Knights of Avalon

 
 My collecting and history interests
 

 

For anyone who has an interest in Simon de Montfort I'm happy to report there is a new novelized history by Katherine Ashe.

 

Montfort - The Founder of Parliament The Early Years 1229-1243

The second volume is called Montfort - The Viceroy 1243-1253 and will be out in a few weeks with the last two volumes out later in the year... I look forward to reading them .

More details at www.Simon-de-montfort.com   

 
     
 

Its no secret that I have a great interest in Simon de Montfort, so I was delighted to receive this new figure produced by Replicants from their Lewis figures series.
Replicants is based in Lewes, a town in the south of England. Lewes has many claims to historical significance and here is the beginning of a series which seeks to portray some of the personalities connected to the town’s history

You can see this figure and others on my Simon de Montfort page

 

These are a few of my favourite sites Please click image for link

When I started The Knights of Avalon it consisted of a few pages and photographs on my favourite Timpo  Knights of the Round series. Dismayed by the wrongly named figures put up for sale on online auction sites, I thought I would help, putting a few names to the models. That was back in 1999, today my site is still growing. Found by a few chance visitors then the site now gets over 600 viewers a day, visited from over 42 different countries, it is truly an international hobby.

For those interested in a great period of English history I recommend joining the Simon de Montfort society which is based in the town of Simon de Montfort's last battle. of 1265 

    Simon de Montfort

   
In February 1978 Peter and Gilly Greenhill purchased the original brass moulds of the late Richard Courtenay and continue to produce figures of exquisite beauty with exact heraldic detail..

The writer George R. R. Martin needs no introduction, his fantasy literature is the best around. His collection of Heraldic Knights on his official web site are great as well. George R. R. Martin

Jim Lloyds Toy Soldier Show is a very new web site ,but knowing Jim it would be worth putting it in your favourites so you call again and again and see it grow.

Jim Lloyds Toy Soldier Show
Tye Roberts web sit is full of his beautifully painted medieval figures. Not his full time profession, but the quality of his work sits with the professionals. Well worth a look. Roberts Heraldic Knights
Steve Burns excellent history of Britains Swoppet Knights. If you are already a collector or just starting to collect these knights its a must see site. 

Britains Swoppet Knights

Brian Carrack's web site is a gem, you won't be disappointed, great photo's of scarce plastic figures. 

   

Toy Collector is a wonderful site for model and toy treasures. It’s run by very dedicated and very hard working team. At the moment it’s lacking good toy soldier content and wants more blogs on toy knights/ toy soldiers. Please check it out, look at one of my blogs and add your own.

   
 Thanks to fellow collectors

Although the site initially contained only my collection, its content has increased enormously by the generosity of fellow collectors . 

I would particularly like to thank,  

Alan Spalding for allowing me to photograph many models in his collection.

Peter Greenhill for supplying photographs, information and good advice.

Jan-Michael Mau for supplying pictures of his Elastolin collection. 

George R. R. Martin for loads of information and lots of encouraging words on the site.

Renato Fort for photographs and Arthurian information

John Gilliatt allowing me to photograph models from his collection

Frank Capolongo and Gerry Emmons members of the web based "Round Table " toy knight discussion group for the use of their photographs. 

Lastly although I have been a collector for some years my knowledge is greatly expanded by books and contact with other collectors. A site like this would not be possible without the knowledge of the following  friends or authors for all their information, this list is in no particular order of merit., Hans Jacobsson,  Norman Joplin, the Plastic Warrior team particularly Paul Morehead and Brian Carrack, James Opie, , Brian Goodall, Peter Cowan, Michael Maughan, Richard O'Brien, John Ramsay, Eileen King, Gordon Gardiner, Alistair Morris, David E Richter, John G. Garratt, Ron Smith, Marguerite Fawdry, Constance King

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Photographs and text is copyright robert hill

2009 all rights reserved