Chester will be under siege this Bank Holiday weekend as 2,000 Royalist and Parliamentary troops re-enact the historic Battle of Rowton Moor.
Witness the Sealed Knot replay the last major battle of the English Civil War and Charles I’s failed attempt to lift the Siege of Chester, at Chester Racecourse.
The original battle took place on September 24, 1645 only two miles to the south-east of the city. King Charles I arrived in Chester armed with 4000 cavalry upon hearing his only remaining port was under siege by Royalist forces. The battle was intended to relieve the siege yet Charles played witness to the defeat of his cavalry from the Phoenix Tower on Chester’s city walls.
On Saturday at noon, members of the Sealed Knot will march to the Town Hall where they are welcomed by the Lord Mayor. Together they walk to the Roman Gardens, where a plaque will be unveiled.
From 1-4pm, scenes from The Great Siege and of 17th century life will be played out at The Cross, on Eastgate Street, and in front of Chester Town Hall. These will include a recruitment drive by the city’s garrison and a 17th century wedding.
On Sunday and Monday, a huge historical encampment will be open from 11am-4pm on Chester Racecourse, giving people the chance to step back in time and see how life was lived in the 17th century.
Then at 2.30pm on Sunday and 2pm on Monday, the Parliamentarian and Royalist armies will take to Chester Racecourse to battle it out and decide Chester’s fate.
With the help of the Lord Grey’s Regiment of the Sealed Knot we have put together the top facts you need to know about the battle:
1. Under siege
The Siege of Chester lasted14 months from December 1644 until February 1646 with four miles of walls for Royalists to defend.
2. Shot in the dark
There were 357 cannon shot fired in Parliament's bombardment prior to assault, October 9, 1645
3. Right royal battle
King Charles I arrived in Chester armed with 4000 cavalry for the battle
4. The role of women
There were seven women killed and three injured while repairing defences under fire
5. Loss of life
Charles I's cousin, Lord Bernard Stuart, was killed at Chester leading the King's Lifeguard aged 22
6. Living history
The Battle of Rowton Moor was 370 years ago and took place on September 24, 1645
7. A costly business
Chester lost £200,000 in expenses and trade due to the siege
8. Disease
2000 Chester citizens, 20% of the population, died of the plague after the siege
9. Locked up
900 Royalist soldiers were captured
10. Grub's up
The daily ration for Royalist soldiers by the end of the siege was three pence worth of bread and warm beer
11. Not the only one
Between 1640 and 1660, there were 300 sieges across Britain and 21,000 soldiers were killed and wounded
