On July 27 and 28 more than seven hundred English Civil War re-enactors will be in Marlborough giving residents and visitors a taste of seventeenth-century life in the town. The event – Marlborough Under Attack – is free to attend.
There will be a living history encampment in the Priory Gardens demonstrating how ordinary people lived and displaying some of their crafts and skills from 11am to 5pm each day.
The Merchant’s House, originally the home of Thomas Bayly the silk merchant, will open from 11 am until 4pm and will give an insight into the seventeenth century dining and family life. Live music will be played on seventeenth century instruments, the ladies from 1650 will demonstrate their needlework skills and there will be costumed characters in every room.
From 3pm to 4pm on both days on the Common there will be a re-staging of aspects of the Battle of Marlborough, 1642, when the town militia who supported the Parliamentarians tried to defend the town against the Royalists. It did not end well.
Mayor Mervyn Hall, who has a personal interest in local history, explained: “Marlborough was a strategic town in the Civil War as it was on the supply route to the West Country. The Royalist army under Lord Digby sacked the town and captured many local people who were marched off to be imprisoned in the King’s Royalist headquarters in Oxford.”
“The Saturday re-enactment is different from the Sunday re-enactment. On Saturday, Lord Digby is sent away after his parley with the Mayor. The Sunday re-enactment is six days later when Digby returns with four thousand men and sacks the town.”
On both days the battle skirmishes on the Common will include cavalry displays and artillery demonstrations with quite a few canons.
Saturday’s main events start at 11.30 when the Parliamentary Army will parade through the town. Mayor Mervyn Hall will be on the Town Hall steps to take the salute.
Also on Saturday there will be a religious debate in St. Mary’s Church from 11 am to 11.30 – Puritan versus a Laudian with questions from the public. On Sunday there will be a Civic Service in St Mary’s Church at 10 am followed by a wreath laying at the Blue Plaque on the Castle and Ball at 11 am.
Mayor Mervyn Hall told Marlborough.news: “This free event is being put on to benefit the town. It will give people a flavour of what life was like back then and for children it helps them to visualize what happened – it brings history to life.”
“The event also brings commercial benefits as it brings more people into the town and boosts trade in the High Street.”
On Saturday (June 29) members of The English Civil War Society had a stall in the High Street market and in full dress toured the town handing out leaflets.
A final word from the Society: “We hope that you will enjoy the weekend and that you learn a little more about the dramatic events in Marlborough in 1642.”
“We offer you a window through which to view life as our ancestors experienced it. What you will see is the result of many years of research and hard work by dedicated volunteers who have invested large amounts of their time – and money – in bringing to life a slice of this country’s history.”
The event is being sponsored by Marlborough Town Council, the Area Board, Marlborough History Society, The English Civil War Society, Rick Stein and Royd Withy King. There is more information on the Town Council website.
Marlborough’s dour June: the month was wetter than average, mainly cooler & with high evaporation
