‘Definitive’ Civil War battle is brought back to life
IT WAS a definitive battle in one of England’s most bloody wars, seeing more than 4,000 deaths and changing the course of history.
And on Saturday, the Battle of Marston Moor, which took place in 1644, was brought back to life in a re-enactment involving historical experts and horses at the site near Tockwith.
The English Civil War fight was recreated for the Battle of Marston Moor Charity Ride to raise funds for Brooke, an international horse and donkey welfare charity.
It took place the day after the 377th anniversary of the battle, which happened during the reign of the ill-fated Charles I.
It saw a decisive victory for Oliver Cromwell’s Roundheads and forced the Royalists to abandon the North of England, effectively sealing their fate as the losing faction.
The re-enactment was led by
The Battle of Marston Moor on was a turning point in the Civil War. Spokesperson forEquistry re-enactment group.
Equistry and The Troop, who specialise in re-tellings of key moments in history that involved cavalry.
The group perform reenactments of key battles dating from Roman times to the First World War.
A brief talk outlining the history and key moments of the battle was held outside the Boot and Shoe Inn in Tockwith before riders headed to the battlefield site for the re-enactment event.
A pair of mounted sentries, in full Civil War dress, stood guard at the memorial to the battle, an imposing obelisk between Long Marston and Tockwith which was unveiled in 1939.
A spokesperson for Equistry said: “The Battle of Marston Moor on was a turning point in the Civil War, as Cromwell’s forces defeated the Royalists and the king’s cause in the North.”