Our reenactment season for 2023 has now come to a close – and what a year it’s been! We’ve been up and down the country to bring the past to life at some amazing locations, from stately homes to housing estates.

We thought we would ask our members what event was their highlight of their year, a mighty task considering that all together they attended a dozen events over the course of 2023.

But once the votes were tallied there was only one stand-out winner – Bidford-on-Avon!

For a third of our members this was their favourite event of the year – and it’s little surprise, as not only was it an event we put together as a regiment and run, but it was also a riot of fun, from our ‘Monstrous Regiment of Women’ chasing off the invaders to our ‘pioneers’ splashing about in the waters of the Avon. You can read our account of the weekend here.

Close runners up were the August Bank Holiday event at Margam Park, organised by Sir William Waller’s Brigade, our living history event at Foxdenton Hall near Oldham in July, and our perennial favourite of Nantwich in January, organised by the King’s Lifeguard, at which we won the Rosebowl Trophy for ‘Best Regiment’!

A huge thank you to everyone who came to watch us this year, our friends in the Sealed Knot who supported our events, those who hosted some spectacular weekends that we were honoured to be a part of, and the photographers who make us look so good!

Last, but not least, thank you to our members, without whom Manchester’s would simply not exist and who put in a Herculean effort to ensure we’re able to run around in wool, firing guns, and sitting around campfires.

What a year it’s been – one filled with friends, fun, laughter, and hard work. If you fancy giving it a go and becoming part of our amazing reenactment family, it’s couldn’t be easier: for as little as £10 you could have a taster weekend and we’ll provide all the reenactment kit you need! Visit our website, drop us a line, and you could be marching onto a battlefield with us!

Our favourite event of 2023: Bidford-on-Avon