The Medieval Tournament held at Eglinton in August 1839 was intended to be the most magnificent and glorious expression of the revival of chivalry. Archibald William Montgomeria, the 13th Earl of Eglinton, spared no expense in transforming his castle and grounds for the event. A luxurious pavilion was constructed to hold a grand banquet and ball, and the tiltyard was the very epitome of the field described by Sir Walter Scott in his account of the tournament as Ashby de la Zouche. Eglinton's guests dressed in the finest costumes, and knights in armour honed their skill at arms. The event captured the public's imagination, and nearly 100,000 tickets were issued.