Join members of The Sealed Knot Society as they re-enact aspects of the 1643 Battle of Coleford in both the Town Centre and on the Angus Buchanan VC Memorial Recreation Ground (Victoria Road)

Coleford Town Council has invited and sponsored The Sealed Knot to put on a re-enactment of the “Battle of Coleford” which occurred on 21st February 1643.  Members will be travelling from all over the UK to be in the town during the weekend and are expected to turn out in large numbers.

The Sealed Knot is the largest historic re-enactment group in Western Europe with a membership of approximately 4,000.  It is now more than 55 years old and is a registered educational charity in England, Wales and Scotland.  Its primary aim is to increase public awareness of the events of the English Civil Wars of the first half of the 17th Century.  It does so by delivering talks at schools, etc. and displays, through to major battle re-enactments involving hundreds of troops. 

The Battle of Coleford Memorial Plaque, situated in the Market Place, was donated by The Sealed Knot to Coleford Town Council and the people of Coleford on 20th February 2010 when it was unveiled by the then Chairman of The Sealed Knot, Arthur Jackson, and the MP for the Forest of Dean, Mark Harper.

The Battle of Coleford occurred on 20th February 1643 when a force of 2000 Royalist troops, including 500 horse, raised by the Marquis of Worcester around the Raglan area, arrived in Coleford (pop. C.500) en-route to attack the City of Gloucester.  Starting in Newlands Street they were engaged by a small local armed militia and townsfolk led by Colonel John Berrow. After nearly two hours of bloody fighting through the streets and lanes, during which the Royalist Commander, Colonel Sir Richard Lawley (or Lawdley) and some of the senior officers were killed, the locals melted into the surrounding forest leaving the Royalists to continue their way to Gloucester. 

On 23rd March 1643, whilst camped at Highnam, and after a long period of indecision, they were attacked by Parliamentarian forces led by Colonel Massie and Sir William Waller.  The entire Royalist army was either killed or captured.  Because the Royalist force lasted such a short period of time it became known as “The Mushroom Army”.

 

THE EVENT

Saturday, 8th August (approx. 1.15pm)

At the junction of Hampshire Gardens and Lawdley Road there will be a brief skirmish lasting about 10 minutes.  This precedes the main battle in town, and its purpose is to highlight to the residents that many of the streets in which they live bear names associated with the Battle of Coleford.  ‘Battle Close’, ‘Parliament Place’, ‘Royal Gardens’, are obvious but ‘Lawdley Road’ is named after General Sir Richard Lawdley who commanded the Welsh Royalist army that arrived in town of 20th February 1643 and attacked the local Parliamentary militia commanded by Colonel John Berrow, hence Berrows Mews.

Saturday, 8th August (1.30pm)

The main battle will commence and will converge on the Market Place from Newland Street   and the High Street.  You will see bodies of musketeers and pikeman engaging in a bloody skirmish as well as Royalist cannon trying to gain the upper hand.

 

IMPORTANT SAFETY ANNONCEMENT

Battle re-enactments can be dangerous, so please remain on the pavements behind the temporary barrier tape and follow the instructions of stewards and Sealed Knot personnel.  Muskets and cannon create loud bangs and a lot of smoke so please ensure that pet dogs are held secure and safe or perhaps removed from the vicinity during the battle.  Similarly, take care of small children, particularly if they have sensitive hearing.  Protect your hearing by cupping your hands over your ears and open your mouth.  Do not plug your ears with your fingers.

 

Sunday, 9th August (11.00am to 4.30pm)

This event will take place on the Angus Buchanan VC Recreation Ground at the top of Victoria Road (WhatThreeWords: offline.directive.diner).  There will be portable toilets on site.

There will be a small Living History Village where you can see how people lived in the 17th Century and you can interact with the soldiers.

Look out for The Sealed Knot information and recruitment tent.

Arena displays will include:

  Artillery display

  Pike display

  Sword display (“Flashing Blades”)

  Musket display

  Drums & Colours.

           

Children, and Mums and Dads, will be offered an opportunity to practice army drill.

The main battle will commence at approximately 3.00pm and will last for one hour but lots will be happening beforehand as the troops take up their positions around the battlefield.

The battle will be largely fictitious and will portray what may have happened had some of the survivors of the Battle of Highnam escaped West in an effort to make their way back to South Wales but encountered their old adversaries in the Forest of Dean.

 

SAFETY ANNOUNCEMENT, AGAIN!

Follow the advice and directions given by stewards and Sealed Knot personnel and remain behind the double ropes, they are there to ensure you are safe.

 

AND FINALLY, ENJOY YOUR DAY OUT WHILE YOU LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CIVIL WAR IN THE FOREST OF DEAN.

We wish to thank Coleford Town Council for sponsoring this event and the Angus Buchanan VC Trust for providing the use of the land on which the battle is to be re-enacted.