Civil War Re-enactment At Holt Castle

A special Civil War re-enactment that will take you back to the past will take place at Holt Castle this weekend.

During tomorrow’s event, you will be taken back to November 1643. Parliamentary forces have captured Holt Bridge and threaten Holt Castle, which is strategically positioned to control the River Dee and access to north Wales.

Colonel John Robinson of Gwersyllt holds the castle for the king and the Roundheads are determined to starve the Royalists into surrendering the castle. Colonel Montagu’s Regiment have set up camp near the castle and await orders. Rumours are rife that Prince Rupert and Prince Maurice are in the area and may send troops to break the siege.

Full details of Saturday’s event can be found listed below:

10.30am – Colonel Edward Montagu’s Regiment of Foote camp opens to the public. Admission is free. Come and see how people lived in the 17th century, what they ate, how they cooked their food and how they dressed.

11am – Muster at The Cross: Re-enactors, townsfolk and children

11.15am – March on the Castle

1pm – Drill Display: the soldiers will demonstrate how to handle a pike and how to fire a musket and load a cannon. Please be aware there will be loud bangs!

1.30pm – ‘Children’s drill’ – Learn how to be a soldier in the Civil War, carry a pike or a musket and march to the sergeant’s command as part of a typical 17th century regiment. For children aged 6 and upwards

2.15pm – Swashbuckling Swords — Sword display by the Regiment’s master of hand to hand combat. See how gentlemen fought with sword and dagger!

3pm -Robinson’s Revenge — Skirmish between the Royalists holding Holt Castle for the king and the Parliamentarians with drums, musket, pike and cannon.

4pm – Event closes

On Sunday guests will be taken back to early January 1647, the forces of Parliament have laid siege to Holt Castle since February the previous year when Chester surrendered. Since then one by one the king’s castles at Hawarden, Ruthin, Denbigh, Flint and Rhuddlan have fallen. In north-east Wales, only Holt Castle, under Sir Richard Lloyd, still holds out, against all the odds for Charles I.

Colonel Edward Montagu’s Regiment of Foote once again find themselves in Holt. The village has suffered from four years of civil war. There has been fighting in and around the church. The local people are hostile owing to the constant demands from both sides’ armies for food and supplies.

Full details of Sunday’s events can be found listed below:

11am – Colonel Edward Montagu’s Regiment of Foote camp opens to the public. Admission free.

12 noon – Drill Display: the soldiers will demonstrate how to handle a pike and how to fire a musket and load a cannon. Please be aware there will be loud bangs.

12.30pm – ‘Children’s drill’ – Learn how to be a soldier in the 17th century, carry a pike or a musket and march to the sergeant’s command as part of a typical regiment during the Civil War. For children aged 6 and upwards

1.15pm – The Officer’s Table: how did the officers eat differently to the common soldier?

2.15pm – Swashbuckling Swords — Sword display by the Regiment’s master of hand to hand combat. See how gentlemen fought with sword and dagger!

3pm – The Final Fall — Skirmish between the Royalists holding Holt Castle for the king and the Parliamentarians. Will Holt Castle stay true to the king or surrender to the forces of Parliament?

4pm – Event closes

Both events include loud noises, the firing of muskets and cannon and the use of weapons. Please ensure you stay behind fences and rope barriers for your own safety. Please keep pets under control. The organizers reserve the right to change the programme and timing of displays.