To many the so called ‘Dark Ages’ were a time when folks wandered around dressed in coarse sacks tied up with string, with unkempt hair and beards (in some cases you’d even think the women wore beards too!) and living in muddy pits in the ground with a few twigs thrown over them for shelter.

The aim of this course is to show that the production of clothing in this period was a skilled task with high quality fabrics and decoration.   Despite what many costume books show, English clothing underwent several major changes during the early medieval period (c.400-1100AD).   This class will concentrate on the clothing of the earliest English settlers from the time of the migrations from the continent until the conversion to Christianity (approximately 400-650AD).

The course will cover historical and archaeological sources, the types of materials used and the style of clothes and jewellery used in the everyday clothing of these early Anglo-Saxons.   There were distinctive regional fashions, as well as slight changes in the style over the period, and the class will concentrate on ‘Anglian’ and ‘Saxon’ fashions of the sixth century, although it will also touch on the Franco-Kentish fashions as well as fifth century variations.

The class won't be restricted to the costumes, but all accessories will be taken into consideration as well.   A costume is never complete without the right shoes, jewellery, etc.   Everything which contributes to the appearance of a person, whether high or lower class, or even a soldier will be considered.

By the end of the course students should have all the information necessary to reconstruct an accurate Pagan Anglo-Saxon costume.
 

This lesson will cover the historical background to the Anglo-Saxon arrival in Britain and why their clothing and appearance was so different to the native Romano-Britons.    It will also look at what sources we have to help us reconstruct the dress of the early English, both from English sources and comparative material on the continent.

The period covered by this class will be about 400-650AD.   The fifth to seventh centuries were the formative years of English History. This was the time when England was born, the time of Hengest and Horsa, King Arthur, Beowulf and Redwald of Sutton Hoo.

We shall start with a look at what we know of the arrival of the first English and the way they divided the country they claimed.   At this stage you should start thinking about the area of the country  you wish to make clothing for as it did vary according to the (perceived) ethnic background of the particular region.

We shall then look at the sources we have for the clothing that was worn, and the difficulties in reconstructing the costume.   I shall include some examples of typical Anglo-Saxon graves to give ideas for a starting point for your outfit, and suggest other sources you may be able to use.

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