Woodmen of Arden facts for kids
The Woodmen of the Ancient Forest of Arden are a special club for people who love shooting longbows. They were started, or perhaps restarted, in 1785. Their home is in the village of Meriden, which is in the old Forest of Arden area.
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History of the Woodmen
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The club was founded by Heneage Finch, 4th Earl of Aylesford, and five other men. They met at the Bulls Head inn in Meriden in 1785. However, the Woodmen believe their club is much older. They think it's a new version of an ancient group of "Woodmen" from the Forest of Arden.
In the past, England had "Royal Forests" with special "forest laws." These laws were enforced by people called woodmen, foresters, and verderers. Even though there's not much proof that the Forest of Arden had these exact laws, the Woodmen of Arden still use these old titles for their leaders.
Their meetings are called Wardmotes. Long ago, foresters would use bows and arrows to patrol the forests. This is why archery is so important to the modern Woodmen. They practice a type of archery called clout archery. This means shooting arrows at a flag from a very long distance. They follow old rules from 1590 and shoot at targets at least 180 yards away. This distance was even mentioned in a law from 1541!
Before starting the club, Heneage Finch had been practicing archery at his home, Packington Hall. He was connected to other famous archery groups. In 1788, a special octagonal building, now called Forest Hall, was built as their clubhouse. It was similar to old forest courts.
Over time, the titles for the club's leaders changed. The head of the society became the "Perpetual Warden of the Forest." His helper was called the "Senior Verdurer." The archer who hits the first "gold" (the center of the target) when shooting for the horn is named "Master Forester." The person who wins the gold medal is called the "Captain of Numbers," and the silver medal winner is the "Lieutenant of Numbers."
In 1788, the club decided to limit its members to 75 people. This limit was increased to 80 in 1815. In 1835, a very important person, Prime Minister Sir Robert Peel, was elected to the club. This was special because they broke their own rule to let him join, as there wasn't an open spot!
Woodmen Uniform
The Woodmen of Arden have a special uniform that was designed in 1785. It looks similar to what old forest officers wore. Today, the uniform is still mostly the same. Members wear white trousers, a green tailcoat (a formal jacket with a long back), and a buff-colored vest with a green tie. A hat was added to the uniform about 100 years later.
They use traditional yew wood longbows. Each archer also puts a unique mark, called a "cresting," on their arrows.
Club Traditions and Prizes
The Silver Bugle of Arden
In 1787, the Earl of Aylesford gave the club a large silver bugle (a type of horn). This "Silver Bugle of Arden" is a prize. It's always shot for at a distance of at least 180 yards, but sometimes it can be as far as 240 yards!
The Silver Arrow
In 1788, the Countess of Aylesford gave the club a "silver arrow." This arrow is shot for every year at a distance of 180 yards.
The Digbean Medals
In 1818, Wriothesley Digby, who was the club's secretary, gave two medals. The gold medal, called 'Optime merenti', is for the person who hits the target the most times at 100 yards during the August meeting. The silver medal, 'Bene merenti', is for the second-best archer.
The Royal Scottish Archers Silver Bowl
In 1887, the Royal Company of Archers of Scotland gave the Woodmen a silver bowl. This bowl is a challenge prize for clout shooting. Archers compete for it by earning points at distances of 180 and 200 yards.
Famous Members
Many members of the Woodmen of Arden come from old, well-known families in the area. Some other famous people who have been members include:
- Robert Peel (who used to be the Prime Minister of the UK)
- Jeremy Brett (a well-known actor)
See also
- Royal Company of Archers
- Worshipful Company of Bowyers
- Worshipful Company of Fletchers
