WEAPONS THAT MADE BRITAIN

PROGRAMME 2: THE LONGBOW

PROGRAMME OUTLINE

00.00 – 0.40

A general introduction to the series.

00.41 – 05.29

Mike Loades introduces us to the longbow and its central role in the English army’s victory at the Battle of Crecy in France (during the Hunderd Years War). In a modern re-enactment we see the deadly effect that thousands or archers shooting all together would have had.

05.30 – 09.07

At the Royal Military College of Science, experiments show the effect that arrows fired from various distances would have on a steel chest plate.

09.08 – 14.59

This section mentions some of the types of bows from medieval times and the different techniques for their use. We see a Tudor longbow recovered from the Mary Rose and meet a modern bow maker to see how they were constructed.

15.00 – 18.54

A group of beginners tries shooting arrows in rapid succession and learns some of the commands used. The bow maker uses dogfish skin – like sandpaper – to make the bow wood extremely smooth.

18.55 – 20.51

Mike explains the laws that were in play to enforce longbow practice.

20.52 – 23.18

We see a demonstration of the kit that an archer would have carried, and we find out about one individual mounted archer – William Jauderell.

23.19 – 27.39

We take a more detailed look at the run-up to the Battle of Crecy in 1346 and how the English crossed the River Somme in a daring escapade.

27.40 – 33.27

We find out more about crossbows, which were a more elaborate and expensive weapon only used by highly specialist and trained men. Mike carries out an experiment to see which type of bow is best in terms of speed, distance and damage caused to the opponent

33.28 – 42.19

Back to Crecy, historian Dr Andrew Ayten outlines how the battle progressed.

42.20 – 43.52

In another experiment we see how much damage an arrow storm would cause from different distances.

43.53 – 47.32

We hear about the extraordinary victory at Crecy and the crucial role played by longbows.