Why have we moved to Francis Field?
In a word- Space.
In March 2011 the City of St. Augustine completed a land deal with the Federal government aka the Castillo de San Marcos which allowed for half of the of the De Mesa Yard in the Colonial Spanish Quarter to be transferred to the Castillo in exchange for complete Right of Way authority of the section of Avineda Menendez across from the De Mesa Yard, to be returned to the Florida Dept of Transportation. While the Committee for the Night Watch has enjoyed an outstanding relationship with the Museum, there is no longer room for the British Camp at this location. We have secured the City of St. Augustine’s Francis Field, a 4.3 acre site for our British Encampment.
Big question. We'll devote some space to this one. The British Night Watch is a coordinated effort by The Committee for the Night Watch, Inc.. You can see the committee members here. Starting immediately after the end of one event, we start planning for the next one, and have regular meetings throughout the year to plan, and then fine-tune the plans.
While the event is primarily focused on the Night Watch Parade, a variety of activities are planned to provide an enjoyable experience for both the participant, and the visitor. Planning for the next event starts with feedback from our participants, and the public's reactions, as well as the Committee's observations. We compile the information, and then work through what aspects of the event worked, what aspects didn't, and what needs fine tuning for the future.
This event is different than most, as it is not run by an historic site, or government entity- it is completely run by experienced reenactors, with a lot of freedom and leeway to do as the event requires for the best possible experience, within the framework of our guidelines.
The committee members are responsible for all areas of the event, from arranging for all event permits, hay, firewood, bathroom facilities, to purchasing and moving the supplies for the Jollification. It's a lot of work, and we are looking to improve our volunteer efforts in the future to spread the love around.
Once the event is over, then it's cleanup time!
The financing for the event comes from a variety of sources, and the funding effort begins immediately after a completed event. We are supported through private donations, in-kind donations, and a grant from the St. John's County Tourist Development Council. Funds are limited, and we try to stretch every dollar to put on the best event possible. If you've ever wondered why we don't purchase X for the event, the answer is probably due to funding limitations.
This question is probably the one we hear most often! Please, be assured that we, as a Committee, have inquired annually with the NPS to have our camp located on the Fort Green, but it is against the current policy of the Castillo to allow this. The same answer applies to staying inside the fort at night. If the policies of the Castillo change, you the participant will be among the first to know.
Each year, a commemorative coin is struck and issued to registered participants. We strive to issue authentic coins, with a definite look and feel to them, and in some cases we have had to add a blemish to help collectors notice that it is not original! The coins are issued at the 2:00 Pay Call ceremony on the Parade ground at British camp. Military personnel are issued first, then unattached civilians as soon as the Trooping is complete. If you wish to receive a coin, you must be a REGISTERED participant, and must be present in camp at 2:00 on Saturday.
You're darn tootin' there are! First as a participant in the British Night Watch, you must be dressed in clothing authentic to the British Period in St. Augustine, 1763 to 1783. For some answers on how to dress, take a look Here. You must conform to the dress of the period to participate in the British Night Watch as a reenactor participant. For our public participants that are dressed outside of our time frame, you may still march in the parade with the general public, behind our reeenactors. If you have found this page, and are NOT a Reenactor, please visit our Public website at www.britishnightwatch.org and join in the Parade Saturday night as a Public Participant.