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About the Barony of the South Downs |
| Updated: Oct 3, 2007 |
General and historical information on the SCA group based in Atlanta, Georgia USA.
CONTENTS
> A very brief background on the Barony
> Flyers and reports from past events
> Local history from 1994
> The South Downs in England
> Local institutions: Red Tower, Midwinter A+S, Local awards
> Various items of some significance in the Barony, past and present
Albert Grozan, Assorted Kindling, Baronial Artisans and Artisans' Event,
Choristers' Guild, Dance, Farspeaker List, Flossie, Illumninati, Interbaronial
Peace, Medieval Knightly News, Mermayde Keepe, Peach Curry, The Phoenix,
Purpure, St. Cadfael, Thomas the Wordsmith
Looking for the official
site for the Barony? You're in luck. 
Please come back when you can and learn more about its past.
Brief background
The barony is the oldest and largest settlement in eastern Meridies. The origins of the Barony date to the early 1970s on the campus of Georgia Tech with some students who would in time become Peers of the Realm, some of the very pillars of the kingdom. Some folks from here moved and started groups in new areas. For example, Erik of Telemark and Brigit Olesdottir (once known as Brigit of Loch Ri) moved to Knoxville and helped start what would become the Barony of Thor's Mountain.
Flyers and reports from past events
The reign of Conmaol and Ximena, Part 1
This covers happenings from Nov 1999 through Nov 2001.
Web pages that I've hosted for SCA functions (2000 to present). Event flyers, registration forms.
Local history: 1994
I was the baronial historian that year. I've posted four pages, one per season, from my collection of my notes from meetings and events. It was NOT a quiet year for the barony.
The South Downs, England
In the modern world, the South Downs is a specific region of hills in southeast England. A National Trail called the South Downs Way follows the escarpment and runs from Winchester to Eastbourne. The link goes to a government site with much current and historical information. The surrounding lands have an official designation — Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Sounds like a great place to go.
Local institutions
Red Tower
One of the premier tournament events in Meridies since before
it was a kingdom.
Read about past events (from the flyers)
going back to 1975.
See the winners of the Red Tower Lists
and the Baron's Prize Lists.
Midwinter A+S
For years, this has effectively been a regional A+S event for Eastern Meridies. Like Red Tower, this was (and on occasion, is) also held at Indian Springs State Park for many years. In 1997, this event saw the elevation of Kytte Meliora Stevenson into the Knighthood of the Society — the first lady knight in Meridies. Many, many people dropped in just to see that part of the event.
The Order of the Red Raven
This is the local service order for the Barony.
The South Downs Order of Chivalry and the Hearts of the South Downs
Membership into these orders is bestowed, respectively, by the ladies and lords of the Barony.
The Tower Awards
These are the local-level awards for service, the arts of peace, and the arts of war.
Random and stray items of some significance in the Barony, past and present
Albert Grozan
A crude, unwashed beggar who at one time lived in the stables at Greenhill Keep. He has an odd resemblance to Sir Robert Greenheart (see Order of St. Cadfael, below). Albert has been known to infiltrate the kitchen at local events and once entered a marvellously ridiculous entry at a past Midwinter A+S: a "phlegm collection" from a dozen peers of the realm.
Assorted Kindling
At one time, a four-person recorder consort that played Period music for courts, revels, and the Medieval Knightly News.
Baronial Artisans and Artisans' Event
Flourishing during the early '90s, the Baronial Artisans held positions of both honor and responsibility. At Midwinter A+S, there would be competitions for these positions. The chosen winners would get in free to baronial events for the coming year. However, they were also free to be called upon for baronial projects and were expected to teach at Artisans' Event — typically held in June.
Choristers Guild
The group has existed since about 1980. The leader for much of this time was Mistress Christianna MacGrain (also see Mermayde Keepe below). From 2003-2005, Lady Eorann took the reins with Christianna's full blessing.
The Choristers sang at many, many SCA gatherings over the years. Perhaps 100 different people have come and gone through the group. For well over half its history, the group met at the residence of Baron William de Montegilt, OP.
The group did a special performance for Conmaol and Ximena's investiture. To honor Ximena's heritage, they sang two pieces from the Cantigas de Santa Maria (in Galician Portuguese, circa 1200!) accompanied by Peach Curry.
Dance
The Barony is known for dancing after the Saturday feast to go into
the wee hours at weekend events. Indeed, there was also dance in the earlier
days of the Barony. The only name I can offer currently is Mistress Morgan
o Saincler.
A talented couple named Dugath and Aurora revived dance in the Barony in
the mid '90s. They led successful revels, performed at demos for the public,
and (Aurora in particular) brought new dances to the barony. Their successors,
Kiraanna and Luke, did more of the same with even more new dances in the
late '90s.
Then Peryn and Rhydderch brought CDs of dance music (not just one dance
per tape!) and raised the bar with introductions of fun, new English
Country dances and challenging Italian balli to the local repertoire, while
not ignoring the less-authentic dances that have been enjoyed across the Society for decades.
Farspeaker List
The local phone and address list, published once or twice a year. Christianna produced it from '93-'96, Morgan & Margritte from '97-'99, then I took over in 2000 and made it a lot more complex (hee hee) by stuffing in tons of information. It comes in two versions: a booklet with 28 or 32 pages and a smaller pocket-size booklet with 20 or 24 pages and fewer details.
Flossie
She is said to be a lowborn English woman. She perpetrated her feasts and songs upon the local populace at various events in Meridies for two decades. She also has an odd resemblance to one of the earliest members of the group and the kingdom, Baroness Margarethe the Dog, OP.
(South Downs) Illuminati
The former group consisted of folks who went over to Kytte's place, or Padraig's place (that's HL Padraig O'Seachnasaigh) when those gentles were hosting workshops for designing and painting scrolls for awards and such for Kingdom and Barony. Some local folks continue to work on scrolls individually.
Interbaronial Peace
An event that was held at least twice between the Barony and our friendly neighbors to the east, the Barony of Bryn Madoc, as an alternative to an inter-baronial war/skirmish/battle/feud/etc. The last one was held in the early '90s and featured a lively, rambunctious activity known as "medieval football". Picture a soccer-like game played with an old Nerf football mummified in duct tape ...
Medieval Knightly News
Vocal comedy for an SCA audience performed by Viscount Sir William Colquitt and Master Thomas "the Wordsmith" (also see below) during the late 1980s and early '90s, mainly at Red Tower. Poked fun at peers, plenty of puns. A young damosel named Danielle and myself took over for two years before her departure.
Martin revived the News in 2000 and performed for several more years. His main co-anchors were Duke John, Mistress Rhiannon, Master Cathal, and Signora Serena. And for Red Tower 30, William and Thomas came back for a rare performance! Sadly, it was Thomas's last performance too.
Mermayde Keepe
Large household / loose affiliation of associates and friends, with a focus on hospitality-related service, led by Mistress Christianna MacGrain. The mermayde (or mermaid) is the main charge on her arms.
Notus
The name for the local/regional newsletter when Meridies was but a part of Atenveldt (mid-1970s). HL Carol Jane Ravenridge chose to use NOTUS again for the title of local newsletter from May 2002 through 2005.
Peach Curry
A band that played both Middle Eastern-style and European Renaissance dance music at SCA events during 1999-2003. Most of the band members were also members of the Barony. I maintain a site for the band.
The Phoenix
The name of the local newsletter from 1997 through part of 2001. Lord Morgan MacLain and Lady Margritte of Ravenscroft made the change and published a superlative newsletter for about three years.
Purpure
The name of the local newsletter for more than a decade until 1997. Named for the color of the paper used and, before that, the color of the print from the mimeograph copying.
The Order of St. Cadfael
A select tournament company headed by the fighters of Greenhill Keep (the household of Sir Robert Greenheart) that hosted several pas d'armes during the late 1990s.
Thomas the Wordsmith
Thomas Megatherium of Castle Leviathan, called the Wordsmith. He was truly larger than life. Six and a half feet tall. Deep, booming voice. "I am the Wordsmith! Hear me. Hear my words." Thick black hair (silver in later years), heavy beard, pipe. Flowing black and purple attire.
He was a poet, playwright, performer, a Companion of the Order of the Laurel, and more. It is said that he and Master Cathal traded off being Kingdom Bard and/or Poet Laureate for "about ten reigns". The performance of his "Voices of Camelot" was a highlight of Red Tower 20. He helped start the "Medieval Knightly News" (see above). He passed from this life from a heart attack in November 2002. Many people from the olden days of the kingdom from South Downs and Bryn Madoc paid their respects at his funeral.
Your feedback is most welcome!
Original page posted: October 18, 1999. Links tested: September 2, 2007. Last tweaked: October 3, 2007
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The address for this page is [ www.therotunda.net/barony/index.html
]
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