On the 17th May, I was lucky enough to watch and be a part of a re-enactment organised by the national re-enactment group ‘Militias of Anglia’.
The scene was set in 1643 based on the English Civil War between the Royalists and Parliamentarians. The Militias of Anglia demonstrated military drills, crafts and numerous skills from the time including activities whole family could get involved with.
There were military displays i.e. pike and musket drills, as well as fantastic artillery demonstrations for everyone’s entertainment.
The 17th Century encampment showed us how the soldiers and civilians lived and dressed at the time including cooking on an open fire (they cooked boiled ham for their tea) and there were different children’s games from the era i.e. throwing horseshoes around a pole, skittles, splat the rat and placing parents in the docks. There were also historical talks about women fighting in the civil war alongside the men.
I really enjoyed seeing ‘Thomas’ the canon being used, it was extremely loud when it was launched and holding a musket was very heavy. I also learnt how to hold a pike (stick) correctly as a junior solider recruit and was given a silver coin as payment.
A great day out which my whole family loved as well as learning about our English history.
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