What does a fletcher do?

A fletcher was a Medieval Arrow Maker. Obviously alongside the Bowyer (Bow Makers), they were an integral part of any army wish to wage a war.

Alongside the spear and the sword, the arrow was once the number one chosen battlefield weapon. Fletchers were in a position of high demand.

During the Hundred Years’ War (which lasted from the year 1337 to 1453) there was a huge demand for bows and arrows. Edward III, for example, had many made for his archers. An English army going to France might have needed to take hundreds of thousands of arrows with them.

Because English counties had to supply each their quota of bows and arrows when required, the quality varied a lot. By the 14th century, however, guilds for bowyers and fletchers were established. These ensured not only that bows and arrows were only made by trained men but that they achieved the necessary standards.