Spring has finally arrived, the lambs (not us just yet) are now running around in fields up and down the country, so that means one thing, the re-enactment season is getting under way!
After a great Winter, including our Feaste (more about that soon, promise!), a little jolly out to Nantwich in January and some other opportunities to catch up with each other, it’s time for the 2016 season to get underway properly as we venture out this weekend.
This weekend we’re off to North Hampshire for a battle at Basing House. During the Civil War Basing House, one of the biggest and grandest houses outside of London at the time. A fantastic Tudor Mansion, it was owned by Sir John Paulet who fought for the King. Being located within strategic distance of London, Basing House was under siege by Parliament 3 separate times during the war.
The final assault on the house started in August 1645. 800 Parliamentarians surrounded the walls of the castle. The Garrison inside held out, even when Parliamentarian support arrived and it wasn’t until heavy artillery arrived that the walls were finally breached on the 13th October 1645.
Today, the ruins of Basing Castle and its fantastic earth works still survive and are looked after by the local cultural trust. This weekend, member of the Sealed Knot will be re-enacting the final siege of 1645 and for the first time in a few years, Newcastle’s will be there.
The regiment are looking forward to getting back into the swing of things and getting stuck into another battle. We’re pleased that Thai, who came along to his first event with us at Edgehill last year, is going to be coming back for a second weekend with us and Alyssa, who has done a handful of events since joining last year will also be reprising her battle alter ego ‘Alan’ for the weekend and heading back in the pike block.
If you’re looking for something to do in the Hampshire area this weekend, then definitely come along and have a look at what we’re up to. There will be a living history camp set up in the castle grounds, showcasing life in the 17th Century both as a soldier and a civilian and there will be a battle on both Saturday and Sunday afternoon at 3pm. For more information, visit the Hampshire Cultural Trust’s Website.
DON’T MISS, the 15,000 brick Lego recreation of the house! In a small building near the old gateway, there is a re-creation of the Tudor House at it’s grandest and finest moment made entirely of lego! The picture below is just part of it!
