval entertainment yesterday as knights fought each other in a jousting tournament in the grounds.

The event at Castle Fraser, near Kemnay, also featured archery and falconry, plus displays of armour and weapons.

Members of Aberdeen re-enactment group Schiltron were also on hand to share what it was like to live during the time.

About 200 people gathered to watch the jousting display by stunt team The Knights of the Damned, which features four knights on horses and four on the ground plus a commentator.

Manager Hannah Hill, who also rides in the show, said: “It was really good. The crowd was absolutely fantastic – there were lots of cheers and boos.”

Ruth Pollitt, of Skene Street, Aberdeen, who is associated with Schiltron, said the group did demonstrations during the day. “We made butter using cream and a butter churn. Every household would make butter on a regular basis if they had access to cream and a cow,” she said.

There was also a display of spices – which would have been used only by royalty and the nobility of the time – plus examples of clothes which were typical of the period.