ROUNDHEADS and Cavaliers are set to fight it out on Wallingford Castle Mound in a major battle re-enactment featuring cannon and horses.

The English Civil War Society will set up a living history camp in the town centre on Armed Forces Day, Saturday, June 27 and stay for the weekend.

Hundreds of actors are expected to re-create battles on both days, living in civilian and military encampments.

Wallingford Town Council has invited the group and hopes the actors will bring the town’s history to life, attract tourists and educate the younger generation.

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Councillor Colin Dolton is chairman of the committee which will pay the society £10,000 to bring the show to town.

He said: “There is going to be quite a number of them, they have said they want it to be one of their major events next year, so it’s all quite exciting. The English Civil War Society do really good displays, it is quite realistic.

“Hopefully it will be good for shops and businesses and publicise Wallingford.”

Oxford Mail:

  • Richard King, left, dressed in a royalist officer’s uniform, and Cllr Colin Dolton at Castle Meadows

Actors will “do battle” on Castle Meadow on the Saturday and Sunday, opposing armies marching from opposite ends of the town to arrive at the castle and fight.

There will also be a civil war living history encampment in the castle grounds and a smaller military encampment in the Castle Meadow.

English Civil War Society member and Wallingford resident Richard King, 50, said: “Re-enactment is an exciting hobby for all the family.”

The Grundon technical labourer, of Hazel Grove, said: “Come down and experience history come to life.”

The council is hoping the hundreds of Royalists and Parliamentarians will be able to camp in the Bullcroft.

Mayor Jane Titchener said: “It will be a great event for the town. It is a great way to mark Armed Forces Day but also showcase Wallingford’s place in history and our important role in the civil war.”

The society’s re-enactors previously came to Wallingford Castle in 2000 but have not been back since.

Councillors have agreed to under-write the society’s costs but hope to make some of the costs back by getting the event sponsored.

When King Charles I raised his call to arms against Parliament in 1642, Wallingford became a garrison for Royalist troops.

He stationed a foot regiment under Colonel Thomas Blagge and Lord Digby’s horse regiment stationed in the town was involved in many local battles.

As Oliver Cromwell began to win the war, Blagge refused to surrender Wallingford Castle and it was under siege for 12 weeks before he gave in.

Cromwell ordered the castle to be destroyed and the remains were used around the town, including the building of the tower of St Mary-le-More church.

OXFORDSHIRE'S ROLE IN THE CONFLICT

  • THE English Civil War was fought between 1642 to 1651, during the reign of King Charles I, right
  • It saw supporters of the king, known as Cavaliers, battle against Parliamentarians, the Roundheads
  • It resulted in the execution of Charles I and England being ruled as a Commonwealth and then under a Protectorate by Oliver Cromwell between 1653 and 1659
  • Oxford was used as a Royalist capital during the war and Charles I held a war council in the city in April 1644
  • The Battle of Cropredy Bridge, in June of that year, was a historic win for the Royalists
  • Supporters of the king lost few casualties, compared to the Roundheads, who lost about 700 men
  • Troops were also based in garrisons around the county, including at Abingdon.
     

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