Muskets were fired! War cries were shouted! And sermons were preached! Not unlike our Parliamentarian predecessors in 1643, we took over Lancaster Castle last weekend and made it our home!
The Earl of Manchester’s garrisoned this impressive 11th Century castle and former prison to bring the English Civil War back to life. As well as displays of musket fire and pike drill, visitors got the chance to meet some of the personalities they may have encountered in the 1640s – including a surgeon, an apothecary (who was offering free tooth removals!), a leatherworker, a proprietor of an ale house, and a Puritan preacher.
Lancaster was besieged by Royalist forces led by James Stanley, the Earl of Derby, in 1643 and while the town fell and was pillaged, the castle remained in Parliamentarian hands for the rest of the war; it’s said the brutality of Derby’s forces turned what had been a broadly neutral town into a staunch Parliamentarian one!
Enjoy some great photos of the weekend by Emily Reilly:
We had a great time talking to local people and tourists about the English Civil War and the town’s part in it, whether we were marching into town (much to the surprise of many when they turned a corner to see us heading towards them!), taking part in displays, or bringing our encampment to life.
One of our favourite displays is the ‘speed firing’ contest. Musketeers during the English Civil War would be expected to fire at a rate of at least two shots per minute – undertaking the complex and fiddly process of using a muzzle-loaded matchlock musket in a matter of seconds, all while keeping your stores of gunpowder away from the lit match in your hand. Our musketeers showed their skill during a display, with some firing matchlock muskets and others with more modern flintlock muskets – can you guess which of our musketeers will fire first?
Video kindly supplied by Emily Reilly.
One particular highlight of the weekend was the chance to ascend the mighty John O’Gaunt Tower, with spectacular views across the county. From there, our ‘colour party’ fired from the same battlements from which Parliamentarian troops would have fired in 1643. It was a proud and stirring sight to see the Earl of Manchester’s flag fluttering in the breeze. Congratulations to those who did such a great job of firing!
Video kindly supplied by Lancaster Castle.
And particular congratulations to musketeer Scott, who ascended the tower – despite having a terrible fear of heights!
It was also great to welcome new recruits Alan and Roberto, as well as other friends from the Sealed Knot. Huge thanks to the people of Lancaster for their warm welcome and we hope to return again to defend them from wicked Stanley’s forces!
Photos by Mike Graham.