Keener students of antiquarian toxophily will already be aware that the earliest known record of the club can be found in the embroidery of the Bayeux Tapestry. Mustering at Hastings in unusually good order, it was in fact a Muttley Crew Archer who loosed the first arrow of the famous engagement.
Shooting red in strong winds and momentarily distracted by a trespassing dog walker, he pulled his release and caught a nearby spectator in the eye. Undeterred, he pushed past ranks of Yeomanry GB who, accustomed to marked distances, were still adjusting their sights, and brought down an advancing Norman knight to recover a convincing 10 with his white. Typically, the victorious opposition later nullified the shot on grounds that the legs didn’t count.
Later, in the 12th Century, while on the run from King John, Sir Robin of Loxley took shelter in Muttley’s woods for several weeks.
His 936 over 40 remains unbroken as the course longbow record. Only the Polar Bear was missed, which he put down to the deceptive length of the shot, a moist bow string, mud underfoot, the poor quality of local mead, too many flies, movement behind the target, Marrion talking too loudly, witchcraft and the sun in his eyes.
To this day, many visiting archers purposefully miss all our bear targets as a mark of respect for the great man.
In 1415, as the regular war with France was scheduled, Muttley Crew once again answered the King’s call. Arriving at Dover a day late due to a mix-up over train times, the ever-resourceful club hired their own shipmaster and set off for Agincourt.
Meeting no resistance at the beach landing, they marched on the nearest town, only to find themselves heartily welcomed by all. Surprised by so many of the French speaking a language somewhat similar to English, they checked their bearings and realised that one of the Steves had held the map upside down as they left port, leading the ship instead to the Isle of Wight.
Muttleys still take great pride that, thanks to their forebears in small part at least, the distant Island continues to be a loyal outpost of Great Britain today.
The advent of gunpowder led to a loss of interest in the bow generally, and little is known of the club during the following few hundred years.
Thankfully, a resurgence in target archery during the 19th Century brought some new hope for the tradition and the club. Legend has it that it was during a private shoot-through in the woods when Queen Victoria first declared herself unamused, after the Chairman’s innocent remark about Prince Albert’s eccentric cant was misheard by Her Majesty.
In more recent years, any club links to The Royal Family are, of course, undisclosed for security reasons. Similarly, we are unable to confirm the rumour that HRH Prince Phillip had to be walked off an Open Shoot in 1994 for repeatedly drawing three-under in the Hunting Tackle classification.
With their huge range of bow and shooting styles, and the accumulated wisdom of centuries, The Royal and Ancient Muttley Crew Archers were the ideal choice as technical advisors to many film and television productions.
Robin Hood Prince of Thieves, The Lord of the Rings, Game of Thrones, The Hunger Games and that one where Russell Crowe tries to do a Geordie accent, are just a few of the Hollywood blockbusters which the club had no involvement in making whatsoever.
Here's hoping for another thousand years!
Professor Shafton Stringwell-Taut
Club Historian - April 1st 2025