The Fletchers were delighted to welcome the garden historian Advolly Richmond on 8 February 2022 for a fascinating talk on the rise of archery as an elite pastime in the late eighteenth and nineteenth century.

She showed us many intriguing images of the high status archery events held on the great estates, which were open to women as well as men. Special costumes (green with yellow trimmings) and hats (the feathers indicating the champions) were devised. Landscapes were fashioned to make these events splendid as well as competitive occasions. Wealthy families in the Welsh and Shropshire Marches were particularly significant in this activity, especially Sir Foster Cunliffe of Acton Park near Wrexham who founded The Royal British Bowmen Society in 1787 with equal numbers of men and women. 

Our thanks to Advolly for her stimulating talk. For more details  see advolly.co.uk