Catching up around the campfire, sampling the delights of cider country, sleeping under the stars, and – of course – fantastic battles … what a brilliant Bank Holiday weekend in the sun and mud of Much Marcle with our comrades in the Sealed Knot!

The May Bank Holiday kicked our reenactment season off with a proper bang, with so much fun, laughter, friendship and – of course – brilliant battles, and the chance to sit around the campfire and catch up.

With the weather so up and down, the ground – as they say in horse racing – was “soft going”. But even the odd stuck wheel didn’t stop us getting stuck in … to the excellent tour of the Weston’s Cider Mill round the corner! For a rosy-cheeked few there was an early night, while the rest of us gathered around the campfire.

Over the next days it was time for battle! For the new members in our ranks, it was a thrilling first experience of the clash of cannons, musket, pike, and cavalry. This battle was different as it included a band of ‘clubmen’ – these were groups of local farmers, craftsmen, and occasionally even local gentry who were angry at the privations forced on them by both sides and gathered to fight off any approaching army. In this case, they sided with Parliament – but only after chucking apples at the Royalists! Whether we were taking on the enemy pike formations with our friends in Fairfax’s Brigade, charging into the Royalist lines with clubbed muskets, or warding off charges of cavalry, it was brilliant to fight alongside our comrades and put on a great show for the public.

Miraculously, the weather held for the battles and we were able to get home, tired and sunburnt but full of smiles! A huge thank you to Charles Gerard’s Regiment of Foote for organising such a great weekend – we can’t wait until the next one!

@english.civil.war

💥⚔️⛺🍻😊 Look at what we got up to at the weekend! What a brilliant Bank Holiday weekend in the sun and mud of Much Marcle with our comrades in the Sealed Knot. So much fun, laughter, friendship and – of course – brilliant battles, and the chance to sit around the campfire and catch up. A bit of a classic muster that’s making us look forward to our next even more! We’re at Scampston Hall in North Yorkshire on second May Bank Holiday weekend – want to give it a go? Drop us a message and take part for as little as £10, with your kit provided! This hobby has something for everyone and this summer you could: 💥 Fire a cannon! ⚔️ Fire a musket and go into hand-to-hand! 🥁 Be a drummer and lead the regiment! 𓐬 Or block in with our pikeman to take on the enemy! If that’s not your thing then join our living history, where you can learn traditional skills 🔨🪡🍳 Click on the link in our bio and visit earlofmanchesters.co.uk or email earlofmanchesterspr@gmail.com and discover a brand new hobby you’ll love! #history #culture #heritage #17thcentury #historic #historical #culturalheritage #hobby #hobbies #newhobby #trysomethingnew #takepart #camping #friends #sealedknot #reenactment #historical reenactment #reeloftheday #reel #joinus #fun #britishhistory #england #countryside

♬ Fun Time – HVRDVR

We’re at Scampston Hall in North Yorkshire on second May Bank Holiday weekend – want to give it a go? Drop us a message and take part for as little as £10, with your kit provided! This hobby has something for everyone and this summer you could:

💥 Fire a cannon!

⚔️ Fire a musket and go into hand-to-hand!

🥁 Be a drummer and lead the regiment!

𓐬 Or block in with our pikeman to take on the enemy! If that’s not your thing then join our living history, where you can learn traditional skills 🔨🪡🍳

Visit our join up page or email earlofmanchesterspr@gmail.com and discover a brand new hobby you’ll love!