Sherwood Forest, Edwinstowe to host a English Civil War re-enactment

A key chapter in English history will be revisited next month during a two-day Civil War re-enactment.

On July 5 and 6, members of the Parliamentary-aligned John Bright’s Regiment of Foote will be based at RSPB Sherwood Forest in Edwinstowe.

The event will mark the role the region played during the conflict, which took place in the mid-1600s between supporters of King Charles I and those backing Parliament and Oliver Cromwell.

In August 1644, following the Parliamentarian victory at the Battle of Marston Moor, the Earl of Manchester moved south, targeting Royalist strongholds.

From his base in Worksop, he surrounded Welbeck Abbey, then held by the Royalist Earl of Newcastle, and summoned its surrender.

This re-enactment imagines a company of Parliamentarian soldiers seeking shelter and provisions in Edwinstowe, near the Welbeck estate, during that campaign.

The regiment will carry out military drills and manoeuvres in period costume, with opportunities for visitors to observe 17th-century weaponry and tactics. Activities for children will also be available.

Admission is free, though parking charges apply.