The group began organizing in the early 1980’s. The founding member was Brother Justinian of Rakovec who got the idea of starting an SCA group in Johnstown when he became involved with the Greensburg shire of Nem-Ra-Noq (later named Nemoralis Noctua). The group was incipient under Nem-Ra-Noq in 1985 as St. Martin’s Field.

The name St. Martin’s Field was deemed to be too close to St. Martin’s in the Field, a famous church in London, so a new shire name was needed. The choice of St. Swithin’s Bog stemmed from the watery connotations of St. Swithin himself (who apparently caused forty days of rain after his gravesite was moved) and the Johnstown area, famed for its three floods. We came out of incipiency in 1986 under the name St. Swithin’s Bog.

In the mid-1990’s, the shire began pursuing baronial status after discovering that shires were not permitted to give local awards. Baronial status was achieved in 1998, with Sara Charmaine of Falkensee elected the first landed baroness. The Canton of Westland Mor was started when the group became a Barony.

The group held its first event in May 1986 at The Ridge outside Johnstown, and its first 12th Night in January 1987, a small get together at the home of Charmaine and Justinian. The first 3-day event was held in July 1990 at the Saddle Club in Salix.

The first newsletter was named “The Reed Mace,” and was published from 1987 to 1989. “The Sentinel” began publication in 1992 and has been published continuously since that year. It became an electronic publication in 2002.

In the 1980’s, members of the group were involved in the beginnings of fencing in the East Kingdom, also brewing, heavy weapons fighting and garb making. In the late 1980’s and 1990’s, the group was known for it’s middle eastern dancing under the direction of Esmeralda Andaluza. In the late 1990’s and 2000’s, our fencers became a force in Æthelmearc to be reckoned with.

Written by Baroness Sara Charmaine of Falkensee