When I get the chance and when my real job permits, I go to schools and teach students about medieval armour. I have gained a reasonably complete knowledge of armour after studying it for the last several years. I have also built an assortment of pieces that I bring and show when I teach a class. This allows people to actually see and touch armour. It is much easier for people to learn this way - and it seems to be a lot more fun for the students.

The basic idea is a combination of teaching about armour (and weapons and other medieval things) and allowing people to see and touch pieces of armour. The basic education involves showing the development of armour from a series of monumental brasses. I use specific pieces of armour which I have made to bring the brasses to life. Once the basics of armour have been described I show the students pieces of antique armour. These are small pieces, but very few people can afford more.

The reproduction armour I normally use in teaching is:

• A suit of late 14th century style armour.
• a suit of mid 15th century italian style armour
• a child's armour in 14th century style
• a breastplate and tassets from an infantry armour in the style of the mid 16th century.
• an 11th century style helmet
• a 14th century style great helm
• a 15th century style barbute
• a 15th century style war hat
• an early 16th century style helmet

The antiques I allow the students to handle are:

• a piece of 16th century mail
• an elbow from the mid 16th century
• an arm from the mid 16th century
• a pair of gauntlets from the 16th century

I also have several weapons I can show including:

• an 8th century style sword
• a 14th century style sword
• a 16th century rapier
• a halbard (15th-16th century style)
• two great swords (large 2 handed swords)

Related items include:

• a pair of 14th century style spurs
• a knife and fork pair with carved handles from the 17th century
• a facsimile edition of a 14th century 'Romance of Alexander'
• a facsimile edition of the illustrations from a 12th century Old Testament
• various posters of armour
• a large colection of antique buckles

I have taught classes that focused on the middle ages, general social studies classes and English classes. I have presented to classes from the third grade to the 12th.

One time I was brought in to teach a class where the topic was the story 'Sir Gawain and the Green Knight.' For this call I wore clothing from the late 14th century (that happened to be green) to reflect the clothing worn by the green knight. I brought some of the pieces of armour to show and I was accompanied by a friend. We armed him in armour of the late 14th century. This illustrated the part of the tale that describes the arming of Gawain.

In the latest presentation I wore pieces of armour. I find that this tends to convince people that armour really can be worn.

I tailor the basic presentation to each situation. I will be happy to tailor a presentation to your needs...

So far I have only received compliments on the program (both from teachers and students) so there must be something I am doing right.

If you want me to come to your school, send me a note and I will see if we can arrange a time.

Wade Allen