Matt Lewis and Eleanor Janega are back at the 14th century village at Cosmeston to uncover how our medieval ancestors endured the heat, hard labour, and high stakes of the medieval summer.
Joined by experimental archeologists Caroline Nicolay and Tom Timberell they are getting hands on with everything from farm work to making medieval sun cream! But to really understand how they lived, they have to go medieval, by getting dressed up in replica 14th century clothing, from breathable linens and wools to straw hats.
Eleanor tries her hand at thatching a roof and investigates the vital role women played in the years following the black death in trades traditionally done by men. She then cools off medieval-style with a wild swim in a local river, whilst Matt gets hot in the kitchen, working up an appetite with Caroline prepping a historic feast.
But it's not all hard work for Matt, he gets a break from the kitchen to meet up with storyteller Jason Buck who tells them the legend of the Wise Men of Gotham, a folk tale that surprisingly connects bad King John to Batman!
Coming together for a sunny medieval picnic, Matt and Eleanor learn the ultimate lesson of the season: to survive a medieval summer, you must make hay while the sun shines and enjoy a meal with your friends whenever you can!
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