The fletcher

Good arrows
The stall next to Nicky Saunders' wool weaving stall belongs to fletcher John Hamilton from re-enactment group Carrick 800. Documentary records show that a fletcher actually lived in Roxburgh and probably would have sold his wares in the local market in medieval times. John's stall was laid out with all of the tools necessary to make arrows and add their stabilising feather flights.

'You can imagine that there would have been a division of labour in medieval times. One person would have made the shaft of the arrow, a blacksmith would have made the points and another person would have applied the feathers. It wouldn't have been unreasonable for a whole family to be involved with the different roles,' says John.

Goose feathers
Geese were popular birds for the fletching trade. 'Their feathers are ideal,' he says. 'The fletchers would have to organise themselves with a supply. There are only so many feathers in a bird and if you plucked them all it would take a while for them to grow back. The bird may also object of course!'

In making an arrow, the shaft has to be prepared, the point fitted and feathers attached with animal based glue and thread. 'The hardest part of making an arrow is carving the nock (the slot to receive the bow string),' says John. 'A well-nocked arrow should remain on the bow string if you let it hang, then with just a flick of the finger, or any vibration, it should release. A skilled fletcher would get this right every time.'

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