LEICESTER’S role at the epicentre of the English Civil War will be re-created in a series of dramatic re-enactments this weekend.
Jim Butler’s Hidden Histories Heritage Events will bring the drama of the Siege of Leicester in 1645 to the city’s annual Riverside Festival, with thrilling skirmishes, loud cannons and soldiers’ drills on The Newarke and a 17th century living history camp on Castle Green.
On both Saturday 7 June and Sunday 8 June, a re-enactment of the Battle for the Newarke – where some of the fiercest fighting took place – will pit the defenders of Leicester against the forces of King Charles I.
There will also be free talks at Newarke Houses Museum, where the story of Leicester’s pivotal role in the bloody conflict between the Royalist and Parliamentarian armies will be told.
“When King Charles I and his forces laid siege to Leicester at the end of May 1645, the town became the epicentre of the entire English Civil War,” said local historian Jim Butler.
“The tyranny of the king, and his appalling treatment of the people of Leicester, caused a national outcry and Parliamentary forces were swiftly dispatched to recapture the town.
“The ensuing Battle of Naseby saw victory for the Parliamentarians – and Leicester was finally liberated on 19 June 1645.
“Those events in Leicester would come back to haunt the king, as the sacking of the town was cited as the most damning evidence of Charles’s tyranny against his people, leading directly to his execution after his trial in January 1649.
“So the Siege of Leicester was a pivotal moment in the city’s history and had a huge impact on national events, yet so few people today have heard of it.
“Through our re-enactment events at the Riverside Festival, we hope to engage Leicester’s diverse communities with this incredible episode of the city’s hidden history.”
The live battle re-enactments will take place on The Newarke from 2pm-3pm on both Saturday 7 June and Sunday 8 June.
Graham Callister, head of festivals, events and cultural policy, said: “We’re really excited to have the Siege of Leicester re-enactment as one of the highlights of this year’s Riverside Festival – and extremely proud to commemorate this nationally significant moment in the city’s long history as part of a packed programme of events this weekend.”
The living history camp and Siege of Leicester battle re-enactments are being generously funded by the Leicestershire Archaeological & Historical Society’s Public Heritage Fund, Leicester City Council’s ward community funds (Castle, Fosse and Saffron wards) and a number of private donations.
Details of further Hidden Histories Heritage Events taking place in June to mark the 380th anniversary of the Siege of Leicester can be found here
The full Riverside Festival programme – which features two days of boat rides, kayaking sessions, live music and performance, international street food, licensed bars, craft markets and a pop-up art gallery – can be downloaded here
Leicester’s biggest free festival runs from 12 noon until 6pm on Saturday 7 June and from 12 noon until 5pm on Sunday 8 June, with activities taking place along the River Soar’s Mile Straight and on Bede Park, Castle Gardens, Western Boulevard and The Newarke.
Last year’s event attracted around 75,000 visitors.
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