Equipment stolen from medieval re-enactment group

6 days ago

Grace WoodYorkshire

News image — The Albini Household is based in Doncaster but performs across the country

Jonathan Preston 12 men and one woman in medieval costume. The men are in red soldier uniforms and the woman is wearing a pink skirt and green cloak. They are standing on a field — The Albini Household is based in Doncaster but performs across the country

A medieval re-enactment group has called for help after thieves stole its display equipment in an overnight burglary.

The Albini Household, which is based in Doncaster, gives educational displays across the UK, performing living history exhibits at schools and heritage sites.

The trailer containing equipment was stolen from leader Jonathan Preston's driveway on Saturday night.

Preston said: "It is decades of work and tens of thousands of pounds' worth of kit that is of little use to your average person."

He said thieves had broken down the fence at his Adwick-le-Street home and taken the trailer from the drive.

The incident was reported to South Yorkshire Police on Sunday, he said.

The group of 20 re-enactors perform as figures from the 12th and 13th Centuries at sites such as Pontefract Castle, Sherwood Forest, Leeds Tattoo Festival and Nottingham Castle.

"We can't do the displays. We can't do any cooking, we can't house ourselves at this point in time," said Preston.

"All of this equipment has been bought over years and years. The group's been going since the late 1990s.

"I've been re-enacting for nearly 45 years and it's the accumulation of all those years' worth of work, not just me but for the group."

Jonathan Preston Two women and two men under a wooden and canvas tent. The two men are wearing cloaks and trousers, the two women are wearing cloaks and headscarves. They are all dressed in a medieval style. — The group's tent poles and cookware were stolen during the burglary

He said the suspects made off with a firebox – which allows the group to do cooking displays, stay warm and eat – wooden tent poles, spears, two chain mail shirts and cookware.

"We're just a bit stumped at the minute," he said.

"We were in negotiations for several shows, but it doesn't look like we're going to be able to do them now.

"We're not profit-making. Nobody gets any money. The really bad thing about this is all of the equipment was bought by members of the group. We don't make a single penny off it."

The group is hoping to raise enough money to replace the kit before Evesham Medieval Show in August, which is one of the biggest shows in Europe.

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