In this chest are replica arrows and archery equipment.
The arrows are made from either poplar or ash, and the feathers are bound to the shaft by a linen thread as 16th century glues were not waterproof. The nock end, which fits to the bowstring, is reenforced with horn to stop it splitting.
The arrows have different arrowheads for different purposes. Larger broad-head arrows with wide blades were mainly used for hunting animals. They are designed to make a larger wound in an unarmoured target in order to cause blood loss should the arrow miss a vital organ. Arrowheads with smaller blades are for shooting unarmoured people.
For armoured targets, an archer would use a bodkin arrow which had a simpler, solid arrowhead and no blades. These were much more effective at punching through plate, mail, or cloth armour, but caused smaller wounds. The broader diameter arrows on display here are fitted with Tudor bodkins and were common in the 16th century.
The cloth arrow bag was used for carrying arrows, and would have contained a sheaf of 24 arrows, separated by a spacer.
You’ll also be able to see a bowstring, and some beeswax. Beeswax was applied to the bowstring to reduce weather damage.
The artefacts in this chest were crafted by Richard Head Longbows, and generously gifted by the Worshipful Company of Fletchers.