The Guild stages displays that show some aspects of domestic life in a modest gentry household of early 17th century Britain. Our events take place within appropriate heritage properties throughout the United Kingdom. We differ from other 17th century history interpretation groups by having no military element, which makes us particularly suitable for events at smaller properties, or where disturbance to neighbours is an issue. We restrict the number of events we do each year to just three or four. Our event promoters have included the National Trust, English Heritage, private trusts and the museum, or educational departments, of town and county councils.

At the heart of our activities is the preparation and consumption of a typical mid-day meal in a small but moderately well-off gentry household. This central activity keeps the kitchen staff and servants fully occupied throughout the day, in food preparation, serving and clearing up afterwards. These activities provide plenty of opportunity for engaging the visitors in conversations about 17th century food, and the life of a servant at the time.

It can sometimes appear that our events are solely about food, but this is very far from the truth. In practice the ladies and gentlemen are only given forty minutes to consume their lavish dinner and during this time visitors are encouraged to interrupt their repast with more questions about the food and 17th century table etiquette, so it really is no picnic!

Before and after the meal, the ladies and gentlemen are in their separate rooms, where the ladies engage themselves in appropriate domestic pursuits, such as embroidery, lace making or music, while the gentlemen discuss business matters. The master of the house is usually cast in the role of one of the minor gentry of the county, and is a local Justice of the Peace. Justices, who were unpaid, were required to meet regularly in pairs, often in their own homes, to hear cases presented by the local constables, and to dispense immediate justice in trivial cases, or to refer more serious cases to formal court sessions. So our master of the house usually has a visiting JP as his guest.