Hugh Soar
The Armguard: an appreciation
Hugh Soar narrates a surprising history… I wonder, when they unstrap their bracers, how many archers give more than a passing thought to this unobtrusive object, as it gets tossed carelessly into the bowcase? Yet, it has a history comparable with…
Bows over the Borders
Hugh Soar takes a look at bow making traditions from Scotland, France and Belgium The tradition of Scottish bow making, both longbows and crossbows, is ancient and honourable. Makers of hand bows – in Scotland called ‘bowers’ or ‘bowares’ –…
‘Mad Jack’ Churchill: Soldier and Archer
You might have heard the name as belonging to a man famous for carrying a bow into battle in WWII, but who was he? Hugh Soar reveals the archer underneath the reputation John Malcolm Thorpe Fleming Churchill was born on…
A Mystery Revived
Hugh D. Soar examines arrows from the past, and reveals what they might be able to show us about historical warfare and craftsmanship Traditional archery is not noted for mystery, but certain items recovered from the ‘Mary Rose’ have had…