History of archery in Great Britain

The British have a long and cherished history with archery. Remarkably, a bow dating from 2690 BC (+/- 120 years) was discovered in Somerset, highlighting the ancient origins of archery in the British Isles. However, it was only after the Norman Invasion in 1066, when William, Duke of Normandy, defeated English King Harold at the Battle of Hastings, that the longbow was developed into a significant weapon of war, and archery became widely practised in Britain.

In the centuries that followed, English kings took extensive measures to ensure that sufficient men had the necessary archery skills. At various times, they officially banned popular games such as football, bowls, and, in Scotland, golf, as men were increasingly spending their leisure time playing these sports rather than practising archery. The famous Assize of Arms in 1252 and the Statute of Westminster in 1285 mandated archery practice for men of certain ages, effectively making it a national duty (Chronicles of England, France, Spain, and the Adjoining Countries, by Jean Froissart, 1805).

The longbow played a decisive role in several significant battles, including the Battle of Crécy in 1346 and the Battle of Agincourt in 1415, where English archers proved the weapon’s devastating effectiveness against French knights. These battles during the Hundred Years’ War are well-known for illustrating the power of well-trained longbowmen.

However, the gradual introduction of firearms from the 15th century reduced the need for such intensive archery practice. Despite this, it didn’t quell a national following for archery as a form of recreation. As early as the 16th century, societies dedicated to the bow and arrow emerged to satisfy the demand for competition, with modern target archery beginning in the 18th century.

The first of these was the Society of Archers at Scorton, formed in 1673. Their annual tournament for the Ancient Silver Arrow is still contested today, making it one of the oldest sporting competitions in the world. The Royal Company of Archers in Scotland, formed in 1676, is one of the oldest surviving archery clubs and now serves as the Queen’s Bodyguard for Scotland. The Toxophilite Society, which enjoys royal patronage, was formed in 1781.

In a notable stride for gender equality in sports, the Royal British Bowmen, established in 1787, became the first society to admit women as members. This was quite revolutionary for its time, as most sports and clubs were male-dominated.

The Woodmen of Arden, established at Meriden in 1785, is another historic archery society that continues the tradition of competitive longbow archery. Members of this society, also known as the “Marks”, meet annually for a shooting contest at Meriden, the traditional centre of England.

In the 20th century, archery saw a resurgence in popularity as a sport, with the establishment of the Grand National Archery Society, which later became Archery GB, the sport’s governing body in the UK. British archers have competed in the Olympics since archery’s debut at the 1900 Games in Paris. In recent years, British archers have achieved significant success on the international stage, winning medals in the World Championships and the Olympic Games.

Today, archery is enjoyed by people of all ages across the UK, whether as a competitive sport, a recreational activity, or a vibrant historical re-enactment.

A general overview of archery is available on Wikipedia. The history of World Archery (FITA) is available. Another history of archery can be found on Archery GB’s site here.

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