The mission of the Paston Project is to recreate the daily lived experiences of the Paston family and their world during the period of the Wars of the Roses (1455-87). Through interpretation and experimental archaeology, we aim to better understand the everyday tasks, roles, and responsibilities of late medieval English men and women while sharing our findings with the public.
Established in the summer of 2020, the Paston Project was started by a group of living historians with an interest in 15th century English history. The group expressed interest in recreating a family that had left behind sufficient primary source material that would allow for a reliable interpretation. What made the Paston family particularly appealing, aside from the thousand or more surviving letters, was the leading role that women played; we felt that this family would make for an interesting window into late medieval society. While only two of our members portray the actual Paston family (John III and Margaret), the majority of the members interpret the servants whom the Pastons employed.
The Paston Project’s mission is to recreate the everyday experience of late-medieval English men and women. As such, our goal is to participate in mostly civilian-based events where our members can demonstrate the various trades that interest them and would have had some relation to the historical Paston family. These trades include tailoring, embroidery, dying, cooking, medicine-making, and clerking. While our focus is mostly centered on civilian life, we also have members who portray the Paston family at war, ranging from John Paston as a man-at-arms to his retinue of archers. At military-focused events, we adopt a specific scenario, such as the defense of Caister Castle or the recruitment of soldiers before the Battle of Barnet, allowing the members to practice archery and to engage in fencing. All interpretation is conducted through the third person, but occasional scenarios might require first person interpretation.
The Paston Project hosts two main events per year at Henricus Historical Park: one in the fall around Martinmas, and one in the Spring around the time of the Battle of Barnet. In addition, we attend other regional events around the mid-Atlantic on a case-by-case basis. During the warmer off-season, the members also meet up to discuss research, work on projects, and visit museums to view their medieval collections.
Events
Upcoming Events
11/15/2025
Henricus Fall Event
Centuries before English settlers in America celebrated the harvest and end of the agricultural year with feasting, medieval England celebrated Martinmas with one last feast of fresh food before winter. This Saturday only (10AM – 5PM), the Paston Project is recreating how Martinmas would have been celebrated by East Anglian gentry and their household in the year 1470. Come and enjoy the sights and smells of a holiday feast while learning from the cook how food was prepared in the fifteenth century, watch an archery demo and learn about warfare from John Paston, observe how some medicines were made to prepare for winter colds, learn about embroidery and dyeing fibers from Lady Margaret and her servant, and make your very own livery badge to demonstrate your loyalty to the Paston family.
12/13/2025
Henricus CHRISTMAS Event
Amid the violence and bloodshed that marked the beginning of the Wars of the Roses, a Norfolk family and their household are celebrating Christmas in the year 1461. This weekend, the Paston Project aims to recreate the historical Paston family’s celebration of the Twelve Days of Christmas with cooking, games, and prayer services, while also interpreting a family caught up in a civil war..