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WELCOME to The Shire of Bestwode

This is the recognized website for the Shire of Bestwode of the Society for Creative Anachronism, Inc. and is maintained by David Rutherford. This site may contain electronic versions of the group's governing documents. Any discrepancies between the electronic version of any information on this site and the printed version that is available from the originating office will be decided in favor of the printed version.

The Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA) is a non-profit educational organization dedicated to researching and re-creating the customs, combat and courtesies of pre-seventeenth century Western Culture. It concentrates on the European Middle Ages and the Renaissance. The society was incorporated in 1968 under the laws of California, with branches across the United States, Canada, Sweden, New Zealand, England, Germany, Italy, Australia, Japan and Korea. The society recognizes a tournament held in Berkeley, California on May 1, 1966, as its founding date. As of December 2007 the society has more than 32,000 paid members spread throughout the world, those members are separated into19 Kingdoms (regional chapters). Each Kingdom is ruled by its own King and Queen who are chosen by combat two to three times a year.

Members re-create the "best" pastimes and crafts of the Middle Ages with SCA participants devoting their free time to tournaments, educational collegiums (classes), feasts, revels, the many forms of medieval warfare, and all sorts of arts and sciences dating from pre-1600s western Europe.

The society is a re-enactment and re-creation organization, intended for participants rather than spectators as are most Renaissance Faires. Anyone may attend events of the SCA, provided he/she is willing to wear pre-seventeenth century clothing, conform to the By-Laws and rules of the SCA and behave as a lady or gentleman.