Landmark to stage battle re-enactment
Hylton Castle in Sunderland will provide the backdrop for a weekend of historic reenactment.
The English Civil War will be brought to life in the city during the August Bank Holiday weekend, including The Battle for Sunderland.
A cast and crew of more than 300 people from the English Civil War Society will take part in the two-day event on Sunday and Monday, August 26 and 27, setting up rival camps in the castle grounds.
The battle re-enactment, which will be one of the largest ever staged in this part of the country, is the latest in a series of community-engagement events held within the grounds of the 14th Century castle.
Sunderland City Council and a Heritage Lottery Fund £4.2m restoration project have an on-going project for returning the castle and grounds to the centre of community.
Funded by the City Council’s North Area Committee and organised by local Voluntary Sector Organisation Sunderland North Community Business Centre, the free two-day event presented by the English Civil War Society will include cavalry, artillery and infantry displays, along with demonstrations of horsemanship, stunts and cannon firing.
Coun Denny Wilson, chairman of the North Area Committee, said: “We thought that staging this English Civil War battle reenactment would be a great way of capturing the public’s imagination, and reminding everyone of the historical significance of the site and the continuing restoration work going on there.”
The programme for both days includes a Living History Village, from 11am to 4.30pm, with camp followers in period costume demonstrating crafts and cookery.
Between 11am and 1.45pm, the cavalry, infantry and artillery displays will be held.
And, between 2.30pm and 3.30pm will be the Battle for Sunderland, a battle reenactment fought between the Parliamentarians and Royalists.
There will also be a funfair, stalls, face-painting and story-telling during the family fun days.