Cannon will fire, drums will sound, and swords will clash as the English Civil War returns to Bolton in a fantastic FREE event – almost 375 years since the notorious ‘Bolton Massacre’!
Roundheads and Cavaliers will descend on Bolton School on 7-8 July for ‘The Storming of Bolton’ – an exciting weekend of thrilling battles and fascinating ‘living history’
The event will be FREE for local people and staged by costumed reenactors from The Earl of Manchester’s Regiment of Foote, the local regiment of the Sealed Knot reenactment society.
A fascinating living history encampment will be open from 10am until 4pm where you can…
- Learn about life in Bolton during the English Civil Wars!
- Take part in a fun scavenger hunt around the fascinating historical encampment!
- Listen to our fire-and-brimstone Puritan preacher, visit the apothecary, and discover the Gong Farmer’s smelly secret – but watch out for the Rat Catcher!
- Find out what it’s like to be a Parliamentarian soldier – watch muskets firing and join them as they drill for battle!
- Watch as cannons and muskets fire in a thrilling battle reenactment as the townspeople defend Bolton from the Royalists’ attack!
Battle will take place in the afternoon as Royalist forces storm the town’s defences and the Parliamentarian troops stage a desperate last stand!
Event details:
Where: Bolton School, Chorley New Rd, Bolton BL1 4PA
When: 10am – 4pm, 7-8 July 2018
Thanks to the generous support of Bolton School and a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund, the weekend forms part of a special project aiming to improve educational access for children from across the town.
Known as ‘the Geneva of the North’ due to its staunchly Puritan population, Bolton was attacked in May 1644 by forces led by King Charles’ nephew, the dashing Prince Rupert, on his way to relieve the siege of York. After repelling the first assault, Parliamentarian defenders hanged one of Rupert’s officers, which led to a notorious massacre when the Royalists finally stormed the town – with up to a thousand soldiers and civilians killed in the rout! Local magnate, the Earl of Derby, was later executed next to Bolton Market Cross for his part in the massacre and the third Civil War in 1651.