Having decided that we were going to go out on our own we realised that we would be needing a tent. As a family group we would either need a tent large enough for all of us or a separate tent for the children. We could not have managed two tents so we searched around for something big enough.

The round pavilion would not be suitable for our needs and the Burgundian type was too late for our period and we did not like the short roof height so we finally decided that we would make our own medieval tent.

Ania had found this painting by Simone Martini and we both agreed that was what we wanted. We wanted to keep the 'ski slope' shape of the roof but we would have to modify the design of the front of the tent slightly by having one larger entrance in the middle with an awning. This would allow the public better visibility into the interior of the tent.

Having found a supplier in London, Wolfin Textiles, who were extremely helpful and patient and as soon as Ania worked out the quantity of material we could order the canvas and over the Queens Jubilee bank holiday we cut out all the panels.

Using her skills as a costumier and seamstress, Ania was able to sew the basics of the roof together by the end of that month.

Meanwhile, I had built a pole lathe in the garden long enough to turn the wooden tent pole sections which were each about 7 feet long.

As we wanted to have the tent ready for the English Heritage event at Kirby Hall in August we agreed that all the main seams on the tent would be done by machine but everything else would be made by hand. This would speed up the process and give us more time to work on the details of the tent. .

All the rope holes were reinforced with metal rings sewn onto the canvas then covered by leather gromets which were moulded around the holes and stitched on.... 14 of them on the roof and another 18 on the curtain

The first time we put it up was scary, we had put too much work into the tent already to have to remake it if anything had gone awry. Luckily all we had to worry about was adjusting the length of the poles by a couple of centimetres.

Standing back to get a good look at the tent for the first time I knew that I was not happy with it. We had wanted to make something that would stand out from the other tents, a tent that would make a big impression. Although the inside looked cavernous and it's height would make it stand out it did not make the kind of statement that I was hoping for.

Too late to change anything now so we had to carry on. Waterproofing the canvas took a couple of weekends but a lot longer for the smell to go away and I was growing tired of those bloody gromets. Once the woodwork and groundsheet were painted we were ready to go.

Arriving at Kirby hall was even more nerve-wracking than the first time we put it up. We were now worried if the tent would stay up and how would it cope with the weather...

In the end we had nothing to worry about. Even while we were still putting it up other re enactors were complimenting us, it was going to make an impression. As for the weather, if it could handle the downpour that came on Saturday afternoon then I guess we have succeeded.