The School of the Sword was founded in its current form in 2002 by Caroline Stewart for the study and practise of  historical swordplay, following six years previously doing demonstrations of historical combat at many premier heritage sites and museums around the UK.

Members of the School have taught at international events across the UK and Europe and also worked with TV companies including the BBC, Channel 4 and Discovery Channel either performing historical combat or acting as historical weapons advisors.

The main research focus within the School is the interpretation of Francesco Alfieri’s rapier treatise, La Scherma and Nicoletto Giganti’s Second Book. Members of the School also study the Scienza D’Arme by Salvator Fabris, Manciolino’s Trattato di Scherma, Achille Marozzo’s Opera Nova and a variety of other contemporary sources.