The Bow has been with us as a weapon and Archery as a sporting fixture for centuries with the oldest recorded Bow some 250,000 years old.

Mankind has therefore hunted with the Bow for at least 250,000 years and still does so in some countries today (although not in the UK). The first known use of Bow against another Human is 8000 BC.

The world famous Long Bow is steeped in mystery and history and there are many books and videos detailing the exploits of the men and the Bow through the ages.

Although the English Army is recognised as utilising the Long Bow to its fullest, many of the archers within the ranks were in fact Welsh.

King Edward put the bow to good use against the Scots and then the French where the Long Bow really earned its place in history.

By the time of King Henry VIII archery law had been passed, every man in the country had to “Practice at the Butts” after Church on Sundays. This law still stands today though I have yet to meet anyone who has been arrested for failing to practise after church.

Archery had by this time become the ‘Sport of Kings’ and it was only the invention of the musket that finally saw the Long Bow fall away from the battlefield and into the history books.

Different Bow styles can be seen on the line, on any given summers Sunday afternoon, these include Long Bows, Recurve Bows, Mongolian Bows, Compound Bows and many more besides.