Join Chris and Sarah from the Knights in Battle Medieval reanactment Society in the immersive and interactive talk about a barber surgeon and a wise women

The Barber-Surgeon’s Tale covers many of the more gruesome elements of medieval medicine. A strong stomach is recommended to hear of amputations and tooth drawings, bleeding and arrow-extraction, methods of diagnosis and the ever-popular application of medicines. ‘John Barber’ has appeared in several TV programmes (twice with Sir Tony Robinson!) and has been delighting and revolting audiences for many years.

The wise woman. The title invokes many different reactions in people – fear, contempt, suspicion, ridicule.  But who was the wisewoman really and what did she actually do?  This talk explores this deeply misunderstood and misrepresented character and her role in history.  Picking our way through the often obscured and corrupted clues from the past, we explore the wise woman’s medicine, her magic and how she was transformed from a useful member of society into the wicked witch we know and fear today.