Will Sherman, with his flat cap, beard and blacksmith’s physique, ushers me over the threshold of his forge. ‘Come in, come in,’ he says, as my eyes adjust to the dimness. The floor is bare, dusty earth and the beamed walls are hung with tools. Two anvils and a red-brick hearth dominate the space; a rack of scrap iron sits in one corner. On the work surface is a pile of sleek arrows, their tail feathers glossy, shafts smooth and heads glinting. A bright-eyed mongrel appears and jumps up in greeting. ‘Bodkin!’ remonstrates Mr Sherman. ‘Down!’
For more than five years, the 33-year-old has earned his living by handcrafting medieval arrows for heavy-bow archers (of which, as the internet attests, there are plenty) and collectors from as far afield as Germany, the US and New Zealand, as well as here in the UK. But first things first: these arrows are the real deal. If you’re imagining a fauxMiddle Age aesthetic and a corner-cutting approach to ye olde traditions, think again. Mr Sherman’s work is made to order and based on real-life period weaponry, using methods and materials as close as humanly possible to those used centuries ago.
Denne historien er fra February 23, 2022-utgaven av Country Life UK.
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Denne historien er fra February 23, 2022-utgaven av Country Life UK.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Kitchen garden cook - Apples
'Sweet and crisp, apples are the epitome of autumn flavour'
The original Mr Rochester
Three classic houses in North Yorkshire have come to the market; the owner of one inspired Charlotte Brontë to write Jane Eyre
Get it write
Desks, once akin to instruments of torture for scribes, have become cherished repositories of memories and secrets. Matthew Dennison charts their evolution
'Sloes hath ben my food'
A possible paint for the Picts and a definite culprit in tea fraud, the cheek-suckingly sour sloe's spiritual home is indisputably in gin, says John Wright
Souvenirs of greatness
FOR many years, some large boxes have been stored and forgotten in the dark recesses of the garage. Unpacked last week, the contents turned out to be pots: some, perhaps, nearing a century old—dense terracotta, of interesting provenance.
Plants for plants' sake
The garden at Hergest Croft, Herefordshire The home of Edward Banks The Banks family is synonymous with an extraordinary collection of trees and shrubs, many of which are presents from distinguished friends, garnered over two centuries. Be prepared to be amazed, says Charles Quest-Ritson
Capturing the castle
Seventy years after Christian Dior’s last fashion show in Scotland, the brand returned under creative director Maria Grazia Chiuri for a celebratory event honouring local craftsmanship, the beauty of the land and the Auld Alliance, explains Kim Parker
Nature's own cathedral
Our tallest native tree 'most lovely of all', the stately beech creates a shaded environment that few plants can survive. John Lewis-Stempel ventures into the enchanted woods
All that money could buy
A new book explores the lost riches of London's grand houses. Its author, Steven Brindle, looks at the residences of plutocrats built by the nouveaux riches of the late-Victorian and Edwardian ages
In with the old
Diamonds are meant to sparkle in candlelight, but many now gather dust in jewellery boxes. To wear them today, we may need to reimagine them, as Hetty Lintell discovers with her grandmother's jewellery