Sharp end of history (From Basingstoke Gazette)

Sharp end of history

4:00pm Thursday 28th April 2011 in News By Chris Gregory

ROUNDHEADS and Cavaliers did battle once more at Basing House as part of a re-enactment from the English Civil War.

Around 200 members of the Sealed Knot re-enactment group gathered at the ancient site in Old Basing on Easter Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday for the annual event.

The history buffs put on skirmishes and live demonstrations of weaponry, to teach people about the three-year siege of the Marquess of Winchester’s Royalist forces between 1643 and 1645.

There were also workshops teaching visitors how to handle pikes and swords, play with regimental drums and learn medieval pastimes.

Gareth Owen, of the Hawkins Royalist regiment, said: “It’s been brilliant and we’ve had a brilliant audience. It is helping people to understand the site.

“The battle for Old Basing was pivotal in the Civil War. It was the biggest privately-owned house in the country, was on the main London road and was a thorn in the Parliamentarians’ side.”

Around 400 people turned up on each day to watch the action. Among them were Andy and Amy Robinson, of Pump House Way, Rooksdown, Basingstoke, and their one-year-old daughter Molly.

Mr Richardson, 37, said: “I quite like it – it’s quite different to the kind of stuff that we would normally do on a bank holiday. The demonstrations looked well-organised and safe, but still good fun.”