This is a record of some of the events that Lord Robartes Regiment and its members has taken part in this year, starting with the most recent.
Stratford Armouries (29 November)
A small but perfectly formed display of musket and pack at this delightful venue. The ‘sword school’’ in particular was a real hit with both young and old ‘recruits’ learning the rudiments of sword fighting.
York (30-31 August)
The Parliamentary and Royalist Armies clashed in this spectacular re-enactment of the Battle of Marston Moor in 1644. Robartes pike and musket, along with the other Regiments of the Western Association, formed the right wing of the Parliamentary Armie, fighting against some of the King’s finest troops with the elan, gusto and determination that has grown throughout this campaigning season.
Weston-super-Mare (8-9 August)
The Army of Parliament were defending a specially constructed siege-work on the beach against numerically superior Royalist forces. Wherever the fighting was fiercest you’d find Lord Robartes troops, gallantly casting aside their weapons to grapple hand to hand with the Royalist troops who’d crossed the moat and stormed the 10 foot ramparts. Hurl them back into the sea!
Quentin School (4 July)
A school summer open day with a real difference - a living history camp and drill display from Lord Robartes. Great stuff!
Great Barford (20-21 June)
A cracking battle and a great spectacle. The Parliament Army marching over Great Barford’s historic bridge, drums beating and muskets firing, before engaging the Royalist defenders in a tough, gritty skirmish, with no quarter asked or given.
Nether Heyford ( 13 June) & Banbury Show (14 June)
Without doubt there is no better centrepiece for a town event or village fete than a display and skirmish by a Sealed Knot regiment such as Lord Robartes as our presence at Nether Heyford and Banbury showed. In particular our excellent ‘living history’ camp is a big draw, bringing to life the crafts and skills of the 17th Century.
See local press pictures - www.banburyguardian.co.uk
Loseley Park (23-25 May)
In the splendid setting of Loseley Park in Surrey over 1,000 men took the field in the first major engagement of the year. Over three days in the sweltering heat and heavily outnumbered by the Royalist forces the Parliamentary Army fought out the scenario of the defence of the Farnham Castle. Lord Robartes Pike, their ranks swelled by new recruits took the field as the largest Pike block of the Western Association of the Parliamentary Army and along with the Regiment’s musketeers, drums and colours could be found wherever the fighting was the fiercest. Often battered, but never broken, the Pike fighting as the army’s rearguard on the final day delivered a bloody nose to one of the King’s proudest regiments. For the West and Parliament!
Littlecote House (25-26 April)
The Regiment’s premier event of the year and pretty much as good as it gets for English Civil War re-enactment. Littlecote House was home to Colonel Popham, a Parliamentarian officer, and boasts England’s last remaining Cromwellian Chapel in a private house, a hall that dates back to medieval times and a fantastic Roman mosaic. Hotel guest and visitors witnessed probably one of the best Living History camps you are likely to see and an outstanding drill and display, including artillery and cavalrymen from Sir William Waller’s Regiment of Horse.
Stop Press: The Regiment will be back at Littlecote by popular demand in 2010.
Naseby (10-13 April)
An opportunity to literally walk in the footsteps of our forefathers as the Army of Parliament drilled on the original battlefield of Naseby, probably the defining engagement of the English Civil War in 1645. Find out more about the Naseby Battlefield Project.
Moot Hall, Elstow (5 April)
There are few better backdrops for our Living History camp and for a superb display of pike and musket and drums and colours as Moot Hall. This 15th century timber-framed market hall it set on the village green at Elstow, the birthplace of John Bunyan, author of
‘Pilgrim’s Progress’ and Parliamentarian soldier from 1644 to 1646. Now a museum containing beautiful period furniture, it illustrates the life and traditions of 17th century England.
See the Local News TV feature on this event:
URL: http://www.local-news.tv/search/moot
hall/v461-living_history_at_moot_hall/
Ramsey Grammar School, Isle of Man (3 April)
An excellent display performed by the Isle of Man detachment of the Regiment.
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Campaign Diary 2009