The Siege and Battle of Nantwich Commemorated at Nantwich Museum

Events leading to the Battle of Nantwich in January 1644 are the subject of a new exhibition in the Your Space Gallery at Nantwich Museum entitled: "The Siege & Battle of Nantwich".  

Running from Tuesday 9 January until Saturday 24 February, the exhibition explores how the siege of the town by Royalist soldiers developed in 1643 leading to the battle which took place on 25 January 1644. 

Visitors to the exhibition will be able to follow the course of the battle, view various armaments, elements of uniforms and other items of the time.

Included in the events is a talk at 3.00 pm on Wednesday 24 January by Brian Cole, a researcher at the museum entitled "Nantwich Surrounded: A Walled Garrisoned Town". Tickets are available from the museum £3.50 per person (£2.50 Museum members).

The battle will be commemorated in the town on Saturday 27 January. Events at the museum on the day begin at 10.00 am with a Civil War Walk with another following at 12.00 pm (£3.00 per person, £2.50 Museum members). 

A Musketry and, for the first time this year a Pike Demonstration, led by members of the Sealed Knot takes place from 10.30 am to 11.30 am followed by seventeenth century music from local group "Forlorne Hope" from 11.30 am to 12.30 pm.

Visitors can find out more about the Civil War by viewing the museum's permanent display where they can see an original copy of the letter describing the battle from the victors Sir Thomas Fairfax and William Brereton to General Monroe.

A model illustrating the battle will be on display in the Joseph Heler Room upstairs whilst a visit to the museum shop will provide an opportunity to purchase items relevant to the battle including eight new Research Booklets.

"The English Civil War Re-enacted" booklet by Keith Lawrence is particularly relevant to Holly Holy Day explaining the uniforms and equipment of the Civil War soldiers which will be seen in the town.

Entry to the museum and exhibition is free. For further information contact: Nantwich Museum on enquiries@nantwichmuseum.org.uk or telephone 01270 627104

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RedShift to Host Community Stage as Roundheads Take on Cavaliers in Battle

Community Radio and Events organisation RedShift will once again be hosting the main stage in Nantwich Town Square on Saturday 27th January, as the troops prepare to re-enact the Battle of Nantwich.

The Battle was a key event during the first English Civil War in 1644, when a Parliamentarian army under Thomas “Black Tom” Fairfax defeated the besieging Royalist force of Lord Byron.

With a packed programme beginning at 10.00 am, the town square will be at the heart of the action during the morning, with various musicians joining compère Paul Boniface on stage. Also on and around the town square there will be the Domesday Morris Dancers, street entertainers and Plough Witches weaving their way through the crowd. A hog roast will be available and for the first time this year, Joseph Heler’s will be selling special Holly Holy Day cheeses.

Nantwich Museum will be hosting a Civil War tour at 10.00 am followed by a musketry demonstration by the Sealed Knot at 10.30 am and 17th century music from Forlorne Hope at 11.30 am.

Organised by the King’s Guard of the Sealed Knot, the Battle re-enactment has been an annual event in Nantwich for more than 40 years.  The armies will march from Malbank School and down Welsh Row, arriving in the town centre at 1.00 pm.  After a wreath laying ceremony at the war memorial, they will head down Mill Street at 1.30 pm and onto Mill Island for a spectacular battle display featuring muskets, pike and cannon at approximately 1.45 pm.

Anyone interested in volunteering as a steward for the event should visit www.battleofnantwich.org/volunteer.

For more information about Holly Holy Day, please visit www.battleofnantwich.org.

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