When: 12pm-3pm, Saturday 21 January 2023

Where: Nantwich, Cheshire (march to town square, followed by battle on Mill Island)

After two years of cancelled events due to the pandemic, we are delighted to be returning to the town of Nantwich with our comrades in the Sealed Knot – just in time for the event’s 50th anniversary!

For five decades, the Sealed Knot has marked ‘Holly Holy Day’, which celebrates the 1644 battle when the Royalist siege of the town was broken by Parliamentarian troops under Thomas Fairfax. Although a small battle, it would prove to have wide-ranging consequences for the future of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales.

The day features the massed march down into the town centre, with drums sounding and colours flying, before a usually very muddy battle on the small park at Mill Island – a mid-winter event not to be missed!

Hosted by the King’s Lifeguard of Foote, every year a small team of volunteers co-ordinates this fantastic event in the award-winning floral market town of Nantwich.

Town centre morning events:

  • 9am onwards – General activities:
    • Morris Dancers
    • Traditional ‘Plough Witches’
    • Meet Charles I
    • Sealed Knot interacting with public
    • Tours of St Mary’s Church
    • Announcements from stage in town centre
  • 10am – Musket Demonstration in Church
  • 10:15am – Pike demonstration in town centre & moving onto Pillory
  • 10:30am – Civil War Street names talk in Church
  • 11am – Drum demonstration in Church

Nantwich Museum events:

  • 10am & 11.30am – Battle of Nantwich Guided Walks. Book in advance and meet at the museum. £5 (£4 members, children free)
  • FREE Family activities until 3pm:
    • Handling armour
    • Trying costume
    • Badge making
    • Town trail
  • 11.45am – 12.45pm – Music by 17th century musicians Forlorne Hope

Reenactment schedule:

  • 12:45pm – Sealed Knot troops leave Malbank School to parade along Welsh Row to town square
  • 1pm – Troops arrive in town square
  • 1:15pm – Troop inspection
  • 1:30pm – Wreath laying including prayer by Rector & minute’s applause for Herbert Rowsell
  • 1:50pm – Artillery display on Mill Island
  • 2am – Battle on Mill Island
  • 3pm – Presentation of the Rosebowl to the winning regiment