The Road to Canterbury

The Site

About the Site


Castle Camp Marshall
(Worcester County 4-H Center, Inc.)
92 McCormick Road
Spencer, MA 01562

Site Map is HERE

Site opens at 4:00 pm on Friday and closes at 12:00 noon on Sunday.

Our journey to Canterbury in these modern middle ages ends in Spencer, MA at lovely Camp Marshall, the Worcester County 4-H Center, Inc., in the heart of Massachusetts.
 
Camp Marshall features spacious, wooded areas to accommodate tenters who desire that atmosphere, as well as a series of rustic, wooden cabins for those who prefer lodges to canvas. (For more information on cabin rentals, please refer to the registration page.)
 
Our Tournament Field and Archery Range offer level, sunny spaces for the enjoyment of both participants and spectators of these martial activities. There will be space surrounding The Lists for tents and shades of all types, with the immediate surrounds of The Lists dedicated for periodesque structures to dwell or repose in. All tenting space will be available on a first come, first served basis.
 
Our Harvest Faire will be held on the Commons betwixt wood and Field, offering areas to stroll, shop and spectate, as well as a smattering of comfortable seating for those who wish to take their repose among the merriment.
 
The Tabard Inn abuts the Commons, and will be open all weekend to offer refreshment to shoppers and pilgrims alike, that they may take their leisure there and share tales or a board with friends.
 
Modern bathhouses, including hot running showers, are discreetly situated amongst the cabins and available for all guests to use.
 
A scenic lake rests at the foot of the tourney field.  (While lovely to admire, swimming or bathing in the lake is prohibited.)
 
The site boasts a newly constructed Great Hall in which our scrumptious feast will be served.  The Hall is vast enough to seat up to four hundred pilgrims in it's fullness, although guests will need to bring their own seating for Courts. Additional fully equipped bathhouses are attached to the Hall, and again available for all guests to use.

What's in the Area

Hospitals

Harrington Hospital
UMass Memorial

Local Attractions

Sturbridge, MA
Old Sturbridge Village
Spencer, MA
Salem Cross Inn
Brookfield Orchards

Hotels

http://www.sturbridge.org/lodging.asp

Tenting, Cabins and General Site Rules 

Tenting 

Our site features some level, grassy areas for tenting, as well as lightly wooded spots near and around the cabins.  As a routine precaution, campers are advised to check their chosen area for undesirable insect and plant life which may have stubbornly persisted to exist despite the best efforts of the site staff. 

All tenting space will be on a first-come, first-served basis; however, we ask that anyone wishing to erect a tent or shade in the area immediately surrounding the Lists use period or period-esque structures. 

Cabins 

Cabins of various sizes are available for a fee for the weekend.  The cabins are solid and clean, but should be considered rustic; they feature doors and screened windows, but have no shutters or electricity, and no flames of any kind are permitted in any building on site.  We have several family sized (sleeps 4 – 6), household sized (sleeps 6-8) and a limited number of clan sized (sleeps 8-10).  The cabins come with an approximate number of beds/bunks. We cannot guarantee a specific number or type (bed or bunk); however, if anyone has a special need regarding beds, please contact the autocrat, and we will attempt to accommodate your request.  Information on renting the cabins may be found in our registration section.

Cabins are not wheelchair accessible, and feature 2-3 steps at their entrance.

Bathing and Refreshment Facilities 

Two modern facilities for bathing and refreshment are located in the cabin areas, as well as in the Great Hall.  There are also several modern toilets near the Inn.  Portable toilets will be placed at various points in the main site. 

Vehicles 

Vehicles are permitted on the tenting and cabin grounds for unloading; however there is a moderate distance between the parking area and the List Field/Camping Area on the site. On Friday we will be allowing people to drive down to the field, drop off their camping gear, and then requiring them to return their vehicles to the parking area before setting up. NO VEHICLES will be allowed to stay on the field for any extended period of time. On Saturday morning, the same procedure will be in effect. However, due to the high amount of expected traffic on Saturday morning we are asking that gentles who do not need to drive down to the field carry their items down instead. Once the Tournament begins on Saturday morning, NO VEHICLES will be allowed down onto the field.

Site Rules 

  • Please be advised that no ground fires are permitted.
  • No pets are allowed, with the exception of service animals.
  • Consumption of alcohol is allowed with adherence to mundane laws. 
  • Barrels will be available for the disposal of rubbish at various points throughout the site; guests are asked to utilize these for all rubbish, including food scraps.
  • No fire of any sort is permitted in any building on site.
  • Swimming or bathing in the lake is not allowed
  • No unaccompanied minors will be allowed at this event.  Minors who attend with an adult other than their parent must have a Medical Authorization for Minors Form, with them.